California's Plans To Address Affordable Housing Crash

In the California legislature, SB 50 was the centerpiece of housing legislation that was intended to help ease the shortage of affordable housing in the state's most populous areas. Here, the Los Angeles Times chronicles how the legislation was derailed and shelved for at least a year.

Just over two weeks ago, California lawmakers were planning to advance some of the most aggressive policies in the nation to combat rising housing costs. They were pushing to open up most neighborhoods zoned only for single-family homes to apartment construction and to prevent millions of renters from facing double-digit rent increases each year.

Then it all fell apart.

In a series of dramatic committee hearings and last-minute decisions in Sacramento, three major housing bills were blocked or whittled to a husk. Their demise came at the hands of engaged homeowner activists from predominantly suburban communities, real estate lobbies and after a lack of intervention from Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leadership to keep the bills alive.

Now, after it appeared lawmakers would make their strongest attempt yet at addressing California’s housing affordability challenges, they believe their measures won’t be enough.