California's housing crunch finally became a top legislative priority in 2017. More of the same is expected in 2018.
Liam Dillon looks forward following a year of significant housing bills signed or implemented in California to anticipate the next battle lines of the fight to restore affordable options to the housing market.
Dillon predicts three major themes to the legislative efforts on 2018, with conclusions that are far from determined.
- Rent Control - A bill to repeal the state's rent control regime, enacted by the Costa-Hawkins Act, went nowhere in 2017, but this year could be different.
- Proposition 13 - Several potential ballot measures could reshape Prop 13, as previously reported by Planetizen and in more detail by Dillon.
- The Legislature - Legislators promised last year would just be the start.
Dillon goes into a lot more detail on each of these themes, and includes a podcast version of the story for the "Gimme Shelter: California Housing Crisis" podcast produced with Matt Levin.
Read the full story: Three California housing issues to watch in 2018
Rent Control for New York City Could Spillover Effect to the Rest of the State
The housing crisis isn't the same in every corner of New York State, but new rent control measures in the state legislature could apply solutions intended for the New York City rental market to the entire state.
LA Officials Struggle to Enforce Short-Term Rental Rules
Hundreds of rent-controlled units are being illegally rented out as short-term rentals, pushing out long-term renters and exacerbating the city’s housing crisis.
Biden Administration Proposes Federal Rent Hike Limits
A new policy would limit rent increases to 5 percent for landlords receiving federal tax write-offs.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority