Latest News
NOTE: The opinions expressed in the news items cited here do not necessarily represent the opinion of Catalysts for Local Control. We try to present a balanced picture of the news on the subject of housing and legislation.
Here’s how a host of new housing laws will change California in 2025
By Alfred Twu
Nov 16, 2024
In California, 2023 was a blockbuster year for housing legislation with bills that streamlined approvals in most major cities, doubled the affordable housing density bonus, created more options for townhouses, condos and ADUs, and allowed religious organizations to build affordable housing on their land, regardless of zoning.
Gavin Newsom to live in $9.1 million Marin County home, split time between Bay Area and Sacramento
By Roland Li, Business Reporter
Nov 15, 2024
Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving part time to a home in Marin County that sold on Thursday for $9.1 million, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The six-bedroom property in the unincorporated community of Kentfield includes floor-to-ceiling windows, a swimming pool and a spa, according to a real estate listing.
Newsom’s office declined to confirm the details of the plans nor whether Newsom bought the property.
A fight over 253 new homes nearly destroyed this wealthy Silicon Valley town
By Kevin V. Nguyen
Nov. 14, 2024 • 5:00am
Portola Valley considered dissolving itself after struggling to meet state housing mandates. Change is coming for the local population in the form of new housing, which the state is demanding after years of a worsening affordability crisis. Residents are being given the choice to hop on board, get out of the way, or risk getting run over.
Portola Valley, a town of roughly 4,200 people and an average home cost of $3.8 million, is finding out the price of resistance.
When Housing and Climate Crises Collide
By Claire Greenburger
November 13, 2024
“We are experiencing an extreme housing crisis here,” says Jenny Silva, board chair of Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative. Across Marin, affordable housing for low- and middle-income residents is scarce. “We priced out the nurses and teachers long ago,” Silva says. As Marin’s housing crisis intensifies, so do the climate risks throughout the county — a dual crisis that has sparked a contentious debate over where and how to develop new housing.
Marin can do more to fight housing mandates
By Susan Kirsch
November 10, 2024
The headline of the editorial read, “Novato is stuck with bad rules from the state.” Some will nod in sympathy. They think about being “stuck” as burdened, baffled or in a fixed position and unable to move.
Others don’t feel sympathy, but anger. Rightly so. Elected officials have pandered to Sacramento lawmakers and succumbed to threats from legislators and staff. In many cases, they’ve abandoned the well-being of constituents.
Americans moving to California tumble to historic lows
By Jonathan Lansner
November 1, 2024
Inflow translated to 1.09% of California’s population – worst “attraction rate” in USFew Americans are moving to California, when you see the inflow in national terms.
Last year, California drew 422,075 people from other states. My trust spreadsheet’s review of new state-to-state migration data from the Census Bureau tells me those arrivals equal 5.6% of the nation’s 7.55 million interstate relocations. That’s less than half the state’s 11.6% share of Americans aged 1 or older.
Sunset Project Update
By Brielle Johnck
October 26, 2024
As of October 11, 2024 the application process has gone through several steps with the developer N17 submitting its plans, designs, and its response to the list of Menlo Park requirements. The City has responded claiming some requirements relating to paving, landscape and exact measurements of plans need correction. So back to N17 the application goes
Cityview seizes state density bonus to supersize Westchester apartment project
By TRD
Oct. 24, 2024
Cityview will employ a state density bonus to build more apartments with fewer affordable units at a proposed eight-story complex in Westchester.
The Century City-based multifamily developer led by Sean Burton will use Assembly Bill 1287 to file revised plans for a 489-unit apartment building at 6136 West Manchester Avenue, Urbanize Los Angeles reported.
Unaffordability – Part III
By Bob Silvestri
October 19, 2024
This is a follow-on to my previous articles on housing affordability challenges.
Priscilla Almodovar, the chief executive of Fannie Mae is noted by Marketwatch to be one of the 50 most influential people in the country. You would think someone of her stature would be able to share some special insight into our housing affordability challenges, other than the tropes and platitudes rampant on social media. But, you would be wrong.