Matt Levin

Economy

How future-proof is Gavin Newsom’s master plan for California?

As Gavin Newsom delivers his first State of the State speech, how do his plans prepare California for that dream—not just next year, but 5, 20, 30 years from now?

By Matt Levin • February 11, 2019

Housing

Huntington Beach legislator: Newsom housing lawsuit “seemed like selective prosecution”

A conservative Huntington Beach legislator called a state lawsuit aimed at compelling the Orange County city to build more housing a "literal cannonball" from Gov. Gavin Newsom and said it "seemed like selective prosecution" when dozens of other California cities could be blamed for not doing their fair share to alleviate California's housing shortage.

By Matt Levin • February 8, 2019

Capitol

Will ‘blue wave’ Dems stave off Newsom’s housing suit against Huntington Beach?

The fact that traditionally conservative Huntington Beach now has two new Democratic legislators might enable a deal that would end the state's lawsuit to force the more housing development there.

By Matt Levin • January 28, 2019

Housing

Can Newsom build housing’s “missing middle”?

Gov. Gavin Newsom's housing budget tries to do a lot—including building way more housing for California's middle class.

By Matt Levin • January 25, 2019

Housing

Emergency Pod: Newsom’s audacious housing budget

There was so much housing news in Gov. Gavin Newsom's first budget proposal that Matt and Liam couldn't wait a week to talk about it. We don't get to everything Newsom wants to do, but we analyze some of the bigger developments.

By Matt Levin • January 25, 2019

Capitol

It’s a big deal: Newsom’s housing budget, explained

Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal provides a good sense of his priorities to combat what he has called “the issue when it comes to California poverty”—affordable housing.

By Matt Levin • January 10, 2019

Capitol

Find yourself in the California Legislature—or not

There are (still) more white men named James or Jim in the California Legislature than African-American and Asian-American women combined. Throw in some white Robs, Bobs and Roberts, and you have a pretty sizable “JimBob” caucus with a membership larger than the number of Republican women, openly gay or lesbian legislators, or women from any party under the age of 40. A data dive into diversity, or lack thereof.

By Elizabeth Castillo and Matt Levin • January 8, 2019

Housing

Minneapolis just eliminated single-family zoning. Should California cities follow suit?

Minneapolis made national headlines earlier this month when the city council forced neighborhoods previously zoned only for single family homes to allow the construction of duplexes and triplexes. Is this the right cure for California's housing woes?

By Matt Levin • December 27, 2018

Politics

The year in California politics, as told through Twitter: #2018

Californians suffered from déjà vu in 2018. Here's a recap of some of the biggest stories in state politics, as told through the medium that once again dominated it.

By Matt Levin • December 27, 2018

Housing

Wiener: State will never reach Newsom’s housing goals without taking power from cities

Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom may have set an astronomical goal for allowing construction of 3.5 million new housing units in California by 2025, but a key Democratic state senator says it will never happen unless the the state pries away some local control over housing decisions.

By Matt Levin • December 14, 2018

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