Part 10/13:
This controversy cannot be divorced from California’s long-standing housing affordability crisis. The state has huge housing shortages, with supply severely constrained by restrictive zoning laws, lengthy approval processes, and political opposition to high-density development in affluent areas. As a result, property values and rents skyrocket, pushing low-income residents further away from employment centers.
Massive fires have further complicated this picture, destroying thousands of homes and intensifying the demand for rebuilding. Yet, the response remains sluggish, and the infusion of money into low-income projects—particularly in wealthier districts—feeds fears of gentrification and loss of community character.