Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: Gentrification and SB 827

Please subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. The hottest piece of housing legislation in the country is not being received well by many low-income communities of color. Matt and Liam explore the politics and policy of SB 827, a bill that would radically upzone a good swatch of California cities, this time from […]

By

Matt Levin

• March 23, 2018

Housing

What to know about the housing bill that has people freaking out from Marin to Compton

People from Marin to Compton are freaking out about a controversial state housing bill. Here's what you should know about it.

By

Matt Levin

• March 22, 2018

Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: The new homelessness, from San Diego to the Bay

Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Matt and Liam set up a “meet the podcast guys” booth at the Housing California conference, the state’s largest annual gathering of affordable housing advocates. They award an Avocado of the Fortnight to two leading gubernatorial candidates for evading some basic questions on their housing plans (2:00). Then […]

By

Matt Levin

• March 8, 2018

House surrounded by swirling cyclones of cash. Image by Nazneen Rydhan-Foster

Housing

Data dig: Are foreign investors driving up real estate in your California neighborhood?

The percentage of California single-family homes bought in all-cash transactions has climbed in the past decade from 10 to 25 percent—and many of those are investors from Asia. That means a quarter of California’s extremely tight housing inventory is unlikely to go to moderate-income families who need a mortgage to buy a home.

By

Matt Levin

• March 7, 2018

Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg

Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. State legislators are trying to revive redevelopment, the controversial “urban renewal” program that provided a major source of affordable housing funding before its elimination seven years ago. Matt and Liam explore how redevelopment worked and didn’t work, and what redevelopment 2.0 might look like. First, an Avocado of […]

By

Matt Levin

• February 22, 2018

Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: Enviros and housing, a complicated love affair

Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. If California is going to meet its ambitious climate change goals, it will have to solve its housing crisis. In the wake of the California Sierra Club’s opposition to SB 827, Matt and Liam devote the hour to the intersection of environmental and housing issues. First, an Avocado […]

By

Matt Levin

• February 1, 2018

Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: Why rent control died in the Capitol, with Assemblyman David Chiu

Please subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Expanded rent control won’t be coming to your city anytime soon—at least not via the state Legislature. Matt and Liam discuss why the repeal of Costa-Hawkins died at a dramatic Assembly hearing last week. First, Liam flags some other major housing bills you should keep an eye […]

By

Matt Levin

• January 17, 2018

Housing

5 things a Californian should know now about rent control

One way or another, two words are likely to dominate the complicated politics of California’s housing crisis in 2018: rent control. With the Legislature set to hold a key hearing, here's what you need to know.

By

Matt Levin

• January 2, 2018

Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: Housing stories to watch in 2018

You can also subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. The Gimme Shelter year-end holiday spectacular. First, Matt and Liam submit their nominations for “Avocado of the Year”, that story which most distills the absurdity of CA housing in 2017 (2:00). Then, a quick preview of the GOP tax plan and its possible CA fallout (8:30). […]

By

Matt Levin

• December 20, 2017

Housing

Gimme Shelter Podcast: How federal tax reform could hurt California housing

Matt and Liam discuss the potentially massive consequences of federal tax reform on California's housing woes.

By

Matt Levin

• December 6, 2017