Housing
Blog
On Homelessness, Sacramento Is Becoming More Like San Francisco . . . and That’s Not a Good Thing
Around the time I joined PRI’s team last September, we opened new offices in Midtown Sacramento. I had never spent much time in Midtown before joining PRI. For those who don’t live here, Midtown is a hip part of town with a bustling bar and restaurant scene, expensive new apartments ...
Blog
Housing shortage goes from dire to desperate after wildfires
A few months ago, Tim Anaya and I interviewed for PRI’s podcast Farhad Zabihi, a math professor at the College of Marin, who had been house hunting for nearly a year in Marin County. Marin is just south of Napa and Sonoma — two of the hardest hit counties in ...
Blog
Rent Control for Small Businesses Another Bad Idea
It’s “Basic Economics” that residential rent control is harmful housing policy. So it makes perfect sense that we’re beginning to hear about commercial rent control in California. Why not heap more destructive laws on the pile? San Jose Inside reported earlier this month that “a local community leader” wants the ...
California
Unmistakable Signs That California Lawmakers Have (Yet Again) Gone Too Far
A Mercury News headline earlier this year declared that “Amid ‘Resistance,’ activists try to push California Democratic Party to the left.” But looking back now that the bill signing period is complete, it’s clear that Sacramento Democrats don’t need to be pushed left. They’re headed that way just fine on ...
Business & Economics
Ep. 12: Steven Greenhut – End-of-Session Wrap, Part 2
Columnist and longtime political observer Steven Greenhut of the R Street Institute gives his thoughts on the housing package, the cap-and-trade deal, bills that were overlooked, and the impact of Prop. 54 in Part 2 of our 2017 end-of-session wrap-up.
California
Ted Gaines – End-of-Session Wrap, Part 1
Sen. Ted Gaines joins us to discuss his legislative priorities and give his thoughts on the highs and lows of the just-completed 2017 legislative session, including housing legislation, cap-and-trade, and BOE reform. Stay tuned to hear his recommendation for his favorite root beer, made locally in Sacramento.
Blog
When Push Comes to Shove, Labor Emerges as Big Winner of 2017 Session
As promised, the Democrat-majority California Legislature finished its session early Saturday morning by enacting a package of bills that lawmakers say will ease the state’s housing crisis, and failing to expand state environmental protections. This year’s session was notable for its sometimes-fierce battles between key interest groups, namely environmental groups, ...
Blog
For Amazon, It’s a Great Big Jungle Out There
It seems that Seattle is no longer evergreen for Amazon. Last week, the company announced that it’s on the hunt for a second headquarters. There wasn’t a clear explanation for why the online retail giant is seeking a new habitat. But even climate change deniers would conclude that nature – ...
Blog
How About CEQA Exemptions for All?
The California Environmental Quality Act is by far the most destructive of the causes that factor into California’s housing crisis. Its regulatory hurdles have sharply increased the cost of building, which has led to a severe shortage of homes that pushed prices to levels that many can’t afford. Even Gov. ...
California
End-of-Session Housing Push Won’t Make Dent in State’s Housing Problem
Lawmakers haven’t yet voted on legislation they say addresses the state’s housing crisis, but it’s just as well. The proposals they were trying to pass off as solutions aren’t solutions at all. One bill that’s key to the rest of the legislative package would add to real estate costs, while ...
On Homelessness, Sacramento Is Becoming More Like San Francisco . . . and That’s Not a Good Thing
Around the time I joined PRI’s team last September, we opened new offices in Midtown Sacramento. I had never spent much time in Midtown before joining PRI. For those who don’t live here, Midtown is a hip part of town with a bustling bar and restaurant scene, expensive new apartments ...
Housing shortage goes from dire to desperate after wildfires
A few months ago, Tim Anaya and I interviewed for PRI’s podcast Farhad Zabihi, a math professor at the College of Marin, who had been house hunting for nearly a year in Marin County. Marin is just south of Napa and Sonoma — two of the hardest hit counties in ...
Rent Control for Small Businesses Another Bad Idea
It’s “Basic Economics” that residential rent control is harmful housing policy. So it makes perfect sense that we’re beginning to hear about commercial rent control in California. Why not heap more destructive laws on the pile? San Jose Inside reported earlier this month that “a local community leader” wants the ...
Unmistakable Signs That California Lawmakers Have (Yet Again) Gone Too Far
A Mercury News headline earlier this year declared that “Amid ‘Resistance,’ activists try to push California Democratic Party to the left.” But looking back now that the bill signing period is complete, it’s clear that Sacramento Democrats don’t need to be pushed left. They’re headed that way just fine on ...
Ep. 12: Steven Greenhut – End-of-Session Wrap, Part 2
Columnist and longtime political observer Steven Greenhut of the R Street Institute gives his thoughts on the housing package, the cap-and-trade deal, bills that were overlooked, and the impact of Prop. 54 in Part 2 of our 2017 end-of-session wrap-up.
Ted Gaines – End-of-Session Wrap, Part 1
Sen. Ted Gaines joins us to discuss his legislative priorities and give his thoughts on the highs and lows of the just-completed 2017 legislative session, including housing legislation, cap-and-trade, and BOE reform. Stay tuned to hear his recommendation for his favorite root beer, made locally in Sacramento.
When Push Comes to Shove, Labor Emerges as Big Winner of 2017 Session
As promised, the Democrat-majority California Legislature finished its session early Saturday morning by enacting a package of bills that lawmakers say will ease the state’s housing crisis, and failing to expand state environmental protections. This year’s session was notable for its sometimes-fierce battles between key interest groups, namely environmental groups, ...
For Amazon, It’s a Great Big Jungle Out There
It seems that Seattle is no longer evergreen for Amazon. Last week, the company announced that it’s on the hunt for a second headquarters. There wasn’t a clear explanation for why the online retail giant is seeking a new habitat. But even climate change deniers would conclude that nature – ...
How About CEQA Exemptions for All?
The California Environmental Quality Act is by far the most destructive of the causes that factor into California’s housing crisis. Its regulatory hurdles have sharply increased the cost of building, which has led to a severe shortage of homes that pushed prices to levels that many can’t afford. Even Gov. ...
End-of-Session Housing Push Won’t Make Dent in State’s Housing Problem
Lawmakers haven’t yet voted on legislation they say addresses the state’s housing crisis, but it’s just as well. The proposals they were trying to pass off as solutions aren’t solutions at all. One bill that’s key to the rest of the legislative package would add to real estate costs, while ...
