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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 2d

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.

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Kristina Cooke @kristinacooke.bsky.social · 4d

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.

Ted Hesson @tedhesson.bsky.social · 4d

US Border Patrol raid sweeps in citizens, families as Chicago crackdown intensifies, w/ @reneehickman.bsky.social @kristinacooke.bsky.social www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

US Border Patrol raid sweeps in citizens, families as Chicago crackdown intensifies

U.S. Border Patrol agents deployed to Chicago led a late-night raid on an apartment building this week, rappelling from helicopters onto rooftops and breaking down doors in an operation authorities said targeted gang members but which swept up U.S. citizens and families.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 6d

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

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Liam Dillon @liamjdillon.com · 7d

So very excited to share that I’ll be writing about housing in Los Angeles and across California for Politico www.politico.com/blogs/politi...

POLITICO Expands California Coverage with New Housing Beat, Welcomes Veteran Reporter Liam Dillon

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Jesse Coburn @jessecoburn.bsky.social · 9d

The rules from the Department of Housing and Urban Development would allow major changes to public housing and Section 8 vouchers:

- full-time work requirements
- 2-year time limits
- stripping aid from whole families if one member is in the country illegally

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Millions Could Lose Housing Aid Under Trump Plan

Drafts of unpublished rules obtained by ProPublica detail plans that would open the door to full-time work requirements, two-year limits on living in federally supported housing and stripping aid from...

www.propublica.org

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 12d

Bit of a deep cut this Friday morning.

How big is California‘s housing shortage anyway?

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Why figuring out how many homes California needs is more art than science

56,000. 2.7 million. 840,000. Why is one of California’s most pressing policy problems so hard to measure?

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

KQED News @kqednews.kqed.org · 14d

Are YIMBYs Winning the Housing Debate?

California Democrats pushing to build more housing by removing barriers to development have had major victories this year. Now, Governor Newsom will decide whether to sign a controversial bill that would increase housing near bus stops and transit lines. Scott and Marisa discuss the housing debate in Sacramento with CalMatters reporter Ben Christopher. Then, they’re joined … Continue reading Are YIMBYs Winning the Housing Debate? →

dlvr.it

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 16d

Gotta appreciate the technological marvel of my phone robotically screaming that an earthquake is happening five seconds after I’ve woken up to my entire house shaking as a result of the earthquake that was very obviously happening

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Alexis Madrigal @alexis-madrigal.bsky.social · 16d

Damn! Only a 4.8 but basically at the Claremont Hotel

Felt big!

earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/...

The Earthquake Event Page application supports most recent browsers, view supported browsers. Or, try our Real-time Notifications, Feeds, and Web Services.

earthquake.usgs.gov

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 17d

Los Angeles' A line is now the longest light rail line in the world, if the Bay Area had something this long, it would run all the way from San Jose to San Francisco.

Abundant Housing Illinois @abundanthousingil.bsky.social · 18d

LA Metro’s A Line is now almost 60 miles long. 😲

Where would you place a 60-mile light rail line in Chicago?

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 18d

My editor's comments when I turn in 3k words on a story that's supposed to max out at 800.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 20d

The end of an era for California reporting. Liam was doing this work before CalMatters even had a housing reporter. (In fact, it's possible CalMatters wouldn't even HAVE a housing reporter without Liam.)

A sad day for the LA Times, but glad he's still in the game! We're all better off for his work.

Liam Dillon @liamjdillon.com · 20d

After nearly 10 years, today is my last day at the @latimes.com. I'm so grateful to have worked with so many talented people. Please be on the lookout for one more big story soon!

Can't share yet where I'm headed next, but I'll still be writing about California housing issues.

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 20d

LA Mayor Karen Bass is requesting a veto on transit-oriented development bill SB 79, which is headed to Gavin Newsom's desk: "While SB 79 allows for local ordinances as an alternative compliance, it does not provide a viable path for a pro-housing city like Los Angeles"

September 17, 2025
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 79 (Wiener) - Housing development: transit-oriented development
Los Angeles Mayor Bass - REQUEST FOR VETO
Dear Governor Newsom, I write to respectfully request your veto on Senate Bill 79 (Wiener). While I support the intent to accelerate housing development statewide, as written, Senate Bill 79 (SB 79) risks significant unintended consequences for many of Los Angeles' diverse communities. As Mayor, creating more affordable housing remains a top priority, and I have cut red tape and spearheaded local initiatives, such as the Citywide Housing Incentive Program, to
accelerate housing development. We must create more housing near transit hubs and areas with access to jobs, education, and amenities. We must streamline the production of housing for all Angelenos. However, we must do so in a way that does not erode local control, diminish community input on planning and zoning, and disproportionately impact low-resource neighborhoods. The City of Los Angeles has already made substantial efforts to align with state housing goals and
increase housing development citywide and will continue to do so. While SB 79 allows for local ordinances as an alternative compliance, it does not provide a viable path for a pro-housing city like Los Angeles. For these reasons, I respectfully request
your veto on SB 79.
Sincerely,
Kaven Bass
KAREN BASS
Mayor

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 24d

Update:

The Assembly passed this last night and the Senate sent it to the governor in the wee hours of the morning.

I, mercifully, was asleep. This news comes courtesy of my sleepless, ever-diligent colleague @jeannereporter.bsky.social

Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 28d

A bill proposed Monday night, just days before the end of the legislative session, would punch a very small hole in a landmark housing law passed earlier this year that appears to apply to one (1) proposed apartment building in the incoming Senate leader's district.

calmatters.org/politics/202...

This last-minute deal could stymie a new Santa Barbara apartment building

The 270-unit is proposed behind the city’s historic Mission, and in the district of incoming Senate president Monique Limón.

calmatters.org

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 25d

ICYMI

Yesterday the California legislature passed a bill that paves the way for a highly targeted building boom around major urban public transit stops.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Your neighborhood could get seven-story buildings if it's near a train station

A bill California lawmakers approved allows dense apartments near transit stations, overriding local zoning to address the housing crisis.

calmatters.org

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 25d

The passage of this bill, nearly a decade in the making, slaps a symbolic bow on what has already been a banger of a year for controversial and ambitious housing production legislation in California.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...

Your neighborhood could get seven-story buildings if it's near a train station

A bill California lawmakers approved allows dense apartments near transit stations, overriding local zoning to address the housing crisis.

calmatters.org

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 25d

Is this an historic first instance of "poopy" being spoken in this august body, @alexvassar.bsky.social?

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 25d

Oh, so that's why @asmlowenthal.bsky.social said "poopy" on the floor yesterday. I was so confused.

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

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Reposted by Ben Christopher

David Wagner @dwagner.bsky.social · 26d

Well that fizzled fast...

State lawmakers have now shelved their efforts to reform L.A.'s "mansion tax." Mayor Bass said she asked State Senators to hold off and introduce an amended version of the bill next year.

Details in my @laist.com story:

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 26d

And if none of those words make any sense to you, good summary in Politico's newsletter yesterday evening:

www.politico.com/newsletters/...

‘Disgusting, vile, and reprehensible’

www.politico.com

Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 26d

A deal that would have capped Los Angeles' ULA transfer tax under the condition that @prop13.bsky.social remove a proposed ballot measure aimed at making it harder for local govs to raise taxes is dead for the year.

Statement from @senatorgonzalez.bsky.social and @asmtinamckinnor.bsky.social:

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 27d

Deleted my earlier post that misstated the status of this bill.

The Senate budget committee did kill it (for reasons totally unrelated to the story below, it seems), but I’m told the Assembly could still move with its version. Senate would then have to concur.

So, in theory, still alive!

Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 28d

A bill proposed Monday night, just days before the end of the legislative session, would punch a very small hole in a landmark housing law passed earlier this year that appears to apply to one (1) proposed apartment building in the incoming Senate leader's district.

calmatters.org/politics/202...

This last-minute deal could stymie a new Santa Barbara apartment building

The 270-unit is proposed behind the city’s historic Mission, and in the district of incoming Senate president Monique Limón.

calmatters.org

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 27d

An eyebrow raising detail in this story by @levisu.bsky.social about rideshare drivers winning the right to unionize in California

Now that the state's 800,000 drivers have gained those rights, they will need to choose a union to represent them.
The SEIU, which sponsored the legislation, will likely become the drivers' representative, thanks to late amendments to the bill. They include new requirements that make it tough for fledgling drivers unions to qualify to represent drivers. One of those requirements is experience negotiating union contracts.
"This is so outrageous," said Nicole Moore, president of Los Angeles-based Rideshare Drivers United, adding that because the ride-hailing industry is fairly new, even a group like hers, which has been organizing drivers since 2018, does not have that experience. Moore said her group had supported the bill and been engaging with lawmakers as well. "They pulled the rug out from under us," she said.

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Ben Christopher @frombenc.bsky.social · 28d

Updated the story with a statement from the company that is developing the project that seems have been the subject of this legislation.

In an unattributed statement from Mission LLC, the company slammed the deal and said it would sue, “as California prohibits legislation attacking a single project.”

“This bill is an example of the control of public policy by a few wealthy NIMBYs in an attempt to obstruct desperately needed low-income housing,” the company wrote. “The project, located in a wealthy area of Santa Barbara, would provide 54 low-income units and this attempt to block it demonstrates the kowtowing of some legislators to wealthy NIMBY constituents.”

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