Buffy Wicks CEQA bill ignites worthy debate

Buffy Wicks CEQA bill ignites worthy debate

Though far from the only factor, the California Environmental Quality Act, as currently constituted and implemented, has long been  a barrier to much needed housing development in California. California’s high housing costs are a simple supply and demand problem. Lots of people want to live here, but there aren’t enough housing units to keep housing prices in line.  Hence, the considerable strain high housing costs are putting on people all over…

A California environmental law makes it ‘too damn hard’ to build. But do Democrats have the will to reform it?

OAKLAND — For years, this lot just south of the West Oakland BART station has sat vacant, surrounded by RVs and broken-down vehicles. This was supposed to be housing — a 222-unit tower with 16 apartments set aside for low-income renters. But soon after Oakland’s planning commission signed off on the project, the decision was appealed. A coalition of trade unions, using the California Environmental Quality Act, demanded that the developer conduct…