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State Population Rises, 125,000 Housing Units Added, in 2024
According to a new report from the Department of Finance, California's population increased by 108,000 people in 2024, reaching 39.5 million residents as of Jan. 1, marking the state's second consecutive year of growth since the pandemic. This 0.28% rise was influenced by factors such as a natural increase in births minus deaths and improved estimates of legal immigration, which added 277,468 more immigrants than previously calculated for 2021–2024. Population gains were observed in 35 of California's 58 counties, particularly in the Central Valley, Inland Empire and coastal areas, while Los Angeles County led with an increase of 28,000 residents. Statewide housing grew at 0.84 percent in 2024, virtually unchanged from 0.85 in 2023. California added 125,228 housing units on net, including 26,648 accessory dwelling units, to bring total housing stock to 14,949,001 units. New construction added 118,957 housing units with 70,694 single family housing units, 53,543 multi-family housing units, and 991 mobile homes. ADUs are included in the single-family category and comprised 37.7 percent of the state’s new single-family housing and 21.3 percent of total new housing. Larger densely populated urban areas built most of the multi-family housing throughout the state. Los Angeles led the state gaining 10,217 multi-family units, comprising 54.8 percent of their net housing growth, followed by San Diego (7,025 for 73.9 percent), Sacramento (1,692 for 88.6 percent), and Oakland (1,642 for 96.3 percent).
California Congressmember Founds Caucus to Promote "Abundance"
A new bipartisan group in Congress, led by Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.), is forming the "Build America Caucus" to promote housing, energy, and infrastructure development through streamlined permitting and faster, more cost-effective project delivery. Inspired by journalist Ezra Klein’s “abundance movement,” the caucus views infrastructure reform as key to restoring public confidence in government performance, especially amid frustrations over delays in high-profile projects like California’s high-speed rail. The group, consisting of around 30 lawmakers from across the political spectrum, aims to influence legislation, including defense and transportation bills, with practical reform proposals. While some progressives criticize the movement for overlooking deeper systemic issues, Harder emphasizes broad support and a shared urgency to improve government efficiency. “Housing is unaffordable, federally funded projects are delayed, and we’re not thinking clearly about long-term solutions,” said Oregon Rep. Janelle Bynum in a statement. "We’ve got to cut the red tape, build smarter, and deliver real solutions for the Americans."
Legislation Introduced to Block Controversial Mine near Fresno
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula introduced legislation to block a proposed Cemex blast mine near Fresno, citing both ecological concerns and the potential job losses for around 60 union workers. At a recent Fresno City Council meeting, a number of Fresno residents voiced strong opposition to the proposed mine along the San Joaquin River, citing environmental risks and the visual impact of the planned excavation site. Critics argue that CEMEX ignored more sustainable mining options, like those used by competitor Vulcan Materials, which moved operations to the Kings River area with long-term reserves. Environmental groups stress that the river has already been overexploited for a century and advocate for mining in less ecologically sensitive areas.
Study: Optimal Models for Measuring VMT
A study out of US Berkeley’s Terner Center compares three ways to model vehicle miles travelled (VMT) as California’s dual goals of reducing climate pollution and building 2.5 million new homes by 2030 rely heavily on encouraging development in “low-VMT” (vehicle miles traveled) neighborhoods, where residents typically drive less. The state's definition of these areas—used to streamline housing approvals—depends on travel modeling tools, but these tools vary significantly in their outputs. Comparing three models (LCI’s Site Check, Replica and LATCH), the study finds notable differences in which neighborhoods qualify as low-VMT, which affects which areas receive development incentives. Replica, for instance, identifies more low-VMT areas in coastal cities and more overlap with high-resource neighborhoods than the State’s model, potentially better aligning with both climate and equity goals. The authors recommend refining and standardizing VMT models, rethinking baselines for defining “low-VMT” and expanding eligibility criteria to encourage sustainable housing growth across more areas.
CP&DR Coverage: Roundup of Recent Books on California Urbanism
Some indicators of California's prosperity aren't looking so hot right now: population loss; budget deficits; corporate exoduses; political marginalization; and the departure of the A's. And yet, despite -- or perhaps because of -- these challenges, scholarship on and commentary about California urbanism is more robust than ever. CP&DR's bookshelf has overflowed lately with titles from the past two years. Collectively, they offer a compelling account of the state we're in. Scholars, journalists, and practitioners covered Los Angeles and the Bay Area; wilderness and the coast; housing policy and housing design; and the tech industry.
Quick Hits & Updates
Despite launching Vision Zero in 2015 with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2025, traffic fatalities in Los Angeles have risen significantly due to poor implementation, lack of coordination and waning political support. A recent audit reveals that nearly half of the program’s safety initiatives remain incomplete, highlighting a failure to turn policy into meaningful street-level changes and protect vulnerable road users.
At a recent Ukiah City Council meeting, officials voted unanimously to proceed with a proposal to annex areas north and south of the city, despite community concerns and confusion about the process. While the annexation could bring expanded city services and tax revenue, critics argue the decision is premature and lacks sufficient public input, with formal approval not expected until late 2025 at the earliest.
A new study warns that a massive earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone — stretching from Northern California to Canada — could cause coastal land to sink by more than 6 feet within minutes, expanding flood-prone areas by 116 square miles and nearly tripling the number of people at risk. Researchers say the resulting subsidence would reshape communities and, unlike gradual sea-level rise, this danger would strike without warning, underscoring the urgent need for new planning and protections.
The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) is now accepting proposals for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) Grant Program. Project Proposals are to be submitted through the Resources Agency Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) system. Applicants must register before accessing the proposal solicitation.
The 2024 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places includes the Terminal Island Japanese American Tuna Street buildings in Los Angeles as the last surviving structures from a once-thriving Japanese American fishing village forcibly displaced during World War II. The buildings are under threat of demolition by the Port of Los Angeles for container storage use, and preservation advocates are pushing for their protection and reuse as cultural monuments.
Environmental organizations, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, have petitioned the Trump administration to enforce a federal rule limiting Colorado River water deliveries to only what is deemed truly necessary, with the aim of curbing wasteful agricultural practices and preserving the river’s future. They argue that unchecked use—particularly for water-intensive crops like alfalfa—exacerbates the river’s overuse amid worsening drought and climate pressures, and they call on the Bureau of Reclamation to act or face potential legal challenges.
Two former high-level employees at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) allege that CEO Va Lecia Adams Kellum engaged in serious misconduct, including hiring unqualified associates, tampering with public records and retaliating against staff, leading to an $800,000 settlement funded in part by taxpayers. Despite the severity of the claims, no formal investigation was conducted, and LAHSA initially withheld the whistleblower documents in apparent violation of public records laws before releasing them with redactions that legal experts argue are unlawful.
California and 17 other states are suing to block a Trump administration order that halts offshore wind leasing, arguing it unlawfully threatens clean energy goals and economic development. The legal challenge comes amid early-stage plans for large-scale floating wind farms off California’s coast, which face engineering hurdles, regulatory delays and local opposition but are critical to the state’s carbon-free energy ambitions.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked new conditions the Trump administration sought to attach to federal housing grants, which San Francisco and other cities argue are unconstitutional and politically driven. The ruling protects funding critical to homelessness prevention while a broader legal challenge proceeds, with local leaders warning the restrictions could jeopardize services for thousands.
Los Angeles' Vision Zero program, launched nearly a decade ago with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2025, has failed to achieve its objectives, with traffic fatalities rising instead of decreasing. An independent audit revealed that the program suffered from poor coordination, lack of accountability, insufficient political will and diminished police participation, with many key actions still incomplete, leaving the city’s streets unsafe despite the policy's ambitious goals.
Two federal judges have filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), alleging the utility's mismanagement of water resources and power lines contributed to the destructive Pacific Palisades fire in 2025. The lawsuit claims LADWP's failure to maintain key infrastructure and its unpreparedness for the fire led to significant damages, with over 750 residents joining in similar legal actions.
California households allocate on average 44% of their income to housing, making it the second-highest in the nation, just behind Hawaii at 53%, according to an analysis by Wallethub. The state faces high homeownership costs, with 46% of owners’ income going toward housing and high rent costs as well, with tenants spending 42% of their income on housing expenses.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has pulled back funding from several housing organizations in California, ending support for initiatives aimed at addressing the state's housing affordability crisis. This decision, attributed to a shift in focus toward biomedical research and a potential link to a broader retreat from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, has left many nonprofit organizations struggling to find alternative funding sources. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
