Ben Christopher

California affordable housing programs are on the chopping block after Supreme Court ruling Many California cities require developers to build affordable housing or pay fees to support construction of those units. A new lawsuit contends those fees are unconstitutional.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme court made it harder for cities to stick new developments with impact fees.

Are "inclusionary zoning" rules — one of the most common local affordable housing policies in the US — next?

A new lawsuit is testing that theory:

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

The Supreme Court criticized California development fees. A new court ruling just upheld them A Northern California property owner for years has fought a $23,400 traffic mitigation fee that he was charged for building a single home.

A quick read tracking the latest turn in the Sheetz case and why the foretold revolution in municipal budgeting and building fees across California is on hold for now.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Newsom plans to let LA suspend duplex projects in fire burn zones Should Palisades and Altadena homeowners be able to build duplexes on their burned lots? Some state and local officials say no.

"A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom said he plans to issue an executive order Wednesday allowing local governments to limit the law’s application in high severity burn areas, which would include the Palisades, parts of Malibu and Altadena."

laist.com/news/housing...

What Trump’s deportations mean for California’s undocumented renters Despite California’s strong tenant protections, vulnerable immigrant renters are terrified to invoke them out of fear they’ll be deported.

“You can have the most protective laws in the world, but if people are afraid to enforce those laws … it’s like for those people, those laws don’t exist"

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

The national housing market is still stuck in a post-pandemic rut.

But with higher prices, limited supply and a property tax regime that discourages sales, California homeowners have “have extra reasons to stay put,” said @hatethegamebook.com

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

A common meme image (used to express an unlikely shared viewpoint) of two muscled arms in a firm grip. In this case, one represents Donald Trump, the other Gavin Newsom. Where their hands clasp together, the text says "pushing cities and states to use law enforcement to get unhoused people off the streets."

The lede in this story by @marisakendall.bsky.social

calmatters.org/housing/home...

Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die July 21, 2025 AFP has been working with 1 writer, 3 photographers and 6 videographers, all freelance, in the Gaza Strip since its staff journalists left in 2024. Along with a few others, they are now the only ones left to report what is happening in the Gaza Strip. The international press has been banned from entering the territory for nearly two years. We refuse to watch them die. One of them, Bashar, has been working with AFP since 2010, first as a fixer, then freelance photographer, and since 2024, as lead photographer. On July 19th he managed to post a message on Facebook: “I no longer have the strength to work for the media. My body is thin and I can’t work anymore.” Bashar, 30, works & lives in the same conditions as all Gazans, moving from one refugee camp to another under Israeli bombings. For > a year he’s lived in utter destitution, working at extreme risk to his life. Hygiene is a major issue for him, with recurring bouts of severe intestinal illness. Since Feb, Bashar’s been living in the ruins of his home in Gaza City with his mother, 4 brothers & sisters and the family of one of his brothers. Their house is devoid of any furnishings, except a few cushions. On Sunday morning, he reported that one of his brothers had “fallen, due to hunger.” Even though these journalists receive a monthly salary from AFP, it’s no longer enough to buy food, or they have to pay completely exorbitant prices. The banking system has collapsed, and those who exchange money via online bank accounts charge a commission of up to 40%. AFP no longer has the ability to provide them with a vehicle and there is not enough fuel to allow these journalists to travel for their reporting. Driving a car means becoming a target for Israeli airstrikes. AFP reporters therefore travel on foot or by donkey cart. (alt txt continued in next post)

A horrifying statement published today by the Editorial Committee of the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

"Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die"

Translation from French to English by @cnorristrent.bsky.social:

From green icon to housing villain: The fall of California’s landmark environmental law Democrats pared back one of the state's preeminent policies to restore trust with voters frustrated by the high cost of living.

From green icon to housing villain: The fall of California’s landmark environmental law.

On a related note, someone asked me last week to report on a development dispute in their town. Followed up over the weekend with an article he prompted chatGPT to write on the subject. He suggested I use it as "a good reference point," though he acknowledged that it includes hallucinated quotes.

KPBS stands to lose $4.3 million in federal funding that Republicans in Congress are clawing back. That’s 12% of our budget.

If you like my reporting on housing, transportation and climate change in San Diego, please donate to help ensure I can keep doing it 🙏🏻
donate.kpbs.org/kpbs/donate?...

A new Lincoln Institute report shows how much more a new homeowner will owe in property taxes than someone who has owned for the avg duration in that city (based on median prices).

Thanks to Prop. 13, California cities well represented at the top of the list.

www.lincolninst.edu/publications...

A new invader threatens California water supplies. Can the state stop its spread? Dogs and human inspectors are checking boats for golden mussels at some lakes, but a patchwork of oversight leaves many lakes unprotected.

Come for the mussel-sniffing dogs, stay for the major threat that invasive golden mussels pose to water supplies and lakes across the state. #CAwater

calmatters.org/environment/...

New homeless point in time count numbers are out today. They show a decrease in the number of people living on the street, without shelter, in LA and San Jose. Both cities have launched aggressive campaigns to clear encampments and put people in shelter. tinyurl.com/45czm83r

tinyurl.com/35w4f7mf

California, epicenter of the nation’s housing crisis, is finally getting a housing agency California is finally getting a housing agency. Here’s why that matters.

California — renowned for the unaffordability of its housing and its enduring homelessness crisis — is finally getting a standalone agency solely focused on housing and homelessness.

What took so long?

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

With carpenters’ help, California eases housing rules—and sparks labor clash California’s new environmental reform law, backed by carpenters, eases housing construction rules but deepens divisions within the labor movement.

Why do so many of California's big housing battles come down to an enduring beef between different construction unions?

@jeannereporter.bsky.social did the heavy lifting on this one:

calmatters.org/politics/202...

Dune, where's my gom jabbar?

Last-minute California budget includes sweeping environmental law rollbacks Major changes include an exemption for high-tech industrial plants and other projects. The move, fast-tracked under pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, sparked fierce pushback from environmental, communi...

The policy change described above is among the most dramatic changes to CEQA in at least a generation.

And it wasn't even the only change to CEQA the Legislature passed today!

@gauchoesque.bsky.social and @ra-becks.bsky.social on that other biggie:

calmatters.org/environment/...

One of the biggest obstacles to building new housing in California has now vanished After a decade of battling, lawmakers just exempted infill urban development from the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.

A decade-spanning political battle between housing developers and defenders of CEQA, California’s preeminent environmental law, came to an end this afternoon with only a smattering of “no” votes.

The forces of housing won.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

They were repeatedly ticketed because of their homelessness. What did it change? In Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego, homeless Californians describe their experiences as camping ban enforcement has increased.

On the 1 year anniversary of the Grants Pass Supreme Court ruling, we wanted to see how increased policing has changed life for homeless Californians. So we tracked down a few people who have been punished for camping over and over. @calmatters.org

Here are their stories tinyurl.com/2bwhwzkj

'It's not your country:' Stories from men who were taken in the LA immigration raids CalMatters spoke with a number of migrants about their arrests and detentions after the first weekend of LA raids. Their accounts raise potential legal questions about the government’s operation.

Taken: LA immigration raids

Masked men pull up quickly and approach Latino men.

When someone runs, they’re taken. When they don’t answer a question, they’re taken. When they can’t produce papers, they’re taken. 

calmatters.org/investigatio...

@wendyfry.bsky.social @addonohue.bsky.social

Newsom and Legislature tangle with construction unions over minimum wage California lawmakers are weighing a provision in the budget that would allow developers to pay a lower wage for some construction.

California lawmakers are on the cusp of striking a last-minute deal tying one of the year’s most ambitious housing bills to a new set of minimum wages for construction workers — a proposal that's thrown a wrench into budget negotiations just days before the deadline.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

California budget deal forces cuts to immigrant health care, taps rainy day funds California’s tough choices: Budget deal limits immigrant health coverage, uses rainy day funds as the state grapples with $12 billion shortfall.

“The Governor’s signature is contingent on finalizing legislation to cut red tape and unleash housing and infrastructure development across the state.”

Coming down to the wire, California's budget negotiations are all about housing. Good read by @akoseff.bsky.social

calmatters.org/politics/202...

From San Diego to the Bay Area, California restaurants are on edge over immigration raids Some food trucks, farmers markets and small restaurants are temporarily closed, while others are shielding workers and raising funds to help.

Some food trucks, farmers markets and small restaurants are temporarily closed, while others are shielding workers and raising funds to help.

Trump can keep troops in LA for now, appeals court rules President Trump had a legitimate interest in protecting federal employees when he deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, an appeals court ruled.

BREAKING: Donald Trump can continue to control the National Guard in California for the time being after a panel of judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined he followed the law in deploying troops to Los Angeles.

calmatters.org/justice/2025...

Can Trump deploy troops in LA? A federal judge hears Newsom's case today Gov. Newsom argues Los Angeles does not need the military to keep the peace: "To put it bluntly, there is no invasion or rebellion in Los Angeles; there is civil unrest that is no different from episo...

Judicial whiplash.

Just before 6pm a federal judge issued a temporary order nixing Pres. Trump's federalization of the CA National Guard, returning control back to Gov. Newsom.

Less than three hours later, the order is stayed by an appellate judge panel.

calmatters.org/justice/2025...

BREAKING: JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO RETURN CONTROL OF CA NATIONAL GUARD TO GOV. NEWSOM

STORY: calmatters.org/justice/2025...

Can Trump deploy troops in LA? A federal judge hears Newsom's case today Gov. Newsom argues Los Angeles does not need the military to keep the peace: "To put it bluntly, there is no invasion or rebellion in Los Angeles; there is civil unrest that is no different from episo...

“The president is of course limited to his authority,” Breyer said. “That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George.”

calmatters.org/justice/2025...

Can Trump deploy troops in LA? A federal judge hears Newsom's case today Gov. Newsom argues Los Angeles does not need the military to keep the peace: "To put it bluntly, there is no invasion or rebellion in Los Angeles; there is civil unrest that is no different from episo...

Does President Donald Trump or Gov. Gavin Newsom have final say on deploying the California National Guard to Los Angeles? And when can a sitting president send the Marines to a U.S. city, as Trump did in L.A.?

By me. (Look for updates by @frombenc.bsky.social when hearing begins 1:30p.m. PDT.)

Federal DEI, “wokeness” restrictions put California homeless providers in a bind The largest source of federal homelessness grant dollars now includes restrictions on promoting DEI language and concerns.

Federal grant contracts barring the use of funds to promote “gender ideology,” “elective abortions,” and “illegal immigration" are presenting homeless service providers with a tough choice: Comply or fight.

Neither option is without risk.

calmatters.org/housing/home...

California lawmakers going big on pro-development bills — not so much on renter protection While bills aimed at boosting housing construction are having a banner year in California, those for renters rights face an “uphill battle.”

2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for big, ambitious legislation aimed at boosting new housing construction.

For rental rights bills it's been much more of an uphill battle.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...