Prevailing Wages

Hollywood Sign

Report: Ballot Measure Intended to Spur Affordable Development Had the Opposite Effect in L.A.

L.A. voters approved Measure JJJ in 2016 in the hopes of encouraging more affordable housing as a trade-off for discretionary approval. The result has been no development at all.

May 27, 2019 - Urbanize LA

New York Construction

Scoop: NYC Never Disclosed Union Deal That Helped Secure Rezonings

Developers are finding out too late that they're required to pay union members a prevailing wages on projects in rezoned parts of New York City.

February 8, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

I-94

Wisconsin Law Could Delay Major Highway Projects

A plan to save money on highway megaprojects is likely to backfire, experts warn.

January 5, 2019 - Urban Milwaukee

California

Four Interest Groups Contributed to the California Transit-Housing Bill's Defeat

Two journalists discuss what led to the defeat of the SB 827, the controversial bill which garnered national attention and lots of in-state opposition from groups that one would think would support the effort to address the state's housing crisis.

April 24, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Silicon Valley

Most California Cities Now Subject to State-Mandated Development Streamlining

Given that 97 percent of California cities aren't meeting their housing targets, SB 35, last year's landmark "by-right" housing bill, now applies to projects that contain varying amounts of affordable units.

February 6, 2018 - East Bay Times

Newport Beach High-Rise

Two Housing Bills Will Exacerbate California's Housing Shortage

SB 35 (Wiener) and AB 199 (Chu) make it more costly to build housing by requiring prevailing wages where applicable, pleasing construction unions but making affordable housing less affordable, opines CALmatters political columnist, Dan Walters.

August 21, 2017 - CALmatters

Construction

A Call for Prevailing Wages as a Housing Solution

An op-ed written by city officials from two South Bay Area cities argues that reform of land use regulations won't be enough to solve California's housing crisis.

May 19, 2017 - The Mercury News

Los Angeles

Inclusionary Zoning Bill to Increase Affordable Rentals Passes California Assembly

Due to a 2009 court decision, cities and counties in California are prohibited from requiring that a percentage of units in rental developments be affordable. A bill by Assemblyman Richard Bloom would restore inclusionary zoning for rentals.

May 8, 2017 - Planetizen

California

Another Attempt at California's By-Right Affordable Housing Proposal

The new streamlining bill for affordable housing will not have the governor's name, but that of freshman Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who made a name for himself as a tenacious housing advocate while San Francisco County Supervisor.

December 20, 2016 - KQED: California Report

Affordable Housing Versus Better Wages

Massachusetts wants to require affordable housing developers to pay construction workers a "prevailing wage", but with costs already totaling $200,000 or more per unit, the proposal may ultimately decrease the amount of affordable housing built.

May 9, 2008 - The Boston Globe

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