Scott Wiener

On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, CalMatters' Matt Levin and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon discuss what's in California's latest housing plans...and what isn't.

Prior bills were a shot of urban growth hormone to force cities to grow vertically; this one is a density vitamin cities could choose to take or not.

In his State of the State speech, Gavin Newsom calls for forcing more people into treatment, changing state spending rules, simplifying treatment paths, and linking housing and services.

The race for California endorsements has ratched up. Taken for granted by campaigns is a debatable premise — that these imprimaturs make a difference.

One by one, wildfire victims, bondholders and insurers have signed onto PG&E's plan for emerging from bankruptcy reorganization. Only Newsom now stands in the company's way — and he has threatened a public takeover if big changes aren't made at California's largest investor-owned utility. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom has a goal of 3.5 million new homes by 2025. His path to reaching it is even more limited, now that a hot zoning "reform" measure is dead for the year.

Options for addressing the state's most pressing social problem  range, at best, from limited to imperfect. What would you choose?

UC regents consider tax hike. Legislators consider cutting cannabis tax. State braces for another challenge to Obamacare and Medi-Cal

Newsom budget priorities stand in contrast with Trump. Trump tax law helps fill state coffers. Prison costs rise as inmate population falls.

CalMatters' Matt Levin and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon interview Sen. Wiener on how much Senate Bill 50 has changed over the past three years, and whether sweeping new amendments to the bill will actually work.