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frombenc.bsky.social
Ben Christopher
@frombenc.bsky.social
410 followers 380 following 100 posts
Housing reporter @calmatters.org. Occasional dad tweets. Tell me things: Ben@calmatters.org / signal: BenC.2017
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Reposted by Ben Christopher
calmatters.org
Breaking: It’s a yes for Prop. 50. California voters approved the measure to temporarily suspend the state’s nonpartisan citizens redistricting commission until 2030. bit.ly/3WAJfhI

📝 @mayacmiller.bsky.social& @jeannereporter.bsky.social
📸 Ted Soqui
Gov. Gavin Newsom smiles during a rally about redistricting at the Democracy Center of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles on Aug. 14, 2025. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters. Text: Breaking: Prop. 50 passes in California The gerrymandering plan has significant stakes far beyond California’s borders
November 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
frombenc.bsky.social
Senate Bill 79 makes it easier to build homes near major public transit stops.

For opponents of rezoning, the only way to stop the prospect of apartments is to battle the bus.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
A new law makes it easier to build homes near buses. Guess what housing opponents are doing now
After Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law to allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops, opponents of new housing have a new reason to battle the bus.
calmatters.org
October 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
mzinshteyn.bsky.social
BREAKING: Ninth Circuit Court panel sides with Trump in Oregon National Guard case, staying Judge Immergut's original TRO. The two GOP-appointed judges decided on a stay. The Dem-appointed judge wrote a dissent.

This isn't much of a surprise, given the questioning we saw during oral argument.
storage.courtlistener.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Notable finding in a new paper on how California cities have responded to AB 2097, which scrapped minimum parking requirements for housing developments near major transit stops.

At least one city just ignored the law for housing near future, planned projects.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
October 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Grand Prairie, Texas, I was not familiar with your game.
ebwhamilton.bsky.social Emily Hamilton @ebwhamilton.bsky.social · 27d
The ways that Texas NIMBYs are finding to make apartments more expensive to build are are funnier than what coastal NIMBYs come up with reason.com/2025/10/14/t...

by @christianb.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
But really, who doesn't love a good ugly cry on a Thursday morning

calmatters.org/education/20...
How the tiniest domestic violence survivors are healing with the help of this preschool
A preschool in San Diego focuses on children who've experienced trauma, the "little guys". Mi Escuelita now has a long record of helping kids and families move forward.
calmatters.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
phillewis.bsky.social
“The Defense Department has confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America,” the Pentagon Press Association said
Oct. 15, 2025 PENTAGON PRESS ASSOCIATION STATEMENT Today, the Defense Department confiscated the badges of the Pentagon reporters from virtually every major media organization in America. It did this because reporters would not sign onto a new media policy over its implicit threat of criminalizing national security reporting and exposing those who sign it to potential prosecution. The Pentagon Press Association's members are still committed to reporting on the U.S. military. But make no mistake, today, Oct. 15, 2025 is a dark day for press freedom that raises concerns about a weakening U.S. commitment to transparency in governance, to public accountability at the Pentagon and to free speech for all. PPA
October 15, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
sfchronicle.com
Housing advocates who viewed SB79 as a potential sea change say it became diluted during the political process. The bill’s primary sponsor calls it a “a remarkably strong bill.”
This new California law could put more homes near transit. Our map shows where they'd be built
Housing advocates who viewed SB79 as a potential sea change say it became diluted during the political process. The bill’s primary sponsor calls it a “a remarkably strong bill.”
bit.ly
October 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Ben Metcalf @ternerhousing.bsky.social: "If costs come down and interest rates drop, you can imagine we’ve set the table for a building boom."

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Gavin Newsom signs law overhauling local zoning to build more housing
After weeks of waiting, California’s governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California’s biggest metro areas.
calmatters.org
October 10, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
calmatters.org
After weeks of waiting, California's governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California's biggest metro areas. https://cal.news/4n3hzge

📝 @frombenc.bsky.social
📸 Ray Chavez
Passengers look on as a BART train didn’t stop at the Rockridge BART station due to a systemwide closure that affected all BART stations, in Oakland on March 9, 2025. Photo by Ray Chavez, Bay Area News Group Hed: Breaking: Gov. Newsom signs massive California housing overhaul
October 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Newsom signed SB79.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Newsom signs massive California housing overhaul
After weeks of waiting, California’s governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California’s biggest metro areas.
calmatters.org
October 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
Every single person in my feed:

What's the deal with SB 79? Has Newsom signed SB 79? What is Newsom waiting for on SB 79? Newsom better veto SB 79! If Newsom doesn't sign SB 79 tonight I'm going to move to Canada. I'm launching a SB 79 shot clock widget SB 79 S!B 79 SB 79

Newsom:
Press release from Governor Gavin Newsom: A hiss-torical day: Governor Newsom signs bills establishing state snake, state shrub
October 10, 2025 at 3:04 AM
frombenc.bsky.social
In 2023, Los Altos Hills, a mansion-studded bedroom community above Silicon Valley, vowed to legalize some apartments at the north end of town.

Now, facing a project that would include the town’s first-ever affordable housing, the town is having second thoughts.

calmatters.org/housing/2025...
Why this wealthy Bay Area suburb is at the center of the next big fight over California housing
Los Altos Hills agreed to legalize some apartment buildings. Now it wants a do-over.
calmatters.org
October 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
calmatters.org
Los Altos Hills agreed to legalize some apartment buildings. Now, with a project proposed at Twin Oaks that would include the town’s first-ever affordable housing units, the wealthy Bay Area suburb is having second thoughts. https://cal.news/47hCdV6

📝 @frombenc.bsky.social
Why this wealthy Bay Area suburb is at the center of the next big fight over California housing
Los Altos Hills agreed to legalize some apartment buildings. Now it wants a do-over.
cal.news
October 9, 2025 at 12:36 AM
frombenc.bsky.social
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
October 6, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
kyledcheney.bsky.social
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.
October 6, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
kristinacooke.bsky.social
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.
October 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
joshuajfriedman.com
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
October 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
liamjdillon.com
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
October 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
jessecoburn.bsky.social
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
September 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
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
September 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
kqednews.kqed.org
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
September 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
frombenc.bsky.social
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
September 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
alexis-madrigal.bsky.social
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
September 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Ben Christopher
alfredtwu.com
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.
abundanthousingil.bsky.social Abundant Housing Illinois @abundanthousingil.bsky.social · Sep 20
LA Metro’s A Line is now almost 60 miles long. 😲

Where would you place a 60-mile light rail line in Chicago?
September 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM