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.
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.
Only 1 out of every 805 homes for sale is affordable for Silicon Valley’s middle-class, study shows
Embarcadero Media staff
November 14, 2024
Housing affordability has become significantly worse in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties – so much so, that only one out of every 805 homes listed for sale is affordable for households with an annual income of $100,000, according to a new report from regional think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley.
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.
California’s 2025 Housing Laws: What You Need to Know
Holland & Knight Alert
November 5, 2024
As in previous years, California saw a significant volume of new housing legislation emerge from Sacramento in 2024. (See Holland & Knight’s previous annual recaps of California Housing Laws in the final section below.) This Holland & Knight alert takes a closer look at some of the most significant housing laws that the California Legislature passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law, grouped into following categories
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.
Two presidential candidates agree on something: the source of the housing crisis
By KATY O’DONNELL
10/14/2024 02:00 PM EDT
Investors have purchased up to 30 percent of available homes at different points over the last few years, mostly turning them into rental housing. Most of the buyers are smaller investors, but Harris, Vance and other critics including Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are focusing on larger entities — those such as private equity firms that buy 100 homes or more — arguing that they’re freezing homebuyers out of the market and jacking up rents.