Articles by Ben Christopher

August 2024

Push to Build More Homes on California Coast Stifled After Lawmakers Derail Housing Bills

July 2024

When California Housing Regulators Beef With Voters, Who Wins?

Ballot Battles, Lawsuits and a Ticked-Off Millionaire: CalMatters on Eureka’s Parking Lot Wars

The Supreme Court Took Powers Away From Federal Regulators. Do California Rules Offer a Backstop?

June 2024

These Cities Have a New Tactic to Evade California Housing Laws. Legal Experts Are Dubious

California’s Highest Court Rejects ‘People as Pollution’ Argument for UC Berkeley Housing

May 2024

Californians Will See Lower Electricity Rates and a New Fee That Won’t Vary With Power Use

Who Owns the Apartment Next Door? California Agency Says It Will Take Millions to Find Out

April 2024

A Plan to Change Your Utility Rates Is Dividing California Environmentalists. Here’s Why

California’s Most Controversial Housing Law Could Get a Makeover

March 2024

Fresh Batch of YIMBY Housing Bills Clash With Coastal Protections (Again)

What You Need to Know About California Housing and Corporate Landlords

February 2024

Los Angeles’ One Weird Trick to Build Affordable Housing at No Public Cost

January 2024

Approaching Bay Area Deadline a ‘Test Case’ for California’s Housing Crisis

Supreme Court Case About Impact Fees Could Have Huge Consequences for Housing in California

New California Housing Laws Aimed to Streamline Building Process Take Effect in 2024

December 2023

State’s End-Of-Year Affordable Housing Bonanza Likely to Leave Dozens of Near-Ready Projects ‘Mothballed’

Tens of Thousands Still Waiting as California COVID Rent Relief Program Runs Low on Cash

November 2023

Not Your Grandma’s Granny Flat: How San Diego Hacked State Housing Law to Build ADU ‘Apartment Buildings’

October 2023

As Rooftop Solar Debate Flares, Builders, Landlords and Renter Advocates Are Taking Sides

Is California’s COVID-era Rent Relief Program Running Out of Money?

September 2023

Can This Plan Fix California’s Insurance Crisis? What You Need to Know

How California Lawmakers Greenlit ‘Any Flavor of Affordable Housing You Could Possibly Want’

August 2023

Making Borrowing Easier: Amendment to State Constitution Could Unlock Billions of Dollars for California Housing

California Could Borrow a Record-Breaking $35 Billion to Tackle the Housing Crisis. Will Voters Go Along?

July 2023

Some of California’s ‘Cheapest’ Cities Have Seen the Biggest Rent Hikes

My House or My Beach? Why California’s Housing Crisis Threatens Its Powerful Coastal Commission

June 2023

For the First Time, California’s Attorney General Has Fined Landlords Who Violated a New State Rent Control Laws

‘Godzilla Next Door’: How California Developers Gained New Leverage to Build More Homes

May 2023

California Is Losing Population and Building New Houses. When Will Home Prices Come Down?

April 2023

Cracks in California Labor Coalition Raise Hopes for YIMBY Breakthrough on Housing Bill

February 2023

California Homelessness: Where Are the State’s Billions Going? Here’s the New, Best Answer

November 2022

Why California’s Eco-Friendly, Tax-The-Rich Electorate Killed Prop. 30

September 2022

Misfire: Behind the California Concealed Carry Bill’s Big Fail

August 2022

Decision Day: Which Bills Did California Lawmakers Kill?

June 2022

California’s Change to Concealed Carry Permits Would Reduce Wide Variations Among Counties

Supreme Court Ruling Puts Target on California Concealed Carry Law

Topsy-Turvy Top-Two: Is California Primary System Keeping Its Promises?

May 2022

Money Wars: Special Interests Spend Big in California Primary

California’s $100 Billion Surplus: What to Know About Newsom’s Spending Plan

What Would Anne Marie Schubert Do as California Attorney General?

April 2022

Can a Conservative Break Through for California Attorney General?

January 2022

What’s Behind the ‘Great Resignation’ of California Lawmakers?

December 2021

Fund the Police: Newsom Responds to California Crime Concerns

September 2021

Full Speed Ahead on Overhauling California Recalls

California Recall: The 2022 Campaign Starts Now

Polling Error: How One Survey Changed the Newsom Recall Campaign

Kamala Harris Comes to Newsom’s Rescue, Whether He Needs It or Not

Why Is Larry Elder Focusing So Much on Reaching Out to Latino and Asian Voters?

August 2021

Who Is Larry Elder and What Would He Do as Governor?