On the campaign trail and after taking office, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised bold action to confront the issue he called California’s greatest challenge: making housing affordable again. Or at least returning us to a world where this house doesn’t sell for $900 grand. The rhetoric was lofty: A “Marshall Plan” for...
Gov. Newsom Gets Bill Capping Rent Increases
SACRAMENTO — Lawmakers sent Gov. Gavin Newsom legislation Wednesday capping rent increases as the state struggles with an affordable housing and a homelessness crisis. The cap expires in 2030 and would not apply to housing built within the last 15 years and single-family homes not owned by corporations or trusts....
California Has Housing Crisis, Legislature Has No Fix Yet
SACRAMENTO — Crisis. Emergency. California lawmakers are describing the state’s housing crunch in dire terms. But few seem to agree on what to do about it. The political wrangling over the last few weeks around bills to cap rent increases, set new rules for evictions and cut red tape to...
A Rare Tenant Win, But Why Don’t California’s Renters Have More Political Punch?
California tenants just scored a rare victory in the state Capitol — emphasis on the rare. A high-profile bill passed by the state Assembly would impose a “rent-gouging cap” on annual rent increases for the vast majority of renters. If approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, it...
State Rent Control Bill Dies in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO — An effort to expand rent control in California won't move forward this year after the lawmaker behind it cancelled a planned public hearing Thursday, saying his plan needs more work. Assemblyman Richard Bloom, a Santa Monica Democrat, has tried unsuccessfully several times to expand rent control, which is...