Ben Christopher
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frombenc.bsky.social
Ben Christopher
@frombenc.bsky.social
430 followers 400 following 110 posts
Housing reporter @calmatters.org. Occasional dad tweets. Tell me things: [email protected] / signal: BenC.2017
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frombenc.bsky.social
Very fun read on the builder's remedy in California: "the land use equivalent of plutonium"

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
The Housing Strategy That Has California NIMBYs in a Corner
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
urbanizela.bsky.social
"For YIMBYs and other champions of more housing development, ditching the extra staircase has become a surprisingly buzzy cause. In Culver City, they have a test case."

https://calmatters.org/housing/2025/11/ca-single-stair-culver-city/
One California city’s idea to tackle the housing crisis: Take the stairs
For champions of more housing development, ditching the extra staircase has become a buzzy cause in fighting California's housing crisis.
calmatters.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:02 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
I wrote about how Culver City became the first municipality in California (and likely the last for now) to ditch the ubiquitous two staircase requirement for mid-rises. As YIMBYs turn to impediments to construction beyond zoning, Culver City is an early test case.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
One California city’s idea to tackle the housing crisis: Take the stairs
For champions of more housing development, ditching the extra staircase has become a buzzy cause in fighting California's housing crisis.
calmatters.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:42 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
calmatters.org/politics/202...
Is California’s Coastal Commission pro-housing now? New appointments signal changes
New commissioners appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and top Democrats support more building along the coastline. What that means for the future
calmatters.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
mallard20.bsky.social
Clearly, this is the long con to take both your job and your wife! Wake up, Ben!
November 14, 2025 at 5:48 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
ChatGPT is apparently both pro-journalists using ChatGPT and pro-family.
November 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
You‘re treating yourself to a birthday trip to Mexico and you only have $170K (allegedly). How do you spend it?

calmatters.org/politics/202...
November 13, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
calmatters.org
Breaking: It’s a yes for Prop. 50. California voters approved the measure to temporarily suspend the state’s nonpartisan citizens redistricting commission until 2030. bit.ly/3WAJfhI

📝 @mayacmiller.bsky.social& @jeannereporter.bsky.social
📸 Ted Soqui
Gov. Gavin Newsom smiles during a rally about redistricting at the Democracy Center of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles on Aug. 14, 2025. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters. Text: Breaking: Prop. 50 passes in California The gerrymandering plan has significant stakes far beyond California’s borders
November 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
frombenc.bsky.social
Senate Bill 79 makes it easier to build homes near major public transit stops.

For opponents of rezoning, the only way to stop the prospect of apartments is to battle the bus.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
A new law makes it easier to build homes near buses. Guess what housing opponents are doing now
After Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law to allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops, opponents of new housing have a new reason to battle the bus.
calmatters.org
October 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
BREAKING: Ninth Circuit Court panel sides with Trump in Oregon National Guard case, staying Judge Immergut's original TRO. The two GOP-appointed judges decided on a stay. The Dem-appointed judge wrote a dissent.

This isn't much of a surprise, given the questioning we saw during oral argument.
storage.courtlistener.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Notable finding in a new paper on how California cities have responded to AB 2097, which scrapped minimum parking requirements for housing developments near major transit stops.

At least one city just ignored the law for housing near future, planned projects.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
October 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Grand Prairie, Texas, I was not familiar with your game.
ebwhamilton.bsky.social Emily Hamilton @ebwhamilton.bsky.social · Oct 15
The ways that Texas NIMBYs are finding to make apartments more expensive to build are are funnier than what coastal NIMBYs come up with reason.com/2025/10/14/t...

by @christianb.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
But really, who doesn't love a good ugly cry on a Thursday morning

calmatters.org/education/20...
How the tiniest domestic violence survivors are healing with the help of this preschool
A preschool in San Diego focuses on children who've experienced trauma, the "little guys". Mi Escuelita now has a long record of helping kids and families move forward.
calmatters.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
phillewis.bsky.social
“The Defense Department has confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America,” the Pentagon Press Association said
Oct. 15, 2025 PENTAGON PRESS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT Today, the Defense Department confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America. It did this because reporters would not sign onto a new media policy over its implicit threat of criminalizing national security reporting and exposing those who sign it to potential prosecution. The Pentagon Press Association's members are still committed to reporting on the U.S. military. But make no mistake, today, Oct. 15, 2025 is a dark day for press freedom that raises concerns about a weakening U.S. commitment to transparency in governance, to public accountability at the Pentagon and to free speech for all. PPA
October 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
sfchronicle.com
Housing advocates who viewed SB79 as a potential sea change say it became diluted during the political process. The bill’s primary sponsor calls it a “a remarkably strong bill.”
This new California law could put more homes near transit. Our map shows where they'd be built
Housing advocates who viewed SB79 as a potential sea change say it became diluted during the political process. The bill’s primary sponsor calls it a “a remarkably strong bill.”
bit.ly
October 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Ben Metcalf @ternerhousing.bsky.social: "If costs come down and interest rates drop, you can imagine we’ve set the table for a building boom."

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Gavin Newsom signs law overhauling local zoning to build more housing
After weeks of waiting, California’s governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California’s biggest metro areas.
calmatters.org
October 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
calmatters.org
After weeks of waiting, California's governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California's biggest metro areas. https://cal.news/4n3hzge

📝 @frombenc.bsky.social
📸 Ray Chavez
Passengers look on as a BART train didn’t stop at the Rockridge BART station due to a systemwide closure that affected all BART stations, in Oakland on March 9, 2025. Photo by Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group Hed: Breaking: Gov. Newsom signs massive California housing overhaul
October 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Newsom signed SB79.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Newsom signs massive California housing overhaul
After weeks of waiting, California’s governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California’s biggest metro areas.
calmatters.org
October 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Every single person in my feed:

What's the deal with SB 79? Has Newsom signed SB 79? What is Newsom waiting for on SB 79? Newsom better veto SB 79! If Newsom doesn't sign SB 79 tonight I'm going to move to Canada. I'm launching a SB 79 shot clock widget SB 79 S!B 79 SB 79

Newsom:
Press release from Governor Gavin Newsom: A hiss-torical day: Governor Newsom signs bills establishing state snake, state shrub
October 10, 2025 at 3:04 AM
frombenc.bsky.social
In 2023, Los Altos Hills, a mansion-studded bedroom community above Silicon Valley, vowed to legalize some apartments at the north end of town.

Now, facing a project that would include the town’s first-ever affordable housing, the town is having second thoughts.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Why this wealthy Bay Area suburb is at the center of the next big fight over California housing
Los Altos Hills agreed to legalize some apartment buildings. Now it wants a do-over.
calmatters.org
October 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
calmatters.org
Los Altos Hills agreed to legalize some apartment buildings. Now, with a project proposed at Twin Oaks that would include the town’s first-ever affordable housing units, the wealthy Bay Area suburb is having second thoughts. https://cal.news/47hCdV6

📝 @frombenc.bsky.social
Why this wealthy Bay Area suburb is at the center of the next big fight over California housing
Los Altos Hills agreed to legalize some apartment buildings. Now it wants a do-over.
cal.news
October 9, 2025 at 12:36 AM
frombenc.bsky.social
Here's why the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a low-tax advocacy group, seems intent on making Los Angeles' “mansion tax” the face of their statewide tax-capping ballot measure campaign.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
California is about to have a massive fight over taxes. Here’s why Los Angeles is the frontline
A low-tax advocacy group seems intent on making the Los Angeles “mansion tax” the face of their statewide tax-capping ballot measure campaign.
calmatters.org
October 6, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
kyledcheney.bsky.social
BREAKING: Immergut has *granted* Oregon and California's motion to block the new call-up of Guard troops to Portland. She says this effort to bring CA and TX troops to Oregon is in "direct contravention" of her oroginal order.
October 6, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
kristinacooke.bsky.social
I spoke to a Venezuelan woman who was arrested in this raid and later released with her 4yo son. She said agents broke down their door, pointed guns at them and made sexualized remarks about Venezuelan women. When she returned to her apartment it was boarded up and all her possessions were gone.
October 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
joshuajfriedman.com
One of my favorite anecdotes from THE PREHISTORY OF THE FAR SIDE: "That doesn't sound like the Jane Goodall we know."
A few days after this cartoon was published, my syndicate received a very indignant letter from someone representing the Jane Goodall Institute. Not only did my syndicate and I both get read the Riot Act, there was a vague implication that litigation over this cartoon might be around the corner. I was horrified. Not so much from a fear of being sued (I just couldn't see how this cartoon could be construed as anything but silly, but because of my deep respect for Jane Goodall and her well-known contributions to pri-matology. The last thing in the world I would have intentionally done was offend Dr. Goodall in any way. Before I had a chance to write my apology, another complication arose. The National Geographic Society contacted my syndicate and expressed a desire to reprint the cartoon in a special centennial issue of their magazine. My editor, aware of what had just occurred, declined, explaining why. Apparently, whoever it was that sent the inquiry from National Geographic was shocked. They told my editor that "that doesn't sound like the Jane Goodall we know." They did some checking themselves, and an interesting fact was eventually discovered: Jane Goodall loved the cartoon. Furthermore, she was totally unaware that any of this "stuff" was going on. Some phone calls were made, and the cartoon was not only reprinted in the centennial issue of National Geographic, but was also used by her Institute on a T-shirt for fund-raising purposes. I've since had an opportunity to visit Dr. Goodall at her research facility in Gombe. It's a wonderful place (sort of like right out of National Geographic). "To refer to Dr. Goodall as a tramp is inexcusable even by a self-described 'loony' as Larson. The cartoon was incredibly offensive and in such poor taste that readers might well question the editorial judgment of running such an atrocity in a newspaper that reputes to be supplying news to persons with a better than average intelligence. The cartoon and its message were absolutely stupid." —Excerpt from the above-mentioned letter that started the ruckus
October 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM