If you’ve thought about buying a house, perused your local listings and then deleted the Zillow app from your phone while quietly weeping — you’ve probably noted that interest rates are high these days. cal.news/3S6pzBb

📝 Ben Christopher

Today's CalMatters newsletter Ben Christopher
-- CA ASSN OF REALTORS® on home prices
-- Carolyn Jones + Erica Yee on CA Department of Education test scores
-- Alejandro Lazo on CARB on #methane from cows
-- Jeanne Kuang on #tinyhomes
calmatters.org/newsletter/cal…

After deeming Toddler healthy and physically average, Doctor tells us to limit our two year old's meals to TWO TABLESPOONS.

Fixating on a demonstrably low risk of obesity while ignoring the health consequences of a lifetime of body image issues.

Docs: get your shit together.

Breaking: California’s COVID-era $5.2 billion rent relief program is at risk of running out of money. That could leave the more than 100K renters who had applied and are still awaiting a decision officially out of luck. cal.news/3PIinZm

📝 @frombenc

Caltrans official says she was demoted for objecting to highway expansion ow.ly/EC2G104WB8z

...can it, though?

Good write up here from my new colleague Yue Stella Yu

calmatters.org/politics/2023/…

To everyone who hasn't yet realized I'm now on the housing beat and is still emailing me about election stuff, please kindly re-direct those emails to Stella and say hello!

Good morning, California. Today’s my first day as the politics and campaign reporter for CalMatters.

What a time to be starting this beat.

Reach me at [email protected] if you have tips, feedback or just want to say hi!

Just weeks ago, Newsom dismissed the prospect of appointing Sen. Feinstein's replacement as 'a hypothetical on top of a hypothetical.'

From Alexei Koseff: 'That hypothetical is now real.'

calmatters.org/politics/2023/…

The uber exclusive Bay Area burb of Atherton is having a tough time finding room for all the new houses the state is forcing them to plan for.

One reason why: City council won't consider anything with more than 10 units per acre.

almanacnews.com/news/2023/09/2…

I dunno, I feel like ADHD might not be the main culprit here.

calmatters.org/education/high…

Also:
-- Ben Christopher on last-minute changes to #HousingCrisis bills by Senator Scott Wiener Anna Caballero
-- Tony Thurmond jumps into 2026 California Governor race
-- California Common Cause et al on language access for voters
calmatters.org/newsletters/wh…

After an effort to rescue California's home insurance market fell apart in the Legislature this month, Insurance Commission Ricardo Lara will pursue many of those ideas through regulation, Ben Christopher reports. calmatters.org/politics/2023/…

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara (Ricardo Lara) unveiled a new plan to shore up the California insurance market for homeowners. Insurers would return to wildfire zones, but would have an easier path to rate increases. cal.news/3EOBZWp

📝 Ben Christopher

You may have missed it, but a bunch of California bills and laws are removing restrictions on building homes for low-income residents.

Read Ben Christopher on the pros and cons of moving faster with affordable housing. And yes, this is another #CEQA story.

calmatters.org/housing/2023/0…

On Oct. 2, I will be joining CalMatters' politics team ahead of the 2024 election year, covering political campaigns with a mind around policies and voters.

I'll join a great team led by Foon Rhee and work with Alexei Koseff, Sameea Kamal and Lynn La. Can't wait to get started.