It's increasingly difficult for working families to find affordable shelter in California, particularly in Los Angeles County, where for every six new jobs, only one new home is built. State planners say California needs 220,000 new housing units each year, from studio apartments to ocean-view estates, to keep up with demand. But last year, for example, California produced about 150,000 new units, or about 32 percent shy of the goal.
City governments can adopt zoning ordinances that encourage housing growth or prevent it.
The state says they must encourage it, but there are no real penalties if they don't. That could change if Dunn, D-Laguna Niguel, has his way. He would strip cities of millions in tax revenue unless they meet state guidelines. The bill has the support of almost every housing advocate, business group and builder association in the state. Lining up against it are many cities, including Long Beach, Lakewood, Norwalk, Cerritos, Los Alamitos and Signal Hill.