| | Why Housing Policy Is Climate Policy The New York Times In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to solve the housing crisis. Numerous climate researchers have a similar conclusion. In an assessment of the carbon footprint of 700 California cities, experts with the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, found that, for most coastal California cities, "infill" housing — that is, housing built in urban areas, near transit, jobs and services — can reduce greenhouse gas pollution more effectively than any other option. Other research has confirmed this work, and bolstered the case for using denser housing and public transportation as weapons against climate change. Read More | | | | Around here, we are still celebrating the insight and wisdom of the City of San Mateo's enumeration of Diversity and Inclusivity as core City values in its General Plan Update. But, we would like to tweak the descriptions of them a little to strengthen their importance. To us, "respecting the experiences, contributions, and aspirations…" understates diversity's value. "Respect" is too passive. We think that active verbs are better suited for this value. How about "Support and Encourage" in respect's stead? Diversity has to be embraced to give it power! Inclusivity should not be limited to decision making. Inclusivity doesn't have an on/off switch. It's a way of being! How about expanding inclusivity to add "experiences, processes, and our civic culture and society"? Now that's inclusive! This is not just about semantics. This is about being real. Limiting, through verbs, such high minded values does them a great disservice. If you agree, please communicate to our honorable City Council members. Thank you. Evelyn Stivers, Executive Director, HLC | | | | | | A brief rundown on the CASA Compact Mountain View Voice In recent weeks, the Casa Compact has moved to the state Legislature, where lawmakers are drafting the proposals into bills that would eventually move forward for a vote. Many of these bills remain in draft form with details still being analyzed by lawmakers. The Voice compiled a brief rundown of the 10 components of the Casa Compact, and where the legislation currently stands. Read More | | | | Bay Area leads charge on fixing housing crisis. Will it work for the rest of California? LA Times It makes sense that the Bay Area would take the lead in crafting affordability solutions, since it is saddled with the nation's highest housing costs. But the Bay Area has distinct characteristics, such as an extensive transit system, that could complicate any universal solution to housing problems. However, many housing concerns are the same throughout the state, with Sen. Scott Wiener noting he often receives the same pushback to his ideas that propose changes to neighborhoods in San Francisco and Los Angeles alike. Read More | | | | Even tech workers can't afford to buy homes in San Francisco Recode "I think there's been this question of, 'Oh, tech money, is that going to solve our housing crisis?' And I think it's taken quite a long time for companies to get serious about what they're doing," said Kristy Wang, community planning policy director at a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on issues of planning. While donations like the money from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative might help, housing advocates view them as only scratching the surface of a much bigger issue. The solution, as Matthew Lewis, director of communications at California YIMBY sees it, is pretty straightforward: "Just build more damn housing." Read More | | | | Big backyards and pools are California's past. Apartment buildings are its future LA Times Unaffordable homes and unbearable commutes are the two main factors driving housing away from suburban sprawl and toward urban transportation centers. Another motivation for Democrats is to meet their ambitious climate change goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes. The California ranch-house lifestyle was great in the last century. But for the poor and middle class, it's an endangered species that needs to adapt. Read More | | | | To Solve the Housing Crisis, Cities and States Must Work Together CitiesSpeak "Local Tools to Address Housing Affordability: A State-by-State Analysis", examines the interactions between cities and states on tools to improve housing affordability, including inclusionary housing, rent control, housing vouchers, housing trust funds and states tax incentive programs. The new research finds that depending on their state and home rule authority, the ability of cities to improve housing conditions varies extensively across the country. Our assessment of all 50 states and the District of Columbia across the five policy areas finds that the District of Columbia, as well as cities in New York and California have more tools to address housing affordability than other cities. Read More | | | | Oregon wants to make it easier to build affordable housing The Seattle Times Democrats want to design their way out of Oregon's housing crisis and are considering a proposal clearing the path for developers to build more apartments and townhouses. The bill would end single-family zoning. Cities with more than 10,000 people would be required to offer, in addition to single family homes, what's known as "middle" housing options. That means building more residential structures with multiple dwelling units, like duplexes and triplexes. Read More | | | | Upzones and affordable housing requirements approved by Seattle City Council Curbed In a culmination of a years-long process, the Seattle City Council passed legislation Monday that will implement zoning changes throughout Seattle. The mandatory housing affordability (MHA) rezones will increase development capacity in 27 neighborhoods while hard-wiring requirements for affordable housing—which developers and builders can choose to build on-site or support by paying into a city fund. Read More | | | | | | | | | |
