Ben Christopher

She directed $2.7 million from her elderly clients to her husband’s company. The judge approved every penny The arrangement was so brazen that court staffers whispered about it, and other attorneys found it troubling.

calmatters.org/investigatio...

Fwiw the article links to the Pew study, Conrad Speckert's Second Egress project and a prior article I wrote on the topic that goes much deeper on the whole debate. This one was just meant to cover the immediate news of the report, which admittedly does leave context on the cutting room floor.

High-End Construction Really Does Help Everyone A new rung at the top of the housing ladder permits people lower down to climb up.

"Put succinctly: The sale of an apartment costing more than half a million dollars seems to have created a vacancy at a homeless shelter."

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

California’s fire safety regulators are finally out with a 'single stair' report. They don’t love the idea California’s fire safety regulators were asked to study whether mid-rise apartments can go with a single staircase like other countries.

The report from the State Fire Marshal stresses that IF state legislators want to raise the single stair maximum, they should go no higher than four stories.

Meanwhile, @votealexlee.bsky.social has a spot bill to allow single-stair apts "with 4 or more stories."

calmatters.org/housing/2026...

Two months past its statutory deadline, the state fire marshal's assessment of single-stair regulations, is now live!

(Reposting with a url that hopefully actually works this time; thanks @annepaulson.bsky.social)

34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calf...

As Federal Subsidy Ends, Hundreds of Families Need to Move A federal housing assistance program affecting more than 900 San Francisco households will expire sooner than expected.

A federal program providing housing assistance to more than 900 San Francisco households will expire sooner than expected. While the city has proposed a transition plan, families say they have little clarity, or control, over what comes next.
www.sfpublicpress.org/im-going-to-...

1 in 10 Cal State students face homelessness. This emergency housing program helps California's Rapid Rehousing program offers emergency housing and rental subsidies to college students at all UCs and most Cal States.

calmatters.org/education/20...

Asm. Alex Lee, who passed California's single-stair study bill in 2024, has a spot (placeholder) bill, AB 2252, to enact the reform. The state fire marshal was supposed to release their single-stair report almost two months ago, but has not. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNa...

High power bills impeding heat pumps, CA's electrification goals High electricity prices are complicating California’s push to electrify homes with heat pumps.

Took a little detour from my typical housing policy coverage to work on this story with @gauchoesque.bsky.social about the tension between California's ambitious climate/decarbonization goals and our punishingly high electricity prices.

calmatters.org/environment/...

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs. Here's how they've affected California The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump does not have the authority to impose the broad tariffs that have affected California.

calmatters.org/economy/2026...

Congrats to BART rider and Oakland legend Alysa Liu on winning a gold medal at the Olympics and making the Bay Area proud!

Redlining across Los Angeles predicts bird segregation half a century later! Racial segregation is for the birds.

For a possible story...Do I have any homeowners following me who have recently installed a heat pump (or seriously looked into doing so and then opted not to)?

Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different Building homes inside a factory has long been seen as a way to revolutionize the American housing industry. Can California finally make it happen?

Is this going to be the Year of the Housing Factory in California?

calmatters.org/housing/2026...

"I am very tired, very stomachy & hate nearly the whole world" is almost, verbatim, something my four-year-old says on a regular basis.

Can California Set Its Own Car Emissions Standards? Trump's Climate Reversal May Force the Issue Withdrawal of federal climate authority could ironically give California broader power to regulate emissions and sue oil companies.

"By withdrawing its own so-called 'endangerment finding,' the EPA is abandoning its justification for federal tailpipe standards, power plant rules and fuel economy regulations.

California...is expected to sue over the decision."

calmatters.org/environment/...

Shoot. My mistake. Should be fixed now with a correction note at the bottom.

Mr. Bean stands alone in a field of wild flowers, waiting for something. The image has become a meme, taken from the film Mr. Bean's Holiday, often used to depict exasperated impatience.

In 2023, the state's fire marshal was tasked with putting together a report with recommendations on if/how the state should change its building code to allow for taller single stair apartments.

The deadline was Jan. 1.

Still waiting...

calmatters.org/housing/2026...

Newsom says Trump is pissing on what?

I appreciate the journalistic effort here, but don't let Newsom off easy here. We need PRAs.

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

These cities have a new tactic to evade California housing laws. Legal experts are dubious Can anti-density advocates get around California’s aggressive housing laws by becoming charter cities? Some intend to try.

FWIW, I wrote about this strategy (becoming a charter city to skirt preempting state housing laws) back in 2024. Every state constitutional and land-use attorney I spoke to was very skeptical it would work.

calmatters.org/housing/2024...

Atherton takes another look at becoming a charter city Atherton is reviving a long-debated push to become a charter city, even as some city officials acknowledge they are uncertain whether the change would actually help the town avoid some state-mandated ...

ah yes, this old chestnut:

"The latest push to become a charter city was started by a coalition of Atherton residents working on the town’s housing element, hoping to avoid some housing requirements imposed by the state."

www.almanacnews.com/atherton/202...

Los Angeles won’t be tweaking its ‘mansion tax.’ Now the debate is likely to go statewide The ballot measure do-over for LA's 'mansion tax' was intended to ward off a statewide anti-tax crusade.

Measure ULA* is here to stay for now.

And so our state once again turns its eyes to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association...

calmatters.org/housing/2026...

Videos on social media that were verified by The New York Times contradict the Department of Homeland Security's account of the fatal shooting of a man by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. The Department of Homeland Security said the episode began after a man approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun and they tried to disarm him. But footage from the scene shows the man was holding a phone in his hand, not a gun, when federal agents took him to the ground and shot him.

Sometimes it takes a bit for national (or really, any) media to catch up with a story but now the New York Times is noting the video did not show Alex Pretti brandishing a gun as ICE has claimed. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...

Los Angeles might tweak its 'mansion tax.' Here’s why that matters for the rest of California Los Angeles might tweak its “mansion tax.” Here’s why that matters for the rest of California.

calmatters.org/housing/2026...

LA transit agency seeks to override state law allowing more homes near train and bus lines The L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose implementation of SB 79, calling for a countywide exemption.

L.A. politicians tried to stop SB 79, a state law allowing more apartments near transit stops. It passed anyway. But L.A. leaders aren't done fighting.

Today the L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose local implementation. More details in my @laist.com story:

California counties must jump through new hoops to get homelessness funds Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is pressuring local leaders to pass ordinances regulating homeless encampments, among other requirements.

This morning Gov. Newsom is announcing the release of $419 million for local homelessness programming, funded back in 2024.

But in the coming months, the Legislature will be fighting over the NEXT round of HHAP funding — and on the conditions that will come with it.

calmatters.org/housing/home...

Linda Vazquez, 52, eats noodle soup outside of her tent on Cedar Street in San Francisco on Nov. 19, 2024. City workers tell Linda and other unhoused people to move on a regular basis during homeless sweeps and cleaning operations. Photo by Jungho Kim for CalMatters. Hed: California counties must jump through new hoops to get homelessness funds

Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened many times to withhold state homelessness funds from cities and counties that aren’t doing enough to get people off the streets.

This year, those threats seem more real than ever. bit.ly/3Ljqu0l

📸 Jungho Kim

Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program

Holy hell, what an obituary

In a virtual press conference with affordable housing groups, @buffywicks.bsky.social:

"I have been, since I got into the Legislature in 2018, almost a crazy woman when it comes to housing."

S.F moves to combine building inspection, planning and permitting into one department Of state's 10 largest cities, only San Francisco and L.A. have separate building and planning departments. Mayor Lurie wants to change that.

"Among the state’s 10 largest cities, only Los Angeles and San Francisco have wholly separate building and planning departments."

Didn't know that!

missionlocal.org/2026/01/s-f-...