Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast

A first of its kind for Gimme Shelter: A crossover episode! Matt and Liam join comedy writer and all around smart guy Hayes Davenport, Curbed editor Alissa Walker, and housing guru Scott Frazier of L.A. Podcast to talk about the intersection of state and local housing policy in L.A. If you're interested in good local news podcasts, you should subscribe to them: https://lapodcast.simplecast.fm/

Last year, state legislators passed a suite of laws billed as the biggest attempt to ease California's housing crisis in a generation. Matt and Liam discuss how those new laws are playing out on the ground, and how we should judge whether they're working or not. First, the Avocado of the Fortnight takes us to Ben Carson's twitter feed, which is causing headaches for California YIMBYs (3:30). Then the debut of the podcast's new segment, Housing on the Ballot, where Matt and Liam talk about the latest developments in the rent control war (11:30). Matt and Liam then talk about the three highest profile bills in the housing package, and how a deteriorating mall in Cupertino may hold the key to one bill's success (17:00). An interview with Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul (35:30), who opposes a project that invokes the state housing package. And finally a chat with Ben Metcalf, head of the state housing department and the man in charge of making sure the housing package works (51:00).*

*Apologies for the audio quality on this last interview, Matt's microphone was not working properly.

It's been one year of Matt and Liam talking about California's housing crisis. They reflect on the biggest stories of the past twelve months, and what they expect to be on the podcast in the year ahead. First, an Avocado of the Fortnight takes us to a potentially awkward roommate situation at UC Santa Cruz (5:00). Then a recap of the last month of housing legislation at the Capitol, including Liam's choice for the most important housing bill that passed(10:00). And finally, Matt and Liam talk about the past and future of the pod (30:00).

What do the Big Lebowski, Proposition 13 and feudalism have to do with each other? A little-known ballot measure passed in the mid 1980's that allows children to inherit the property taxes of their parents--and that is costing the state billions.

Matt and Liam discuss Liam's investigation into a uniquely Californian property tax break that has disproportionately benefited the state's elite. First, a very brief interview with the Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges, profiled in the story as one of the beneficiaries of the tax break. Then, for the Avocado of the Fortnight, Liam reveals how he discovered his lead for the piece would involve the Dude (6:00). Then a discussion of the implications of inheriting Prop 13 benefits for local and state governments, and for the inter-generatoinal transmission of wealth (12:00). Matt explains some surprisingly consistent polling on Prop. 13 (30:00). And finally an interview with Bob Flasher, a 73-year-old retired park ranger who inherited a second home in Sonoma County but has mixed feelings about his property tax benefits (36:50).

The story: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-california-property-taxes-elites-201808-htmlstory.html

Matt and Liam discuss Proposition 5, an initiative on the ballot this November that would allow older homeowners to carry their Prop 13 property tax benefits with them when they move. First, an Avocado of the Fortnight takes us to the Oakland Raiders' training camp, where Bay Area housing prices are giving some new players sticker shock (3:00). Then an example of how Prop 13 really works when it comes to property taxes (7:00), follow by an example of how Prop 5 would work (17:00). A review of the arguments for and against the initiative, as well as some of the political weirdness that surrounds it (21:00). Finally, interviews with Steve White, president of the California Association of Realtors who are sponsoring Prop 5 (30:15), and Dorothy Johnson, an advocate with the California State Association of Counties who oppose the initiative (44:30).

Should California look to the Northwest for answers to its housing woes? Liam and Matt explore whether Seattle, which builds at twice the rate as San Francisco and has seen falling rents in recent years, could provide a model for California cities. First, in a very special Avocado of the Fortnight, Matt introduces us to the woman behind the most famous zucchini in all of housing Twitter (3:30). Then a run-down of the housing bills the state legislature will take up in their last working month this year (11:20). Matt and Liam then talk about their impressions of Seattle's housing crisis from a California perspective (21:00), before being joined by the best follow in all of housing Twitter, the Seattle Times' Mike Rosenberg (@byrosenberg) (26:00).

One housing issue will overshadow all others this election: Rent control. Matt and Liam discuss why renewed negotiations to remove a controversial rent control initiative from the ballot went nowhere, and what the campaigns will look like this fall. First, Matt proposes a solution to the Los Angeles Clippers' battles with the California Environmental Quality Act in the Avocado of the Fortnight (3:30). Then a discussion about why negotiations over rent control have been so fruitless (11:23). Debra Carlton, senior vice president of public affairs for the California Apartment Association, stops by the studio to talk about the landlords' perspective (24:00). And Amy Schur, campaign director for Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, calls in to give the tenants' side (47:30). *

*We refer to Amy with the wrong title at the beginning of the podcast, we apologize for the error.

A grab bag of topics on this pod. First, the Avocado of the Fortnight asks what would Yeezus do about California's housing crisis (2:00)? Then, a discussion about what the primary results mean for housing, up and down the ballot (4:00). Next a recap of what important housing bills survived major legislative deadlines. Then finally Liam and Matt talk about a recent proposal for a rent control compromise, and how both sides reacted to it (21:00).

Matt and Liam discuss a handful of tenants' rights bills with uncertain futures currently making their way through the state Legislature. First, an Avocado of the Fortnight asks what historians will make of a Los Angeles-area gas station decades from now (2:30). The Number of the Fortnight introduces us to an arcane part of the legislative process called the "suspense file", which could spell the doom of several key housing bills (5:30). Then the current state of tenants' rights in California, and some bills meant to strengthen those protections (12:30). Finally, an interview with Fernando Nadal, an organizer for the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment who was removed from a Sacramento rental property he lived in two years ago (28:00).

Housing has become a major issue in California's race for governor. With the June primary less than a month away, Matt and Liam dive into each of the candidate's plans to solve our affordability crisis. First, the Avocado of the Fortnight takes Matt to an extremely hot property in San Jose (2:50). Then a discussion of how gubernatorial candidates handled housing questions in this week's debate (6:10). Liam walks us through each of the candidate's plans--Newsom (13:00), Cox (18:00), Villaraigosa (20:00), Allen (23:00), Chiang (25:15), and Eastin (27:00). Finally, a roundtable with veteran political reporters Laurel Rosenhall of CALmatters and Phil Willon of the L.A. Times on how housing has played out in the race for governor. Be sure to check out CALmatters' voter guide (https://elections.calmatters.org/2018/)and Liam's breakdown of the candidate's plans (https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-may-2018-california-s-gubernatorial-candidates-1525972798-htmlstory.html).