Ben Christopher
@frombenc.bsky.social
Housing reporter @calmatters.org. Occasional dad tweets. Tell me things: [email protected] / signal: BenC.2017
Reposted by Ben Christopher
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:
Today the L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose local implementation. More details in my @laist.com story:
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.
laist.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:45 PM
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:
Today the L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose local implementation. More details in my @laist.com story:
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...
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...
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.
calmatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:40 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by Ben Christopher
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
This year, those threats seem more real than ever. bit.ly/3Ljqu0l
📸 Jungho Kim
January 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
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
This year, those threats seem more real than ever. bit.ly/3Ljqu0l
📸 Jungho Kim
Reposted by Ben Christopher
Holy hell, what an obituary
Renfrew Christie Dies at 76; Sabotaged Racist Regime’s Nuclear Program
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:57 PM
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."
"I have been, since I got into the Legislature in 2018, almost a crazy woman when it comes to housing."
January 15, 2026 at 8:23 PM
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."
"I have been, since I got into the Legislature in 2018, almost a crazy woman when it comes to housing."
"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-...
Didn't know that!
missionlocal.org/2026/01/s-f-...
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.
missionlocal.org
January 15, 2026 at 8:07 PM
"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-...
Didn't know that!
missionlocal.org/2026/01/s-f-...
An unlikely meeting of the minds of two political foes who, in a race to head off the electorate’s concerns about affordability, have landed upon the same populist message.
Newsom and Trump agree on something: Blame Wall Street for the housing crisis
Political foes Newsom and Trump are both targeting corporate landlords this week. Newsom plans to address the issue during Thursday’s State of the State.
calmatters.org
January 8, 2026 at 12:36 AM
An unlikely meeting of the minds of two political foes who, in a race to head off the electorate’s concerns about affordability, have landed upon the same populist message.
Reposted by Ben Christopher
Gavin Newsom will go after Big Landlord in Thursday's State of the State address, report @frombenc.bsky.social and @jeannereporter.bsky.social:
Newsom and Trump agree on something: Blame Wall Street for the housing crisis
Political foes Newsom and Trump are both targeting corporate landlords this week. Newsom plans to address the issue during Thursday’s State of the State.
calmatters.org
January 8, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Gavin Newsom will go after Big Landlord in Thursday's State of the State address, report @frombenc.bsky.social and @jeannereporter.bsky.social:
Reposted by Ben Christopher
Former reality television personality Spencer Pratt announced from the stage of a protest on the one-year anniversary of the LA wildfires that he’s running for mayor of Los Angeles. He didn’t take questions but I asked him if he actually submitted paperwork and he showed me
January 7, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Former reality television personality Spencer Pratt announced from the stage of a protest on the one-year anniversary of the LA wildfires that he’s running for mayor of Los Angeles. He didn’t take questions but I asked him if he actually submitted paperwork and he showed me
Horseshoe theory something something
January 7, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Horseshoe theory something something
“It turns out that mostly when people say ‘New York is noisy’ they really mean ‘cars are noisy.’”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed.
How life has changed in the New York area, according to data on traffic, transit and the responses of 600 readers.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:34 PM
“It turns out that mostly when people say ‘New York is noisy’ they really mean ‘cars are noisy.’”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
I wonder if this is a phenomenon outside oil and gas where you find politicians taking, say, an anti-regulatory posture that may not be embraced by all, even most, members of the regulated industry. Literally not pro-business, but a pro-businessism aesthetic with a political signaling function.
This is part of a bigger trend of the political valence of oil disconnecting from the actual economics of O and G. I keep telling people to do a little humorous anthropology and read the industry sub Reddit. Half the posts are joking that the industry boosters are morons or old and out of touch.
The amount of “this is clearly about oil” posting across all platforms as story after story comes out where the oil industry is saying that the oil isn’t worth extracting is making me feel a little insane
January 5, 2026 at 12:57 AM
I wonder if this is a phenomenon outside oil and gas where you find politicians taking, say, an anti-regulatory posture that may not be embraced by all, even most, members of the regulated industry. Literally not pro-business, but a pro-businessism aesthetic with a political signaling function.
Reposted by Ben Christopher
Yes, as a nation we are bad at bringing up our children and the childless amongst us treat their dogs like the children they would bring up badly if they had them.
January 1, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Yes, as a nation we are bad at bringing up our children and the childless amongst us treat their dogs like the children they would bring up badly if they had them.
Reposted by Ben Christopher
🧵 on a big new CA Court of Appeal decision that's going to make CEQA attorneys think twice when they're next asked to challenge a housing approval on contingency.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: New decision from CA Court of Appeal on the fee-shifting provisions of AB 1633 has big implications for NIMBYs' incentive to challenge housing approvals under CEQA & beyond. This one bel...
threadreaderapp.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:55 PM
🧵 on a big new CA Court of Appeal decision that's going to make CEQA attorneys think twice when they're next asked to challenge a housing approval on contingency.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/20065...
Sold razor blades to John Cleese while working as a drug store cashier in high school.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 29, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Sold razor blades to John Cleese while working as a drug store cashier in high school.
You are not going to believe how much I had to go out-of-pocket for targeted crab massage to treat my acute tummy ache (the doctor didn’t even wash her hands before administering!)
But that’s American healthcare for you smh
But that’s American healthcare for you smh
December 29, 2025 at 7:50 PM
You are not going to believe how much I had to go out-of-pocket for targeted crab massage to treat my acute tummy ache (the doctor didn’t even wash her hands before administering!)
But that’s American healthcare for you smh
But that’s American healthcare for you smh
Reposted by Ben Christopher
If true, the theory would rewrite the history of two legendary unsolved murders. An amateur sleuth claims he has cracked both the Black Dahlia and Zodiac cases — a claim experts say remains unproven but impossible to ignore.
An amateur codebreaker may have just solved the Black Dahlia and Zodiac killings
Two retired LAPD homicide detectives say that both notorious cases are solved -- with a single culprit -- thanks to the work of a novice sleuth.
www.latimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
If true, the theory would rewrite the history of two legendary unsolved murders. An amateur sleuth claims he has cracked both the Black Dahlia and Zodiac cases — a claim experts say remains unproven but impossible to ignore.
For all the concerns that many pro-housing development advocates had about a President Pro Tem Limón, removing Wahab as Housing chair (albeit by giving her a top leadership spot) and replacing her with a YIMBY Arreguin (albeit a “born again” one) has got to do some assuaging.
December 24, 2025 at 4:03 AM
For all the concerns that many pro-housing development advocates had about a President Pro Tem Limón, removing Wahab as Housing chair (albeit by giving her a top leadership spot) and replacing her with a YIMBY Arreguin (albeit a “born again” one) has got to do some assuaging.
Homeownership is, we're told, a benchmark of success, a milestone of responsible adulthood, the most viable way to amass wealth for you and your progeny and the white-picket-fence-fronted embodiment of the American Dream.
What if it’s also a little overrated?
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
What if it’s also a little overrated?
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Why homeownership in California isn’t nearly the financial slam dunk it once was
High prices, high interest rates and cooling rents: These days tenancy (versus owning a home) in California has its perks.
calmatters.org
December 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Homeownership is, we're told, a benchmark of success, a milestone of responsible adulthood, the most viable way to amass wealth for you and your progeny and the white-picket-fence-fronted embodiment of the American Dream.
What if it’s also a little overrated?
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
What if it’s also a little overrated?
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
You know things are bad when both the DA and Sheriff are concerned that their side is winning in court TOO much.
Another great one by the great Anat Rubin:
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Another great one by the great Anat Rubin:
calmatters.org/investigatio...
December 17, 2025 at 6:46 PM
You know things are bad when both the DA and Sheriff are concerned that their side is winning in court TOO much.
Another great one by the great Anat Rubin:
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Another great one by the great Anat Rubin:
calmatters.org/investigatio...
It's often assumed, at least implicitly in a lot of housing coverage, that California is composed of 1) homeowners and 2) renters who aspire to own. I'm wondering how common renting-by-choice is. Anyone following me here fall into that category?
December 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
It's often assumed, at least implicitly in a lot of housing coverage, that California is composed of 1) homeowners and 2) renters who aspire to own. I'm wondering how common renting-by-choice is. Anyone following me here fall into that category?
If you see this, repost with your model of positive masculinity
December 6, 2025 at 4:12 AM
If you see this, repost with your model of positive masculinity
Reposted by Ben Christopher
State lawmakers targeted a Santa Barbara development. Then came the fallout
State lawmakers targeted a Santa Barbara development. Then came the fallout
In a highly unusual situation, a housing project in Santa Barbara must undergo reviews after a state bill included language apparently targeting the development.
www.latimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:06 PM
State lawmakers targeted a Santa Barbara development. Then came the fallout
Reposted by Ben Christopher
California shut down its last coal plant last week and nobody even noticed, it made so little little difference.
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Ding dong, coal is dead
At least in California.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:25 PM
California shut down its last coal plant last week and nobody even noticed, it made so little little difference.
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...
Meanwhile solar is up 17% and gas is down 17% from 2024. I have a few highlights... www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/ding-dong-...