Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast

Babies on the Assembly floor! Senators swearing at each other! Forcible Zoom mutings! The end of the state legislative session was particularly chaotic this year, especially for housing. On this episode of Gimme Shelter, Matt and Liam break down the last-minute eviction deal nobody seems happy with, and the head-scratching demise of a housing production bill that actually passed both chambers. First, the Avocado of the Fortnight is awarded to the only lawmaker to actually address a previous Avocado with successful legislation (2:30). Then, a discussion of the eviction compromise and what it meant for renters, landlords and banks (5:00). Then, a breakdown of why the highest profile housing production bill of 2020 passed both houses--and still failed to become law (20:30). Finally, an interview with viral sensation Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Democrat from Oakland, on why she and her four week old daughter were on the Assembly floor supporting duplexes in single-family neighborhoods (38:30). Audio editing by Victor Figueroa http://www.vicfig.com/

Matt and Liam were travelling and sick the past two weeks, so no conventional episode of Gimme Shelter this fortnight. Instead we present a collection of interviews with big city mayors on housing and homelessness. First, a live panel featuring Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg (1:55). CALmatters reporter Laurel Rosenhall moderated the panel earlier this month as part of the California Dream Project, a collaboration between CALmatters and major public radio stations across the state. Then Liam interviews former Houston Mayor Annise Parker on her efforts to reduce homelessness in a city without zoning laws (43:33). Liam conducted this interview in October. Link to full CA Dream mayors panel: https://calmatters.org/articles/california-mayors-tell-newsom-be-bold-on-homelessness/

The most controversial housing bill in recent California history is back. Does it have any chance of passing this time? Matt and Liam ask Sen. Scott Wiener, the man behind SB 50, about his re-imagined plan to build more apartment buildings around California. First, an Avocado of the Fortnight asks whether the need for nudity should be protected under the California Environmental Quality Act (3:45). Then a review of the flurry of new housing bills introduced on the first day of the legislative session (8:00), including a breakdown of the political obstacles remaining for SB 50, the sequel to Wiener's SB 827 (24:00). Finally, an interview with Sen. Wiener (43:00).

A group of homeless and housing insecure mothers made national headlines after occupying a vacant home in West Oakland. On this episode of Gimme Shelter, Matt and Liam discuss why the protest was so successful and interview one of the "moms" in Moms 4 Housing. First, an Avocado of the Fortnight asks whether unvaccinated Californians should count as a terrorist threat (3:00). Then a brand new segment from intern producer Jakob sparks a breakdown on what Moms 4 Housing wanted and how realistic their goals are (6:30). Finally, interviews with Aaron Glantz, author of the book "Homewreckers" who has reported extensively on investment firms buying California homes (22:00); and Moms 4 Housing's Dominique Walker (37:00) and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment's Carroll Fife (37:00). Aaron Glantz's book "Homewreckers: How a Gang of Wall Street Kingpins, Hedge Fund Magnates, Crooked Banks and Vulture Capitalists Suckered Millions Out of Their Homes and Demolished the American Dream": https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062869531/homewreckers/ Credits: Jakob Lazzarro is our producer. Music for "Jakob asks a normal person question" from https://filmmusic.io "Envision" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) Sponsorship of this podcast provided by The James Irvine Foundation.

A simple question, a complicated answer. Ahead of a possible 2018 ballot initiative that could dramatically expand rent control, Matt and Liam explain who benefits and who loses under economists' least favorite housing policy. First, a legendary avocado of the week (4:00) is awarded to a Sonoma County Supervisor's comments on how to rebuild Santa Rosa. Then, Matt Matt-splains a groundbreaking new Stanford study on rent control in San Francisco (10:30) and tries not to bore Liam too much. Finally, an interview with Michael Weinstein of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the organization spearheading a 2018 ballot initiative to expand CA rent control.