The California Wildfires and America's Housing Challenges

West Coast Land Use and Environmental Group Leader Jennifer Hernandez joined a webinar hosted by The Federalist Society titled "The California Wildfires and America's Housing Challenges." The virtual discussion explored how the recent wildfires in California have exacerbated the state's housing crisis, focusing on exclusionary zoning and regulatory restrictions. Ms. Hernandez opined that an "everything bagel" solution in which stakeholders of all types can "dip their straw" into state housing laws and policies has created a regulatory landscape that turns away investors and hinders development. To illustrate the issue, she cited an example in which an affordable housing developer reached the 90 percent approval stage of a multifamily housing complex, only to learn from the local authorities that the building needed another staircase; millions of dollars and several units lost later, the staircase was complete, to the project's detriment. The webinar addressed these challenges, looking at how state and local governments are approaching the needs of displaced landowners and how Gov. Gavin Newsom's emergency orders will affect rebuilding. The speakers also debated what effect California's response to the natural disaster will have on housing in the future.

Duration: 58:24