In efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, a new California state law will make the construction of granny units easier.
"The law no longer gives neighbors the right to object to the construction of small apartments known as granny units, although cities can still impose other restrictions....Whether the statewide push will spur the creation of more affordable housing remains unclear, since there is no guarantee that new granny units would offer low rents or be leased at all. But one thing is certain: The shift can polarize residents, who argue about whether it will destroy the character of their single-family neighborhoods....State housing officials believe more granny units would help reduce the state's housing shortage without increasing sprawl, as well as provide homeowners who are having trouble paying the mortgage with enough money to stay in their neighborhoods."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Need for housing softens zoning laws

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Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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