The Power Struggle Over Housing in Southern California
Who’s Really in Control?
Southern California’s housing crisis isn’t just about finding a place to live—it’s a fight between powerful local governments and state officials pushing for affordable housing. In wealthy Orange County, expensive real estate and a “not-in-my-backyard” attitude have led cities to resist California’s housing mandates.
Imagine a place where city leaders and private interests, from real estate developers to homeowner associations, hold tight control over local land and are determined to keep it that way. Many cities in Orange County have fiercely resisted California’s push for more low-income housing, favoring sprawling single-family homes and big business developments. In a new research study, we learn that they argue that adding affordable housing doesn’t fit their communities or threatens their high property values. Despite California’s new laws designed to create more equitable housing, many OC cities use legal loopholes and zoning tactics to keep the status quo intact.
In 2021, local representatives fought back against state housing quotas. They argued that the mandates were too much and didn’t fit with their cities’ needs. Even when a state court dismissed Orange County’s lawsuit in 2021, the county quickly filed an appeal, unwilling to yield to state requirements. Some even raised concerns about fire risks or claimed they didn’t have enough space. Even after a court dismissed their lawsuit, the county quickly filed an appeal. They weren’t willing to give in.
But beyond the legal drama lies a deeper question: can California finally tackle the forces that have long driven up housing costs and kept communities exclusive? California’s reforms have taken on formidable opponents who are determined to defend their cities’ boundaries against a changing tide. With courts increasingly siding with state mandates, the struggle for housing justice continues—but this time, the power of local politics might finally be cracking.
If you’re interested in reading more about this, check out Alejandra Reyes’ article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER)! This article takes a deep dive into the tug-of-war over who holds the reins on where, how, and if new housing gets built in this high-stakes landscape.
Citation:
Reyes, A. (2024). Appealing for Local Control and Spatial Inequality: Reforming Governance and Development Rationalities in Southern California. Journal of Planning Education and Research, https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X241288503