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: Supervisors should follow commission’s lead on court order
By Amy Kalish
October 9, 2024
A recent Marin County Planning Commission agenda item to finalize the Corcoran v. County of Marin lawsuit, which the county lost, morphed into a much larger exposure of dysfunction between county interests and staff.
On Sept. 23, the commission voted 5-2 to simply follow a court order to remove unlawful language clauses from county documents that had been inserted by staff – over commissioners’ objections – in 2022.
California Props Probabilities of Passing
By: Gaetan Lion –
September 30, 2024
There are 10 Propositions on the California November ballot. You can get more information on these Props at the Voter Guide. The probabilistic approach I use to figure out the likelihood of propositions passing may be too deterministic. Thus, one should take the probabilities I generate with a grain of salt. On the other hand, these probabilities may be more informative than the customary polls disclosures.
Newsom vetoes bill to fast-track office-to-housing conversions
By J.K. Dineen
Sep 28, 2024
Developers hoping for a faster and easier path to converting empty office buildings to housing in California’s downtowns will have to wait for another legislative session after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have fast-tracked such projects.
The measure, AB3068, would have expedited adaptive reuse projects by mandating by-right approval for projects converting offices to residential or mixed-use in city centers.
California ballot measure appears to target a single nonprofit — and it’s furious
By Molly Burke, Hearst Fellow
Sep 27, 2024
If you check California’s official voter guide — or even the text of the proposed law — for information on Prop 34, they’ll tell you the measure requires “certain providers” to spend virtually all of the money they receive from a federal prescription drug program on patient services.
But the measure’s backers have repeatedly pointed to one group that would likely be subject to the requirements. And that group says it’s being illegally targeted.
Letters: Too Much Debt
by Susan Kirsch
September 22,2024
Too much debt
Proposition 5 will introduce a tsunami of long-termdebt.
Prop 5 will reduce the approval threshold for localaffordable housing and public infrastructure bonds from the current two-thirdsvoter requirement to 55%, making it easier for cities, counties and specialdistricts to pass these measures.
Gavin Newsom signs bills aimed at forcing California cities to approve new housing
By Annie Vainshtein, Sophia Bollag
Sep 19, 2024
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a package of bills intended to bolster California’s response to the dual homelessness and the housing crisis, he announced at a news conference in San Francisco’s Mission District on Thursday morning. Newsom also introduced guidance for up to $2.2 billion in funding through Proposition 1, passed by California voters in March, to construct permanent supportive housing for individuals at risk of — or currently — experiencing homelessness.
We’re Fighting Back Against a Power Grab
September 5, 2024
In a move that would curtail voter rights, Utah’s Republican-controlled Legislature plans to ask citizens in the November election to grant lawmakers the power to alter or repeal state ballot measures after they have been approved.
Spurred by a recent state Supreme Court ruling, both legislative chambers swiftly approved a constitutional amendment expanding the Legislature’s control over citizen initiatives.
Newsom says he’ll sign bill slamming cities that run afoul of California housing laws
By Hillel Aron
September 4, 2024
California Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he plans to sign a bill that would strengthen the state attorney general’s power to fine cities that flout state housing laws.
Once Senate Bill 1037 goes into effect, the attorney general can seek penalties that would be assessed from the date that the housing law violation began. Those much larger fines will now go toward building affordable housing in the jurisdiction being penalized.
California’s Legislature Has Turned on the People
By Katy Grimes,
September 3, 2024
Have you ever been stabbed in the back by a friend? You trusted them, supported them, and they turned on you. You never saw it coming. And you ask “what happened?”
California’s Supermajority Democrat lawmakers now work against governing the state, and work against the will of the people. Did you see it coming, or were you caught off guard?