There's a constitutional method for CA to leave the Union, which involves the other states voting to allow secession. I, a proud Texan, would support this. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but I don't know a single Texan who would willingly shed blood or see blood shed to keep CA in the Union. Some arrangement would need to be made to keep the Navy bases in the US, but the rest of CA can go straight to Hell. A matter of growing concern to many Texans is that so many Californians are moving here, and bringing their socialism with them. It's unclear what the solution for that might be. I'd like to think that Texas is getting the "good" Californians, who believe in minding their own business, low taxes and work as the path to prosperity. Three Californians ran together for city council in Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin. Two other progressives had run for council and won last year, and if these three won, progressives would control the Cedar Park City Council. These three made no secret of their platform; taxes would be going up, development stopped or slowed down, social justice would rule the day. They were all three soundly defeated. Thrashed is the better word. So I am hopeful.

I saw that a couple of years ago in I believe Monterey (or near it) the city had a single housing permit granted. 1. In San Fran you can get a housing permit and never be able to complete the construction. George Lucas wanted to build something on his land and they said no so he said ok, I'll build housing. He even set aside a bunch of the apts as lower income. The fact that there were lower income apts there killed the project. The failure to allow apartments to be built ends up forcing poor out of the city (black pop of san fran has gone way down) and therefore longer commutes which makes traffic worse.
I have seen around Riverside (as an example) how they have set aside so much land as nature reserves (right in the city) and with a mandate that it all be connected (so the animals can walk to work) that the city is fragmented and spread out further than it would be otherwise.

"...The failure to allow apartments to be built ends up forcing poor out of the city (black pop of san fran has gone way down)..."

That's happening here in Austin as well. Blacks and Hispanics are being forced out into the suburbs. Black percentage of Austin is down to 7.5%.

I just wish Shellenburger had written this two weeks ago, before I voted.

Legislation that would have encouraged more housing density near transportation hubs was snuffed out last April, garnering support from less than one-third of legislative committee members.

Wondering what this legislation said, and how it would have "encouraged" housing density.

As roadgeek points out, the script has been flipped on who wants to live where; rich folks are interested in big city downtowns, and the poor are finding more affordable digs in the suburbs and exurbs.

This is the European model Kevin. It's been that way in Europe for quite some time.

I see this in how people in LA with homes fight bitter battles to keep new housing from being built, on the grounds that it is too tall. Of course, building up in a dense area is the way you create more homes.

We must make residential areas more dense. We need to house people. People. People People People. People fucking and making more People. People who need jobs, and homes. People who need homes so they can have bedrooms where they can fuck and make still more People.

The world needs more people. We don't need more elephants or giraffes or pangolins. Fuck them. They don't buy SUVs and shit from Walmart. People do. People People People.

We are only at 7.6 billion People. That's not enough People. We must grow. Grow Grow Grow. Growth is good. Little babies are cute. We need more cute babies, babies who grow up and need jobs and homes and SUVs.

Protect the environment? Fuck that shit. We need stuff from the environment. The environment doesn't need jobs or home or SUVs. People do. People People People. People are beautiful. Beautiful People. So many Beautiful People in the world, having Beautiful Babies.

The United States? We only have 323 million People. That's fucking lame. China has 1,379 billion People. That kicks our ass. More People are awesome. China is awesome. The United States needs more People. More More More. People People People. More people would be so beautiful.

You can't reason with leftism anymore. It's a religion now, and a particularly cultish one at that.

Progressive, huh? "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Of course, in a nation so astoundingly crazy that a "liberal" seeks to tell you what to do at all times, this is consistent.

I tell you, Reasoning Deficit Disorder is real.

I hear you JD, that why I pray every time they talk about a bird flu pandemic that it actually becomes a pandemic

No...just no. More housing is NOT the solution to having more affordable housing.

I live in Huntington Beach. A few years ago, the high density buildings started popping up - of course with a certain percentage of those units being designated "low income" housing. You want to guess what that did to rents in my area? Example: My good friend live in the same 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment off Beach Blvd. for years. His rent was $1100 a month when he moved out 3 years ago (he moved in with his 87 year old dad to help him). His apartment 3 years later now rents for $2200 a month - this is an apartment, without a pool, without AC, it's basic.

Thankfully, I have a completed disinterested property manager. I swear she gets paid based off how little she does. My rent has gone up $55 a month, and I've lived there 9 years. I'm in a 3 bed/2.5 bath apartment, at the end of a cul de sac. The same unit in a neighboring building is going for $2400-$2500. You wanna build more affordable housing? Maybe don't build it in a tourist destination. You may think you have a right to "affordable" housing, but that doesn't mean you get to live at the beach (or even Beverly Hills).

When my ex and I bought our first house 30 years ago, we had to go to Moreno Valley so we could afford something. As our incomes grew, we were able to move somewhere more desirable. My daughter and her husband just bought their first home 2 years ago...in Corona. Not in OC where the both grew up, where their families are, and where they work. They couldn't afford Huntington Beach, but they could afford Corona. Now my daughter works 3 miles from home, and my SIL is a stay at home dad. They stay in Corona, so they can afford for my SIL to stay home.

Choices and sacrifices...it's about being responsible for your grown ass.

I realized I was evil when I watched the movie and at the end I was like... "But now EVERYONE is gonna be poor, it's not like letting the masses flood the small enclave is gonna help them".

Sara has a good point, aren't there regions that are losing people? IF we want government involvement, wouldn't it make more sense to build up those regions so they attract more people? I dunno, tax breaks for companies, help with infrastructure?

If everyone wants to live in the same spot, it is gonna be expensive. And it's like highways, the more you build, the more people come.

The United States? We only have 323 million People. That's fucking lame. China has 1,379 billion People. That kicks our ass. More People are awesome. China is awesome. The United States needs more People. More More More. People People People. More people would be so beautiful. That's My Thinking And Good Morning