housing and – Misryoum reviews how San José Mayor Matt Mahan proposes tackling California’s housing costs and homelessness, from permitting changes to interim shelter.
California’s housing crisis is now driving both politics and daily life, and San José Mayor Matt Mahan’s candidacy puts that pressure front and center.
In a forum setting. Mahan framed the challenge as a chain reaction: high housing costs are forcing longtime residents out of the state and fueling homelessness.. His approach focuses on making it easier and faster to build. especially in existing communities. with an emphasis on lowering the barriers that slow projects before they even begin.
A central plank of Mahan’s plan would cut development fees tied to infill housing and push back on local tax policies that. in his view. discourage new construction.. He also argues California should set a stricter permitting timeline, requiring cities to process permits in under 30 days.. If local governments miss that deadline. he would allow developers to rely on properly qualified third-party planners and building inspectors to handle permit review.
This matters because the speed and cost of permitting often determines whether housing projects pencil out at all, shaping what gets built long before residents ever see a new apartment or home.
Mahan also points to industrial strategy as part of the housing solution, including support for building homes in factories.. He backs efforts that would provide incentives for modular housing factories. arguing that constructing units off-site can reduce cost and time compared with building on the ground.
On homeownership pathways, he supports changing state rules that he says make it too risky for developers to build condominiums. He also calls for more down payment assistance, aiming to widen access for residents who are trying to transition from renting to owning.
Meanwhile on homelessness, Mahan emphasizes speed of response. He supports increasing interim shelter capacity that can be built more quickly and at lower cost than permanent housing, and he would adjust state housing law to encourage cities to take that approach.
He also weighed in on enforcement questions. arguing that penalties for sleeping outside are cruel when shelter is not actually available. while supporting consequences for people who repeatedly refuse housing offers.. He further proposes making the state’s Homeless Housing. Assistance and Prevention grant permanent and funding it at a higher annual level.
At the end of the day, Misryoum notes, the debate over housing and homelessness isn’t just about budgets or programs; it’s about whether the state can change the pace of action, from permit approvals to shelter openings, in time to match the scale of need.