While some lawmakers oppose recent efforts to reform housing policies, others argue the state's affordability crisis calls for bold action.
In response to a recent column in the OC Register that called affordable housing efforts a "disincentive" to hard work, Roberto Barragan, executive director of the California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA), argues that that mindset is "an insult to the many who are struggling to keep their small businesses afloat, working full-time, paying college debt, and raising children." Barragan writes that all people "should be able to live in safe neighborhoods with access to good schools, parks, and transit," a goal increasingly unattainable in a state with a median home price of over $700,000.
Reforming housing laws, writes Barragan, is one way to make housing more affordable for more Californians, yet "opponents of housing reform would have us believe that any action to make housing more affordable and accessible is wrong and damaging." Decades of single-family zoning and other exclusionary policies have led to rising inequality. Proposed bills such as Senate Bills 9 and 10 "are intended to increase housing affordability by increasing the overall housing supply and creating equitable conditions for hard-working Californians." These "relatively modest" proposals, writes Barragan, won't "mean that everyone gets to live in Malibu," but could help more households live near jobs, reliable transit, and good schools.
FULL STORY: California must prioritize housing affordability
Opinion: Zoning Reform Is a Social Justice Issue
Far from an obscure, wonky local issue, zoning reform has the potential to advance social justice in American cities.
California Housing Advocates Closely Watching Bay Area Rezoning Deadline
California’s reaction to cities that fail to submit compliant zoning plans could reverberate across the state as other regions near their deadlines.
Connecticut Housing Advocates Call for Zoning Reform
A new report highlights a growing affordability crisis, calling for state-level zoning changes and renter protections.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)