Who Killed Needed California Zoning Reform?

For a moment, it seemed like California policymakers were ready to pass legislation capable of putting a serious dent in the state's housing-affordability crisis. But in May, the state senate shelved Senate Bill 50, which would have eased restrictions on housing density along public-transit corridors and in job-rich areas. SB 50's sponsors had built a broad bipartisan coalition of support, and polling indicated that a majority of Californians supported key provisions. State Senator Anthony Portantino, chairman of the appropriations committee, took the steps that blocked the bill, but, according to Liam Dillon of the Los Angeles Times, suburban homeowners were the real force behind SB 50's demise. Portantino, after all, represents wealthy Los Angeles suburbs like La Cañada Flintridge, which haven't built a single apartment in decades.