Land Use Attorney Explain What is Fueling California's High Housing Cost | Jennifer Hernandez

"Housing is the top target of environmental lawsuits in California. Want to build housing, even put a prefabricated trailer home on your lot? $20,000 for traffic, $20,000 for sewer, $20,000 for electricity, $10,000 for transit, $5,000 for public art, just in fees. San Francisco got up to almost $300,000 per apartment before land, construction, and labor. And many jurisdictions are charging over $100,000".

The cost of housing has skyrocketed in California. Siyamak sits down with Jennifer Hernandez, a land use, environmental, and civil attorney with 40 years of experience. Join us as we dive into all the components that make the cost of housing much higher in California than in the rest of the nation.

"People don't believe it's possible, that it's legal. But in fact, it is. And it happens all the time. A piece of wood doesn't need to cost more here than it does in Nevada."

0:00 Intro
2:08 Is California's Housing Crisis Self-Inflicted?
4:34 California's Strange Approach to Home Design
6:13 Fresh Air vs. Filtered System
9:30 Californians Pay Through the Nose
12:15 Exorbitant Fees Charged to New Residents
13:35 Where Do All Development Fees Really Go?
22:06 Baseless Legal Battles to Stop New Homes
23:35 Environmental Laws Have Gone Wrong
26:05 Why Blue States Can't Build
28:04 Betrayal of the Democratic Base
31:15 CA's Strange Way to Calculate Emissions
33:05 Wealth Transfer in Name of Climate Change?
34:44 How Green Policies Hurt Working Families
40:05 The Tragedy of ‘Five Over One’
41:25 'Affordable' Isn't Affordable After All
44:44 How Special Interests Keep Prices High
46:45 Can California's Housing Crisis Be Solved?
#californiainsider #housingcrisis #affordablehousing #fee
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[pigboykool]

Love this lady, she explain the insane corruption happened in California so well. Thank you!

[sophiavega]

She is 100% correct...I bought a small lot to build our home in Rancho cucamonga Ca. I was in shock to learn that the fees will add up to close to $100, 000 😳😲 I had no idea the permit fees will be that much. I bought that lot almost three years ago, and sadly haven't yet build bc of the darn fees. Had I know, I would have not bought the lot. And not to mention still paying taxes on the lot. I should have done my homework before buying a lot to build a home ....

[Impozalla]

It's becoming practically unaffordable to live in this country, not just in California. Let's be honest here.

[youbetyourwrasse]

FINALLY .. I can listen for an hour and FEEL SMARTER WHEN I AM DONE.

[jpguthrie]

I live in Tokyo, Japan, one of the largest and most densely populated cities on earth. Yet, housing in Tokyo is affordable, and the entire country of Japan (123 million people) has half as many homeless as the city of Sacramento (half a million). Why is housing affordable in Tokyo? First, there is minimal housing and construction regulation. There is virtually no zoning, meaning you can build a home, shop, school, or factory pretty much anywhere, or even combine all of these into a single structure. Second, neighboring landlords have practically no say in what you build on your own property, regardless of the effect your new structure may have on the value of their property. Newer buildings, as a rule, drive down the value of older buildings, which may not seem fair to their owners, but the effect is to keep the overall real estate and rental prices lower.

Another point is the way the government in Japan works. Japan's election system is interesting, it is illegal to donate money to political campaigns, to politicians, or political parties. Anyone can run for office in Japan, you petition the people in your district, and if you get enough signatures, your name is put on the ballot, and the government funds your campaign. All candidates get the identical amount of financial aid and speaking time. This system prevents candidates from making deals or promises in exchange for campaign contributions.

An even more interesting point is that unions have no power in private business or government. Politicians cannot buy the votes of union members with taxpayer money. An added benefit to this system is that labor unions do not constantly lobby for ever higher wages while demanding ever lower standards.

I live in the most expensive district in Tokyo, some of the homes in this neighborhood cost upwards of $50 million. Yet, there are small apartments in older buildings which can be rented for less than $1000 per month. Basically, Japan's housing is based upon the free market, more desirable places are more expensive, less desirable places are less expensive. Those who can afford better places can find them, those who can afford less expensive places can find them.

[terigoldner]

Jennifer Hernandez is an excellent attorney. She knows what she’s talking about.

[usercornpop]

The higher the prices the higher the corruption

[sdraven]

I think you have the best guests. I appreciate that you let them talk without interrupting.

[DC]

This is one of the best investigative journalism YouTube channels I have ever come across. Fascinating interviews where domain experts are allowed to share their knowledge without pressure from the interviewer. Thank you.

[armoredghost]

This guest is really good. You don’t hear this kind of detail from just anyone.

[sigg]

Nomad Capitalist, " go where you and your money are treated now, that place is NOT California.

[kmwilkerson]

I left in early 2022, and it seems that things have only gotten harder for people since I left. More homeless and mental health than while I was there through COVID. It’s a shame because that was my home. Born and raised for over 40 years. I have watched it grow and loved it for so many reasons. It’s been a heavy hearted decision each day to continue making a new home somewhere else.

[glennfuller]

I love your videos, and I think that this is the most important one you have ever done. The economic impact on Californians is staggering

[Enyuno]

I’m an electrician. If you want to rewire a old home to modern electrical requirements a switch cost $80 instead of $5 to meet Title 24 requirements.

[NickC]

One of the commenters mentioned that California is overly litigious and that we need more engineers and fewer attorneys.

I agree. And I am an attorney in California.

[HomeFreeinmySUV]

Please. Pleeeeze STOP making excuses for CORRUPTION, LOBBYISTS, RICO, STUPIDITY, IGNORANCE,
LIES AND GREED..

[wasabiginger]

My subscribed was removed ... your reporting is not what they want to see available. Thank you for never giving up.

[panfiloperez]

wow ! couldn´t stop watching the whole talk !!! great lady. hope things get better in califnornia

[kristibrown]

the absolute best episode of your fantastic show ever. very informative

[MrQuanu]

this woman needs to be heard by all Californians.