Is Rent Control Good or Bad, with AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein

11/22/17 • 55 min

Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast

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.

Previous Episode

A slow-growth "rager" in Redondo Beach, with state housing head Ben Metcalf

Matt and Liam award the Avocado of the Week to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (5:00). Then a discussion of the House GOP's tax plan and how it would impact California, including Liam's hot takes on the mortgage interest deduction (6:30) and Matt's take-it-to-the-bank prediction on the crucially important Low Income Housing Tax Credit program (12:00). Our tour of California's housing crisis takes us next to Redondo, where we interview slow-growth city councilman Nils Nehrenheim (21:00). Finally we chat with state Housing and Community Development Department director Ben Metcalf (42:00).

Next Episode

How tax reform will hurt California housing, with affordable housing developer Mary Murtagh

Matt and Liam discuss the potentially massive consequences of federal tax reform on California's housing woes. First, an avocado of the week poses the question of whether it's easier to build a basketball arena or reform California environmental regulations (5:00). Then, a deep dive into the federal tax plan, touching the fates of the low income housing tax credit (18:00) and the mortgage interest deduction (28:00). Finally, an interview with Mary Murtagh, a nonprofit affordable housing developer whose projects are already imperiled by tax reform.