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.
Marin Voice: Inspirations from a successful citizen movement
By Susan Kirsch
February 5, 2026
Catalysts for Local Control has been my capstone effort, created to educate, engage and empower residents to claim their voice and use their vote around housing and land use policy. The winding down of Catalysts clears the way for the beginning of Wake Up California, with leadership from Marin resident Amy Kalish. Like other successful citizen movements, Catalysts was grounded in three essentials: vision, hope and action.
Zillow Chief Economist is Still Right about Building More Affordable Housing
By Housing is a Human Right
Nearly 10 years ago, on July 28, 2016, Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell released a “Zillow analysis” about the kinds of apartments built in America — luxury units compared to affordable Ten years later, though, Gudell’s findings, and the warning that came with it, are more relevant than ever.
Proposition Doubleplusgood
Many voters are confused about initiatives that empower gov’t tax-raising schemes (Prop 5) or gift $1 billion to a failing, shrinking SJ school district (Measure R)—and for good reason: in a decisive report, SCC’s Civil Grand Jury observed (in 2022) that local ballot measures are regularly designed to “deceive” voters through feel-good, misleading, or straight manipulative language.
A Plan To Fail: Plan Bay Area 2050+
By SHIFT-Bay Area
February 2, 2026
While we were enjoying the holidays, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission quietly released Plan Bay Area 2050+ (“the Plan”). Like a Friday night White House data dump, the public release of the Plan seems designed to avoid attention — and for good reason. The more you read it, the more sense hiding it makes.
The numbers don’t lie: The housing crisis is not caused by a supply shortage
By Nikoi Block
February 3. 2026
Solving the housing crisis has been a central plank of the Liberal party during their decade in power, but progress has been elusive. Despite recognition of housing as a “fundamental human right” and pledges of tens of billions of dollars to housing programs, homelessness has risen and affordability has worsened.
Dick Spotswood: Advocacy of Marin residents continues to make a difference
By DICK SPOTSWOOD |
January 31, 2026
Making Marin work requires an energized citizenry. Our county is fortunate to have many well-informed residents who’ve exerted much influence on improving Marinites’ quality of life, despite not being in elected office.
I’m reflecting on two women who are soon to retire from their decades-long role as community advocates. Susan Kirsch is founder of Catalysts, California’s leading statewide citizens advocate for returning control over the design, location and composition of new housing back to cities and counties.
Bay Area officials need to listen to Marin’s elected leaders as housing plan evolves
By MARIN IJ EDITORIAL BOARD
December 25, 2025
Bay Area planners seem to have a problem with Marin. We don’t look like the South Bay. They think Marin has plenty of room to grow – out and up. The state’s undermining of local control over land-use decisions and ambitious quotas for approving construction of new housing has set the stage for the new round of Bay Area regional planning. It’s not surprising that Marin leaders don’t share the same vision as those from other Bay Area counties.
Marin Voice: Housing coalition puts focus on county’s affordability crisis
By JENNIFER SILVA
December 25, 2025
There is a growing awareness that the housing crisis impacts us all. Our workforce cannot afford to live here. Employers struggle to hire staff. Schools face challenges retaining young teachers. Our children overwhelmingly leave Marin when they finish their schooling. Older residents seeking to downsize have few options. Traffic worsens as more of our workforce commutes from outside of Marin.The numbers tell the story plainly: There is no reasonable housing available in Marin for households earning less than $65,000 per year.
Dan Walters: Newsom’s housing stance relaxes for Democratic hubs, like Marin
By DAN WALTERS
December 20, 2025
When Gavin Newsom was running for governor he made many promises, one of which was to ramp up housing production, which had been in the doldrums for a decade.
Describing housing as “a fundamental human need,” Newsom said the shortage “breaks my heart” and promised that as governor he would lead the effort to develop “the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025, because our solutions must be as bold as the problem is big.” The goal was impossible on its face, and he later backed away from it, terming it “aspirational” rather than achievable.