Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
CALIFORNIA YIMBY EVENTS
Affordable Housing Townhall — Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 4:30PM
Join us for a special Affordable Housing Town Hall with the California state legislature’s most powerful pro-housing champions:
- Senate Housing Committee Chair, Scott Wiener
- Assembly Housing Committee Chair, Buffy Wicks
- Assembly Social Housing Select Committee Chair Alex Lee.
We’ll discuss their latest legislative efforts to alleviate California’s housing shortage and affordability crisis and how pro-housing advocates can work together to ensure their success.
This event is Hosted by the Housing Action Coalition (HAC), California YIMBY, Greenbelt Alliance, and East Bay For Everyone.
PARTNER EVENTS
Santa Cruz YIMBY Monthly Meeting — Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 5:30PM
Housing Elements: How Can YOU Use State Law to Help Your City Allow Housing? featuring CA Housing Element Watchdog Superstars, Jeremy Levine and Anne Paulson
LCI: How Safe Streets Unlock Housing — Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 7:00PM
Join the Livable Communities Initiative for a virtual presentation and Q&A on how safe streets can unlock housing and address the housing and climate crisis. Please feel free to invite friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and anyone in your community who might be interested.
South Bay Housers Meet Up — Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 12:30PM
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse – 10690 N De Anza Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014 US
Want to get involved in the pro-housing movement in the South Bay? Come meet and chat with leaders in the region’s housing movement and learn how you can get involved.
Co-sponsored by Livable Sunnyvale, Cupertino for All, South Bay YIMBY, and Silicon Valley Young Democrats.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 – State Legislative Update
Hear from our legislative team about the 2023 session in Sacramento, some of the key housing bills that have been filed so far, and what our priorities are for the year ahead!Tuesday, July 26, 2022 – State Legislative Update
Bill authors, sponsors and experts joined our Legislative Team to share intimate knowledge on why these proposed laws are so important and how they will create a positive impact on our state's housing crisis. Speakers included:- Assemblymember Laura Friedman, author of AB 2097
- Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, author of AB 2873
- Michael Lane, State Policy Director at SPUR
- Derek Mazzeo, Political Director, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
- Alex Dawson, Senior Program Officer, LISC LA
- Zennon Ulyate-Crow, President, Student Housing Coalition
Thursday, June 30, 2022 – Homelessness 101
We held a webinar with experts on Homelessness on June 30th, 2022 to discuss what we can do about homelessness locally. These experts included:- Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, President and CEO of St. Joseph Center
- Julie Lo, Executive Officer, California Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Clayton Aldern, Senior Data Reporter at Grist and co-author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem
- Cynthia Nagendra, Deputy Director, SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing
Friday, June 17th, 2022 – Meet the Housing Law Enforcers
California’s state legislature has made major strides in reducing the barriers to building housing statewide. However, many local governments have failed to comply with state housing law, with some making explicit efforts to sidestep these laws by exploiting loopholes and carveouts.In response, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Attorney General's Office have each created units to provide technical assistance, oversight, and enforcement of the implementation of laws like SB 330, SB 35, and ADU streamlining law.
Join us to at 5pm on June 16th to meet our housing law enforcers: David Pai, Deputy Attorney General in the Housing Strike Force, and David Zisser, the Assistant Deputy Director in the HCD Housing Accountability Unit.
Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 – Introducing: the Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions
Learn about a new coalition designed to operate at the intersection of housing, wildfire, and climate: The Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions. In partnership with Endangered Habitats League, we’ve convened a coalition of leading environmental & housing organizations to solve one of California’s most pressing challenges: How do we build more housing that’s affordable, while protecting critical natural and working lands? Monday, September 20, 2021 – Celebrating YIMBY Victories: 2021 Legislative Session Debrief
This year thousands of YIMBYs organized and fought to pass important housing bills like SB 9 and SB 10! But the fight doesn’t stop there. The California YIMBY legislative team sat down for a deep dive into the status of critical housing legislation. What bills passed and failed? Where do they go now? And how can YIMBYs continue to push for more housing in their backyards this year? Thursday, June 3, 2021 – At-Large Council Districts, Racial Equity and NIMBYism with Professor Michael Hankinson
Following the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, many cities began switching from at-large elections, where all city council members represented the entire city, to district-based elections, where separate members each represented a specific geographic area. How did this change affect how much new housing got built, and where it was located? Michael Hankinson of George Washington University and Asya Magazinnik of MIT studied the shift, and found that switching to district elections resulted in fewer units of multi-family housing.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Addressing our Climate Crisis through Affordable Housing Advocacy with Greenbelt Alliance
As wildfires worsen, temperatures are peaking (2020 was the hottest year on record), and air quality decreases, Bay Area communities are already experiencing the overlapping impacts of climate change in their backyard. Building climate SMART infill housing is one of the most potent means of reducing climate pollution with local policies. As all cities gear up to update their Housing Elements for 2022, we must make sure they balance the new growth of our region with impending climate risks. Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Affordable Housing Happy Hour
If you've been wondering what it takes to build affordable housing in the Bay Area, why there isn't more of it, and what needs to happen to increase the availability of affordable homes, this conversation is for you! Guests include: - Sam Moss, Executive Director of Mission Housing Development Corporation
- Maureen Sedonaen, CEO Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
- Eric Shaw, Director of the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development
- Xiomara Cisneros, Housing Manager at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (Moderator)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 – California's 2021 State Housing Bills: What You Need to Know
The Legislature is officially back in session and you know what that means: new housing bills! Join California YIMBY for a deep dive into the latest state housing bills. Bring your questions and learn about opportunities to advocate for more homes. Wednesday, March 3, 2021 – The Plex Panel: Legalizing Missing Middle Housing in Northern California Cities
Heard the good news about Sacramento ending exclusionary zoning & allowing fourplexes in all neighborhoods? Want to learn how to accomplish this in your city? Join us for a discussion with advocates from Sacramento, the East Bay, and the South Bay for a discussion of how to advance this timely & exciting policy reform. Featuring a panel discussion with Ansel Lundberg of House Sacramento, Vice Mayor Lori Droste of Berkeley, and Kiyomi Yamamoto of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. Co-hosted by California YIMBY, House Sacramento, East Bay for Everyone, Peninsula for Everyone, and South Bay YIMBY. Thursday, February 18, 2021 – Money and Housing in the 2021-22 State Budget
We’re sitting down with Jason Elliott, Governor Gavin Newsom's top advisor on housing, to talk money! The governor's 2021-22 Proposed State Budget is good news for housing advocates -- From proposals to reduce homelessness and produce more affordable homes, to coronavirus relief to protect renters from eviction. Learn more about the new opportunities to advance housing for all in the coming months. Wednesday, December 16, 2020 – Affordable Housing in Ventura County
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and Ventura County YIMBY sit down with experts for a discussion about affordable housing. Panelists include: - Carmen Ramirez, Mayor pro tem of Oxnard and Ventura County Supervisor-elect
- Rebecca Albarran, county worker in Simi Valley and co-lead of Ventura County YIMBY
- Darcy Taylor, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ventura County
- Louis Mirante, Legislative Director for California YIMBY
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 – Prop 16: Ending the Ban on Affirmative Action Conversation
There's no question about it: For more than a century, housing discrimination in California against communities of color has led to disproportionate rates of homelessness, displacement, and COVID-19. This fall, we have the power to begin undoing the damage. By passing Prop 16, we can end California’s ban on affirmative action allowing for intentional, active, race-conscious solutions to support the communities who have been victimized by systematic racial and gender discrimination. Join us for a conversation about Prop 16 and learn how it will start to tackle discrimination by bringing back affirmative action. Wednesday, October 14, 2020 – Building Fire-Safe Communities: A Discussion with Michael Wara
With destructive wildfires ravaging our state, and acrid smoke filling our cities, one thing every Californian agrees on is this: We urgently need to protect our communities from fire, and ensure our neighbors impacted by fire have safe, secure, and affordable shelter. In this open discussion with Michael Wara, a Senior Research Scholar at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program, we’ll talk about the implications of wildfire to California’s housing future, including topics like: - Will homes in extreme fire zones lose their insurance? How will the state respond?
- How can we fortify our communities against the inevitable fires in our future? What are the barriers?
- What’s the connection between traditional sprawl development and fire risk?
- What kinds of housing should we be building to help avoid fire zones, increase resilience, and ensure there’s enough affordable housing for everyone in California?
Thursday, October 1, 2020 – Housing in a Time of Climate Change
Across California, the impacts of climate change are obvious: Wildfires are growing bigger and more intense, low-lying areas are flooding with greater frequency, and heat waves are getting more severe and deadly. At the same time, climate pollution caused by sprawl development is getting worse, even as the state tries to reduce emissions across the economy as a part of its aggressive climate action goals. This panel of climate scientists, planning professionals, and urban resilience experts will share research that shows how infill housing near transit and jobs is one of the most important tools for climate action, and how cities, suburbs, and rural communities across our state must begin to adapt, urgently, to the climate changes that are already underway. Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – Housing Town Hall with Senator Scott Wiener
Senator Scott Wiener is a hero to housing advocates across the state for his role in shepherding landmark legislation to end California’s severe housing shortage and affordability crisis, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, and to expand our public transportation system. What advice does Senator Wiener have for the YIMBY movement? What’s next on his policy agenda? What motivates him to keep pushing against the forces of stasis? Join California YIMBY and Senator Wiener to hear about his long-term vision for building sustainable communities, learn about current and upcoming housing legislation, and talk about the future of the YIMBY movement. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 – Housing Policy is Transportation Policy: Public Transportation Experts Speak Out
Building affordable housing near high-quality transit is necessary for addressing both our housing and climate crises. Yet the co-dependency of our housing and transportation systems is not reflected in the way we make policy in these two areas, which are often in conflict with each other. Meanwhile, the high costs of car-centric transportation, including the carbon emissions and air pollution choking our cities, continue to climb. This panel of seasoned transportation professionals and policymakers will dig into the history of the relationship between our transportation systems and affordable housing, and how reforms in both areas can complement each other to solve both the housing crisis, and the climate and air pollution crises. Wednesday, July 8th, 2020 – Understanding Racism in Housing: a Conversation with the Filmmakers of “The Banker” Movie
Inspired by true events, “The Banker” is the story of Black entrepreneurs Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) who hatch a business plan to fight for housing integration — and equal access to the American Dream for African Americans. “The Banker” is set in the 1960’s, but the legacy of redlining, discriminatory lending practices, and outright racist housing policy persist today. Join California YIMBY for a special opportunity to meet the talent behind “The Banker”, learn about their inspiration for the film, and discuss how this connects to our work to reverse historic housing discrimination. “The Banker” is available on Apple TV+. Wednesday, July 1st, 2020 – How A Legal Victory for LGBTQ Rights Will Impact Housing
Join California YIMBY, Equality California, Williams Institute, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and Freedom for All Americans to hear from an expert panel about housing discrimination for the LGBTQ community and what the Supreme Court ruling means for protections moving forward. Click the Screenshot below to see this video!
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 – Meet CaRLA: The Team Suing NIMBY Cities and Winning
Learn how the laws passed by California YIMBY and our allies are being put to work to build more homes.Numerous state laws in California require cities to approve housing that complies with local plans. But for years, cities have denied housing proposals without consequence -- because there was no one there to enforce the law. California YIMBY and our allies California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund (CaRLA) are changing that -- and we’re telling you how!
View this recording to learn more about how advocates can use the law to fight back against NIMBY cities. We'll also discuss current lawsuits against cities that could help break open barriers and lead to more homes.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 – Housing Production and Affordability with Evan Mast
How can we build more affordable homes for ALL Californians?Mast has researched how market-rate development impacts affordability for local and regional residents. Please join us for a moderated discussion with our CEO, Brian Hanlon and Evan Mast on our data-driven path to housing affordability in California.
Friday, May 22nd, 2020 – Housing in the COVID-19 Recovery: What's Next? A Discussion on Economics, Policy, and Finance.
Thursday, May 21st, 2020 – How will the COVID-19 crisis impact our ability to finance and build new homes?
Please join California YIMBY, Abundant Housing Los Angeles, and top experts from around the state for a discussion on the future of affordable housing, housing finance, and related state housing legislation.The housing crisis was already a challenge before COVID-19; come and learn from these experts what we can do to move toward solutions as quickly as possible.
Friday, May 15th, 2020 – A Conversation with Jason Elliott and Kate Gordon
Join us, Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition, & the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association for a conversation about housing, homelessness, & COVID-19 with: - Jason Elliott, Senior Counselor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Housing & Homelessness
- Kate Gordon, Director of The Governor's Office of Planning and Research
Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 – Housing & Social Equity Series: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
To close the wealth gap, we have to address the role of housing. That's why we sat down with experts to discuss expanding pathways to homeownership and advancing economic equity. Our panelists included:- Adam Briones, Economic Equity Director for The Greenlining Institute
- Noerena Limón, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations for the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
- Robert Apodaca, Leadership Council member for The Two Hundred
Thursday, May 7th, 2020 – California YIMBY & YIMBY Voice Present: 'Generation Priced Out' with Randy Shaw
Randy Shaw is the Executive Director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, San Francisco’s leading provider of housing for homeless single adults. He's also the author of Generation Priced Out, a book that highlights the pricing out of a new generation of working and middle-class residents from the nation’s progressive cities. Mr. Shaw offers proven strategies from over a dozen cities for addressing the affordability crisis and combating climate change.
This is a recording of our event from Thursday, May 7th, Randy Shaw delivered his keen insight into the causes, aggravating factors, and solutions surrounding the housing crisis we are faced with today. He also explains why we NEED density in the post COVID-19 era.
Friday, May 1st, 2020 – California YIMBY, Habitat for Humanity, & The Two Hundred present: Virtual Town Hall with California Assemblymember Robert Rivas
A discussion with Assemblymember Rivas about the California Farmworker COVID-19 Relief Package and two major 2020 housing bills.Due to technical issues, Assemblymember Robert Rivas was unable to be live on video during the broadcast. Please check out this personal message from Assemblymember Rivas to our YIMBY followers: https://youtu.be/RMw2Bqd7UOs
Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – Housing & Social Equity Series: Discussion with Richard Rothstein, Author of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America.
This video dives into the roots of residential segregation, the impact on our communities today, and the legacy of the Fair Housing Act. This event is the first in our Housing & Social Equity Series -- join us to explore and understand the adverse impacts of the housing crisis across California, particularly in communities of color. Please stay tuned for more events to follow.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 – Peeling back the curtain on California’s response to COVID-19
California YIMBY and the Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition help peel back the curtain on California’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. We’re grateful to have been joined by the following panelists:
- Graciela Castillo Krings of Sacramento Advocates
- Holly Fraumeni de Jesus of Lighthouse Public Affairs
- Sosan Madanat of Lighthouse Public Affairs
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – SFHAC's Housing Town Hall
San Francisco Housing Action Coalition's Housing Town Hall with California State Senator Scott Wiener, California Assemblymember David Chiu, & California Assemblymember Phil Ting. This video is brought to you by the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition. For more information, visit their website: https://www.sfhac.org Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 – Abundant Housing LA's Covid-19 & Housing Virtual Panel moderated by Sophia Bush
Thursday, April 9th, 2020 – California YIMBY & East Bay for Everyone's Virtual Town Hall with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
We’re thrilled to have hosted a virtual Town Hall State with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and East Bay for Everyone on Thursday, April 9, to provide updates on state responses to COVID-19 as it relates to homelessness, tenant protections, and the evolving status of California housing legislation.Thursday, June 30th, 2022 – Homelessness 101
We held a webinar with experts on Homelessness on June 30th, 2022 to discuss what we can do about homelessness locally. These experts included:- Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, President and CEO of St. Joseph Center
- Julie Lo, Executive Officer, California Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Clayton Aldern, Senior Data Reporter at Grist and co-author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem
- Cynthia Nagendra, Deputy Director, SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing
Friday, June 17th, 2022 – Meet the Housing Law Enforcers
California’s state legislature has made major strides in reducing the barriers to building housing statewide. However, many local governments have failed to comply with state housing law, with some making explicit efforts to sidestep these laws by exploiting loopholes and carveouts.In response, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Attorney General's Office have each created units to provide technical assistance, oversight, and enforcement of the implementation of laws like SB 330, SB 35, and ADU streamlining law.
Join us to at 5pm on June 16th to meet our housing law enforcers: David Pai, Deputy Attorney General in the Housing Strike Force, and David Zisser, the Assistant Deputy Director in the HCD Housing Accountability Unit.
Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 – Introducing: the Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions
Learn about a new coalition designed to operate at the intersection of housing, wildfire, and climate: The Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions. In partnership with Endangered Habitats League, we’ve convened a coalition of leading environmental & housing organizations to solve one of California’s most pressing challenges: How do we build more housing that’s affordable, while protecting critical natural and working lands? Monday, September 20, 2021 – Celebrating YIMBY Victories: 2021 Legislative Session Debrief
This year thousands of YIMBYs organized and fought to pass important housing bills like SB 9 and SB 10! But the fight doesn’t stop there. The California YIMBY legislative team sat down for a deep dive into the status of critical housing legislation. What bills passed and failed? Where do they go now? And how can YIMBYs continue to push for more housing in their backyards this year? Thursday, June 3, 2021 – At-Large Council Districts, Racial Equity and NIMBYism with Professor Michael Hankinson
Following the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, many cities began switching from at-large elections, where all city council members represented the entire city, to district-based elections, where separate members each represented a specific geographic area. How did this change affect how much new housing got built, and where it was located? Michael Hankinson of George Washington University and Asya Magazinnik of MIT studied the shift, and found that switching to district elections resulted in fewer units of multi-family housing.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Addressing our Climate Crisis through Affordable Housing Advocacy with Greenbelt Alliance
As wildfires worsen, temperatures are peaking (2020 was the hottest year on record), and air quality decreases, Bay Area communities are already experiencing the overlapping impacts of climate change in their backyard. Building climate SMART infill housing is one of the most potent means of reducing climate pollution with local policies. As all cities gear up to update their Housing Elements for 2022, we must make sure they balance the new growth of our region with impending climate risks. Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Affordable Housing Happy Hour
If you've been wondering what it takes to build affordable housing in the Bay Area, why there isn't more of it, and what needs to happen to increase the availability of affordable homes, this conversation is for you! Guests include: - Sam Moss, Executive Director of Mission Housing Development Corporation
- Maureen Sedonaen, CEO Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
- Eric Shaw, Director of the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development
- Xiomara Cisneros, Housing Manager at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (Moderator)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 – California's 2021 State Housing Bills: What You Need to Know
The Legislature is officially back in session and you know what that means: new housing bills! Join California YIMBY for a deep dive into the latest state housing bills. Bring your questions and learn about opportunities to advocate for more homes. Wednesday, March 3, 2021 – The Plex Panel: Legalizing Missing Middle Housing in Northern California Cities
Heard the good news about Sacramento ending exclusionary zoning & allowing fourplexes in all neighborhoods? Want to learn how to accomplish this in your city? Join us for a discussion with advocates from Sacramento, the East Bay, and the South Bay for a discussion of how to advance this timely & exciting policy reform. Featuring a panel discussion with Ansel Lundberg of House Sacramento, Vice Mayor Lori Droste of Berkeley, and Kiyomi Yamamoto of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. Co-hosted by California YIMBY, House Sacramento, East Bay for Everyone, Peninsula for Everyone, and South Bay YIMBY. Thursday, February 18, 2021 – Money and Housing in the 2021-22 State Budget
We’re sitting down with Jason Elliott, Governor Gavin Newsom's top advisor on housing, to talk money! The governor's 2021-22 Proposed State Budget is good news for housing advocates -- From proposals to reduce homelessness and produce more affordable homes, to coronavirus relief to protect renters from eviction. Learn more about the new opportunities to advance housing for all in the coming months. Wednesday, December 16, 2020 – Affordable Housing in Ventura County
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and Ventura County YIMBY sit down with experts for a discussion about affordable housing. Panelists include: - Carmen Ramirez, Mayor pro tem of Oxnard and Ventura County Supervisor-elect
- Rebecca Albarran, county worker in Simi Valley and co-lead of Ventura County YIMBY
- Darcy Taylor, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ventura County
- Louis Mirante, Legislative Director for California YIMBY
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 – Prop 16: Ending the Ban on Affirmative Action Conversation
There's no question about it: For more than a century, housing discrimination in California against communities of color has led to disproportionate rates of homelessness, displacement, and COVID-19. This fall, we have the power to begin undoing the damage. By passing Prop 16, we can end California’s ban on affirmative action allowing for intentional, active, race-conscious solutions to support the communities who have been victimized by systematic racial and gender discrimination. Join us for a conversation about Prop 16 and learn how it will start to tackle discrimination by bringing back affirmative action. Wednesday, October 14, 2020 – Building Fire-Safe Communities: A Discussion with Michael Wara
With destructive wildfires ravaging our state, and acrid smoke filling our cities, one thing every Californian agrees on is this: We urgently need to protect our communities from fire, and ensure our neighbors impacted by fire have safe, secure, and affordable shelter. In this open discussion with Michael Wara, a Senior Research Scholar at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program, we’ll talk about the implications of wildfire to California’s housing future, including topics like: - Will homes in extreme fire zones lose their insurance? How will the state respond?
- How can we fortify our communities against the inevitable fires in our future? What are the barriers?
- What’s the connection between traditional sprawl development and fire risk?
- What kinds of housing should we be building to help avoid fire zones, increase resilience, and ensure there’s enough affordable housing for everyone in California?
Thursday, October 1, 2020 – Housing in a Time of Climate Change
Across California, the impacts of climate change are obvious: Wildfires are growing bigger and more intense, low-lying areas are flooding with greater frequency, and heat waves are getting more severe and deadly. At the same time, climate pollution caused by sprawl development is getting worse, even as the state tries to reduce emissions across the economy as a part of its aggressive climate action goals. This panel of climate scientists, planning professionals, and urban resilience experts will share research that shows how infill housing near transit and jobs is one of the most important tools for climate action, and how cities, suburbs, and rural communities across our state must begin to adapt, urgently, to the climate changes that are already underway. Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – Housing Town Hall with Senator Scott Wiener
Senator Scott Wiener is a hero to housing advocates across the state for his role in shepherding landmark legislation to end California’s severe housing shortage and affordability crisis, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, and to expand our public transportation system. What advice does Senator Wiener have for the YIMBY movement? What’s next on his policy agenda? What motivates him to keep pushing against the forces of stasis? Join California YIMBY and Senator Wiener to hear about his long-term vision for building sustainable communities, learn about current and upcoming housing legislation, and talk about the future of the YIMBY movement. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 – Housing Policy is Transportation Policy: Public Transportation Experts Speak Out
Building affordable housing near high-quality transit is necessary for addressing both our housing and climate crises. Yet the co-dependency of our housing and transportation systems is not reflected in the way we make policy in these two areas, which are often in conflict with each other. Meanwhile, the high costs of car-centric transportation, including the carbon emissions and air pollution choking our cities, continue to climb. This panel of seasoned transportation professionals and policymakers will dig into the history of the relationship between our transportation systems and affordable housing, and how reforms in both areas can complement each other to solve both the housing crisis, and the climate and air pollution crises. Wednesday, July 8th, 2020 – Understanding Racism in Housing: a Conversation with the Filmmakers of “The Banker” Movie
Inspired by true events, “The Banker” is the story of Black entrepreneurs Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) who hatch a business plan to fight for housing integration — and equal access to the American Dream for African Americans. “The Banker” is set in the 1960’s, but the legacy of redlining, discriminatory lending practices, and outright racist housing policy persist today. Join California YIMBY for a special opportunity to meet the talent behind “The Banker”, learn about their inspiration for the film, and discuss how this connects to our work to reverse historic housing discrimination. “The Banker” is available on Apple TV+. Wednesday, July 1st, 2020 – How A Legal Victory for LGBTQ Rights Will Impact Housing
Join California YIMBY, Equality California, Williams Institute, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and Freedom for All Americans to hear from an expert panel about housing discrimination for the LGBTQ community and what the Supreme Court ruling means for protections moving forward. Click the Screenshot below to see this video!
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 – Meet CaRLA: The Team Suing NIMBY Cities and Winning
Learn how the laws passed by California YIMBY and our allies are being put to work to build more homes.Numerous state laws in California require cities to approve housing that complies with local plans. But for years, cities have denied housing proposals without consequence -- because there was no one there to enforce the law. California YIMBY and our allies California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund (CaRLA) are changing that -- and we’re telling you how!
View this recording to learn more about how advocates can use the law to fight back against NIMBY cities. We'll also discuss current lawsuits against cities that could help break open barriers and lead to more homes.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 – Housing Production and Affordability with Evan Mast
How can we build more affordable homes for ALL Californians?Mast has researched how market-rate development impacts affordability for local and regional residents. Please join us for a moderated discussion with our CEO, Brian Hanlon and Evan Mast on our data-driven path to housing affordability in California.
Friday, May 22nd, 2020 – Housing in the COVID-19 Recovery: What's Next? A Discussion on Economics, Policy, and Finance.
Thursday, May 21st, 2020 – How will the COVID-19 crisis impact our ability to finance and build new homes?
Please join California YIMBY, Abundant Housing Los Angeles, and top experts from around the state for a discussion on the future of affordable housing, housing finance, and related state housing legislation.The housing crisis was already a challenge before COVID-19; come and learn from these experts what we can do to move toward solutions as quickly as possible.
Friday, May 15th, 2020 – A Conversation with Jason Elliott and Kate Gordon
Join us, Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition, & the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association for a conversation about housing, homelessness, & COVID-19 with: - Jason Elliott, Senior Counselor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Housing & Homelessness
- Kate Gordon, Director of The Governor's Office of Planning and Research
Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 – Housing & Social Equity Series: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
To close the wealth gap, we have to address the role of housing. That's why we sat down with experts to discuss expanding pathways to homeownership and advancing economic equity. Our panelists included:- Adam Briones, Economic Equity Director for The Greenlining Institute
- Noerena Limón, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations for the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
- Robert Apodaca, Leadership Council member for The Two Hundred
Thursday, May 7th, 2020 – California YIMBY & YIMBY Voice Present: 'Generation Priced Out' with Randy Shaw
Randy Shaw is the Executive Director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, San Francisco’s leading provider of housing for homeless single adults. He's also the author of Generation Priced Out, a book that highlights the pricing out of a new generation of working and middle-class residents from the nation’s progressive cities. Mr. Shaw offers proven strategies from over a dozen cities for addressing the affordability crisis and combating climate change.
This is a recording of our event from Thursday, May 7th, Randy Shaw delivered his keen insight into the causes, aggravating factors, and solutions surrounding the housing crisis we are faced with today. He also explains why we NEED density in the post COVID-19 era.
Friday, May 1st, 2020 – California YIMBY, Habitat for Humanity, & The Two Hundred present: Virtual Town Hall with California Assemblymember Robert Rivas
A discussion with Assemblymember Rivas about the California Farmworker COVID-19 Relief Package and two major 2020 housing bills.Due to technical issues, Assemblymember Robert Rivas was unable to be live on video during the broadcast. Please check out this personal message from Assemblymember Rivas to our YIMBY followers: https://youtu.be/RMw2Bqd7UOs
Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – Housing & Social Equity Series: Discussion with Richard Rothstein, Author of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America.
This video dives into the roots of residential segregation, the impact on our communities today, and the legacy of the Fair Housing Act. This event is the first in our Housing & Social Equity Series -- join us to explore and understand the adverse impacts of the housing crisis across California, particularly in communities of color. Please stay tuned for more events to follow.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 – Peeling back the curtain on California’s response to COVID-19
California YIMBY and the Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition help peel back the curtain on California’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. We’re grateful to have been joined by the following panelists:
- Graciela Castillo Krings of Sacramento Advocates
- Holly Fraumeni de Jesus of Lighthouse Public Affairs
- Sosan Madanat of Lighthouse Public Affairs
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 – SFHAC's Housing Town Hall
San Francisco Housing Action Coalition's Housing Town Hall with California State Senator Scott Wiener, California Assemblymember David Chiu, & California Assemblymember Phil Ting. This video is brought to you by the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition. For more information, visit their website: https://www.sfhac.org Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 – Abundant Housing LA's Covid-19 & Housing Virtual Panel moderated by Sophia Bush
Thursday, April 9th, 2020 – California YIMBY & East Bay for Everyone's Virtual Town Hall with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
We’re thrilled to have hosted a virtual Town Hall State with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and East Bay for Everyone on Thursday, April 9, to provide updates on state responses to COVID-19 as it relates to homelessness, tenant protections, and the evolving status of California housing legislation.Thursday, June 30th, 2022 – Homelessness 101
We held a webinar with experts on Homelessness on June 30th, 2022 to discuss what we can do about homelessness locally. These experts included:- Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, President and CEO of St. Joseph Center
- Julie Lo, Executive Officer, California Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Clayton Aldern, Senior Data Reporter at Grist and co-author of Homelessness is a Housing Problem
- Cynthia Nagendra, Deputy Director, SF Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing
Friday, June 17th, 2022 – Meet the Housing Law Enforcers
California’s state legislature has made major strides in reducing the barriers to building housing statewide. However, many local governments have failed to comply with state housing law, with some making explicit efforts to sidestep these laws by exploiting loopholes and carveouts.In response, the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Attorney General's Office have each created units to provide technical assistance, oversight, and enforcement of the implementation of laws like SB 330, SB 35, and ADU streamlining law.
Join us to at 5pm on June 16th to meet our housing law enforcers: David Pai, Deputy Attorney General in the Housing Strike Force, and David Zisser, the Assistant Deputy Director in the HCD Housing Accountability Unit.
Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 – Introducing: the Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions
Learn about a new coalition designed to operate at the intersection of housing, wildfire, and climate: The Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions. In partnership with Endangered Habitats League, we’ve convened a coalition of leading environmental & housing organizations to solve one of California’s most pressing challenges: How do we build more housing that’s affordable, while protecting critical natural and working lands? Monday, September 20, 2021 – Celebrating YIMBY Victories: 2021 Legislative Session Debrief
This year thousands of YIMBYs organized and fought to pass important housing bills like SB 9 and SB 10! But the fight doesn’t stop there. The California YIMBY legislative team sat down for a deep dive into the status of critical housing legislation. What bills passed and failed? Where do they go now? And how can YIMBYs continue to push for more housing in their backyards this year? Thursday, June 3, 2021 – At-Large Council Districts, Racial Equity and NIMBYism with Professor Michael Hankinson
Following the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, many cities began switching from at-large elections, where all city council members represented the entire city, to district-based elections, where separate members each represented a specific geographic area. How did this change affect how much new housing got built, and where it was located? Michael Hankinson of George Washington University and Asya Magazinnik of MIT studied the shift, and found that switching to district elections resulted in fewer units of multi-family housing.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Addressing our Climate Crisis through Affordable Housing Advocacy with Greenbelt Alliance
As wildfires worsen, temperatures are peaking (2020 was the hottest year on record), and air quality decreases, Bay Area communities are already experiencing the overlapping impacts of climate change in their backyard. Building climate SMART infill housing is one of the most potent means of reducing climate pollution with local policies. As all cities gear up to update their Housing Elements for 2022, we must make sure they balance the new growth of our region with impending climate risks. Tuesday, May 4, 2021 – Affordable Housing Happy Hour
If you've been wondering what it takes to build affordable housing in the Bay Area, why there isn't more of it, and what needs to happen to increase the availability of affordable homes, this conversation is for you! Guests include: - Sam Moss, Executive Director of Mission Housing Development Corporation
- Maureen Sedonaen, CEO Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
- Eric Shaw, Director of the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development
- Xiomara Cisneros, Housing Manager at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (Moderator)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 – California's 2021 State Housing Bills: What You Need to Know
The Legislature is officially back in session and you know what that means: new housing bills! Join California YIMBY for a deep dive into the latest state housing bills. Bring your questions and learn about opportunities to advocate for more homes. Wednesday, March 3, 2021 – The Plex Panel: Legalizing Missing Middle Housing in Northern California Cities
Heard the good news about Sacramento ending exclusionary zoning & allowing fourplexes in all neighborhoods? Want to learn how to accomplish this in your city? Join us for a discussion with advocates from Sacramento, the East Bay, and the South Bay for a discussion of how to advance this timely & exciting policy reform. Featuring a panel discussion with Ansel Lundberg of House Sacramento, Vice Mayor Lori Droste of Berkeley, and Kiyomi Yamamoto of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. Co-hosted by California YIMBY, House Sacramento, East Bay for Everyone, Peninsula for Everyone, and South Bay YIMBY. Thursday, February 18, 2021 – Money and Housing in the 2021-22 State Budget
We’re sitting down with Jason Elliott, Governor Gavin Newsom's top advisor on housing, to talk money! The governor's 2021-22 Proposed State Budget is good news for housing advocates -- From proposals to reduce homelessness and produce more affordable homes, to coronavirus relief to protect renters from eviction. Learn more about the new opportunities to advance housing for all in the coming months. Wednesday, December 16, 2020 – Affordable Housing in Ventura County
Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and Ventura County YIMBY sit down with experts for a discussion about affordable housing. Panelists include: - Carmen Ramirez, Mayor pro tem of Oxnard and Ventura County Supervisor-elect
- Rebecca Albarran, county worker in Simi Valley and co-lead of Ventura County YIMBY
- Darcy Taylor, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ventura County
- Louis Mirante, Legislative Director for California YIMBY
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 – Prop 16: Ending the Ban on Affirmative Action Conversation
There's no question about it: For more than a century, housing discrimination in California against communities of color has led to disproportionate rates of homelessness, displacement, and COVID-19. This fall, we have the power to begin undoing the damage. By passing Prop 16, we can end California’s ban on affirmative action allowing for intentional, active, race-conscious solutions to support the communities who have been victimized by systematic racial and gender discrimination. Join us for a conversation about Prop 16 and learn how it will start to tackle discrimination by bringing back affirmative action. Wednesday, October 14, 2020 – Building Fire-Safe Communities: A Discussion with Michael Wara
With destructive wildfires ravaging our state, and acrid smoke filling our cities, one thing every Californian agrees on is this: We urgently need to protect our communities from fire, and ensure our neighbors impacted by fire have safe, secure, and affordable shelter. In this open discussion with Michael Wara, a Senior Research Scholar at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program, we’ll talk about the implications of wildfire to California’s housing future, including topics like: - Will homes in extreme fire zones lose their insurance? How will the state respond?
- How can we fortify our communities against the inevitable fires in our future? What are the barriers?
- What’s the connection between traditional sprawl development and fire risk?
- What kinds of housing should we be building to help avoid fire zones, increase resilience, and ensure there’s enough affordable housing for everyone in California?
Thursday, October 1, 2020 – Housing in a Time of Climate Change
Across California, the impacts of climate change are obvious: Wildfires are growing bigger and more intense, low-lying areas are flooding with greater frequency, and heat waves are getting more severe and deadly. At the same time, climate pollution caused by sprawl development is getting worse, even as the state tries to reduce emissions across the economy as a part of its aggressive climate action goals. This panel of climate scientists, planning professionals, and urban resilience experts will share research that shows how infill housing near transit and jobs is one of the most important tools for climate action, and how cities, suburbs, and rural communities across our state must begin to adapt, urgently, to the climate changes that are already underway. Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – Housing Town Hall with Senator Scott Wiener
Senator Scott Wiener is a hero to housing advocates across the state for his role in shepherding landmark legislation to end California’s severe housing shortage and affordability crisis, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, and to expand our public transportation system. What advice does Senator Wiener have for the YIMBY movement? What’s next on his policy agenda? What motivates him to keep pushing against the forces of stasis? Join California YIMBY and Senator Wiener to hear about his long-term vision for building sustainable communities, learn about current and upcoming housing legislation, and talk about the future of the YIMBY movement. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 – Housing Policy is Transportation Policy: Public Transportation Experts Speak Out
Building affordable housing near high-quality transit is necessary for addressing both our housing and climate crises. Yet the co-dependency of our housing and transportation systems is not reflected in the way we make policy in these two areas, which are often in conflict with each other. Meanwhile, the high costs of car-centric transportation, including the carbon emissions and air pollution choking our cities, continue to climb. This panel of seasoned transportation professionals and policymakers will dig into the history of the relationship between our transportation systems and affordable housing, and how reforms in both areas can complement each other to solve both the housing crisis, and the climate and air pollution crises. Wednesday, July 8th, 2020 – Understanding Racism in Housing: a Conversation with the Filmmakers of “The Banker” Movie
Inspired by true events, “The Banker” is the story of Black entrepreneurs Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) and Joe Morris (Samuel L. Jackson) who hatch a business plan to fight for housing integration — and equal access to the American Dream for African Americans. “The Banker” is set in the 1960’s, but the legacy of redlining, discriminatory lending practices, and outright racist housing policy persist today. Join California YIMBY for a special opportunity to meet the talent behind “The Banker”, learn about their inspiration for the film, and discuss how this connects to our work to reverse historic housing discrimination. “The Banker” is available on Apple TV+. Wednesday, July 1st, 2020 – How A Legal Victory for LGBTQ Rights Will Impact Housing
Join California YIMBY, Equality California, Williams Institute, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and Freedom for All Americans to hear from an expert panel about housing discrimination for the LGBTQ community and what the Supreme Court ruling means for protections moving forward. Click the Screenshot below to see this video!
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 – Meet CaRLA: The Team Suing NIMBY Cities and Winning
Learn how the laws passed by California YIMBY and our allies are being put to work to build more homes.Numerous state laws in California require cities to approve housing that complies with local plans. But for years, cities have denied housing proposals without consequence -- because there was no one there to enforce the law. California YIMBY and our allies California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund (CaRLA) are changing that -- and we’re telling you how!
View this recording to learn more about how advocates can use the law to fight back against NIMBY cities. We'll also discuss current lawsuits against cities that could help break open barriers and lead to more homes.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 – Housing Production and Affordability with Evan Mast
How can we build more affordable homes for ALL Californians?Mast has researched how market-rate development impacts affordability for local and regional residents. Please join us for a moderated discussion with our CEO, Brian Hanlon and Evan Mast on our data-driven path to housing affordability in California.
Friday, May 22nd, 2020 – Housing in the COVID-19 Recovery: What's Next? A Discussion on Economics, Policy, and Finance.
Thursday, May 21st, 2020 – How will the COVID-19 crisis impact our ability to finance and build new homes?
Please join California YIMBY, Abundant Housing Los Angeles, and top experts from around the state for a discussion on the future of affordable housing, housing finance, and related state housing legislation.The housing crisis was already a challenge before COVID-19; come and learn from these experts what we can do to move toward solutions as quickly as possible.
Friday, May 15th, 2020 – A Conversation with Jason Elliott and Kate Gordon
Join us, Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition, & the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association for a conversation about housing, homelessness, & COVID-19 with: - Jason Elliott, Senior Counselor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Housing & Homelessness
- Kate Gordon, Director of The Governor's Office of Planning and Research
Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 – Housing & Social Equity Series: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
To close the wealth gap, we have to address the role of housing. That's why we sat down with experts to discuss expanding pathways to homeownership and advancing economic equity. Our panelists included:- Adam Briones, Economic Equity Director for The Greenlining Institute
- Noerena Limón, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations for the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals
- Robert Apodaca, Leadership Council member for The Two Hundred
Thursday, May 7th, 2020 – California YIMBY & YIMBY Voice Present: 'Generation Priced Out' with Randy Shaw
Randy Shaw is the Executive Director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, San Francisco’s leading provider of housing for homeless single adults. He's also the author of Generation Priced Out, a book that highlights the pricing out of a new generation of working and middle-class residents from the nation’s progressive cities. Mr. Shaw offers proven strategies from over a dozen cities for addressing the affordability crisis and combating climate change.
This is a recording of our event from Thursday, May 7th, Randy Shaw delivered his keen insight into the causes, aggravating factors, and solutions surrounding the housing crisis we are faced with today. He also explains why we NEED density in the post COVID-19 era.
Friday, May 1st, 2020 – California YIMBY, Habitat for Humanity, & The Two Hundred present: Virtual Town Hall with California Assemblymember Robert Rivas
A discussion with Assemblymember Rivas about the California Farmworker COVID-19 Relief Package and two major 2020 housing bills.Due to technical issues, Assemblymember Robert Rivas was unable to be live on video during the broadcast. Please check out this personal message from Assemblymember Rivas to our YIMBY followers: https://youtu.be/RMw2Bqd7UOs
Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 – Housing & Social Equity Series: Discussion with Richard Rothstein, Author of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America.
This video dives into the roots of residential segregation, the impact on our communities today, and the legacy of the Fair Housing Act. This event is the first in our Housing & Social Equity Series -- join us to explore and understand the adverse impacts of the housing crisis across California, particularly in communities of color. Please stay tuned for more events to follow.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 – Peeling back the curtain on California’s response to COVID-19
California YIMBY and the Bay Area Housing Advocacy Coalition help peel back the curtain on California’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. We’re grateful to have been joined by the following panelists:
- Graciela Castillo Krings of Sacramento Advocates
- Holly Fraumeni de Jesus of Lighthouse Public Affairs
- Sosan Madanat of Lighthouse Public Affairs