I’ll be attending and speaking at a forum on Thursday in Sacremento hosted by the California Apartment Association. I hope to learn more from them and share where we’re headed on housing in Seattle. 

CALIFORNIA HOUSING FORUM

Inadequate housing stock threatens California’s economic future. We will explore not only the causes of California’s housing crisis, but also real solutions to this critical problem.

AGENDA

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.

Welcome and Introduction – Tom Bannon, Chief Executive Officer, California Apartment Association

10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.

Introduction to California’s Housing Drought – California’s High Housing Costs, Causes and Consequences – Mac Taylor, Legislative Analyst, Legislative Analyst’s Office

10:40 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.

California’s Housing Drought: what is the problem? Perspectives on California’s lack of housing and why it is important.

Moderator: Betsy Stark, Former Business Correspondent for ABC News

Panelists:

• Asm. David Chiu, Chair of the CA Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee
• Liam Dillon, Housing correspondent for the Los Angeles Times
• Ralph McLaughlin, Chief Economist for Trulia
• Sonja Trauss, Principal at the Bay Area Renters’ Federation

11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

LUNCH

12:00 – 1:00

Barriers to new housing in California. What makes California a unique place to build? What are the challenges to new construction in California cities and how might we learn from other states?

Moderator: Betsy Stark, Former Business Correspondent for ABC News

Panelists:

• Brian Augusta, Legislative Advocate for the Western Center on Law and Poverty
• Doug Shoemaker, President of Mercy Housing Group
• Robert Wassmer, Professor of Urban Planning at Sacramento State University
• Marina Wiant, Policy Director for the California Housing Consortium

1:00 – 2:00

Looking Ahead. Possible solutions to California’s housing crisis. Concrete policy solutions for California’s housing dilemma.

Moderator: Betsy Stark, Former Business Correspondent for ABC News

Panelists:

• Tom Bannon, CEO of the California Apartment Association
• Ben Metcalf, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development
• Matt Regan, Senior Vice President for Public Policy at the Bay Area Council
• Mark Stivers, Consultant for California State Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing
• Roger Valdez, Director of Smart Growth Seattle and Forbes contributor