Why mayors can't solve the housing crisis alone with Michael Tubbs

Building better cities requires getting the relationship between cities, counties, and the state right. And few people understand that dynamic better than someone who's lived on both sides of it.

In this episode of Building Better Cities, host Kate Gasparro sits down with Michael Tubbs — former Mayor of Stockton, Special Advisor to Governor Newsom, and candidate for Lieutenant Governor — to unpack who's actually responsible for solving California's housing crisis. From leading a city through bankruptcy recovery to launching the nation's first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot, Tubbs brings a rare perspective on what it takes to drive urban development when power is split between city hall and the state capitol. He's also been a vocal advocate for SB 79 and CEQA reform, testifying before the state legislature in support of legislation that would make it easier to build housing near transit and reduce the regulatory delays that drive up costs.

The conversation covers how state legislation is reshaping local land use and zoning to unlock housing supply and how the relationship between cities and the state determines whether sustainable cities get built — or stalled. Tubbs also shares his vision for using university-owned land to produce housing at scale, his proposals for a California public bank and data dividend, and why transit-oriented development is essential to meeting the state's climate and sustainable infrastructure goals.

If you care about housing policy, urban development, sustainable cities, or the future of California, this is essential listening.

Resources:

3 years ago, Stockton, was bankrupt. Now it's trying out a basic income. (Vox)

Michael Tubbs: What does it take to transform a struggling city? (NPR)

Mayors for a Guaranteed Income

Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration Analysis (University of Pennsylvania)

CA program giving $500 no-strings-attached stipends pays off, study finds (NPR)

Hey Alaskans, it's time to file for your Permanent Fund Divident (Alaska Public Media)

CA Governor Gavin Newsom proposes a "data dividend" for state residents (Vox)

CA's push to clear homeless encampments (Governing)

Riverside Council rejects $20M state grant for affordable housing project (The Riverside Record)

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