A History of Catalysts for Local Control: Years 2020 - 2023

A History of Catalysts for Local Control tells the story of how constituents concerned about housing and land use planning are organizing and acting to save their communities. They are saying, “Democracy is ours! We have tools and strategies to protect our neighborhoods and communities against a developer/investor land-grab that fails to deliver on the promise of affordable housing.”Across California and around the country, renters and homeowners alike struggle over the lack of affordable housing.Misguided housing policy, however, chips away at local control over land use planning and zoning. Outside monied interests have gained excessive power to call the shots on the character of our communities. Environmental protections are dismissed. Jurisdictions’ capacity to recover costs for infrastructure—safety services, water, sewage, streets, etc.—is ignored. The state Housing and Community Development (HCD) agency operates with arrogance and the Attorney General threatens lawsuits for cities that don’t meet unrealistic state housing quotas.Too often, neighbors don’t wake up to the negative impact of new laws until they see towering story poles go up or cranes roll in. Once awake, city officials frequently tell constituents “It’s too late. It’s the law. There’s nothing we can do.”A History of Catalysts for Local Control describes organizing, networking, and strategizing to strike back against efforts to consolidate land and housing wealth into the hands of a few in a feudalistic landlord/tenant model. Readers will find examples of legislative and lobbying activity, media, town halls, and more.In A History of Catalysts for Local Control, author Raymond G. Lorber details the action-packed activity of a group of committed community leaders—catalysts—who educate, engage, and empower others to keep democracy strong. Read more