L.A., Houston mayors on housing and homelessness

11/30/18 • 71 min

Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast

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/

Previous Episode

Election post-mortem (spectacular), with Politico's Angela Hart

Matt and Liam break down all of the important housing-related results from last week's election. First, the Avocado of the Fortnight asks whether Richard Dreyfus voted against state housing law (4:30). Then, a discussion of the dismal performance of Prop. 10 and where the rent control debate goes from here (11:00), the failure of an effort to expand Prop. 13 (30:00), and the passage of affordable housing and homelessness bonds (34:00). Finally a discussion with Politico California's Angela Hart about what Gavin Newsom is really like and what he has in store for housing (39:15).

Next Episode

Could Scott Wiener's new bill to build more apartments actually pass? With Sen. Scott Wiener

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).