Happy Thanksgiving.

Short post for a short week.

tHANK YOU, watchdogs

We depend on a network of volunteer watchdogs to make cities plan their fair share of housing. The housing shortage is unimaginably deep, and it’s going to take a mass movement to fix it.

You are that mass movement.

I listed dozens of names in an earlier draft, but it felt rushed and corny. I also don’t know that everyone wants their name published, not least—and this is both necessary and underappreciated—because a handful of you serve in planning departments, planning commissions, and city councils. (Congratulations, by the way!) Thank you, sincerely, to everyone who has flagged a housing issue for us this year, and please keep those reports coming.

Builder’s Remedy Projections for Santa Barbara County

November 17 was the last day for jurisdictions in Santa Barbara County to submit a draft housing element in time to avoid the builder’s remedy.

Affordable-housing developers, get ready: Carpinteria, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Solvang, and unincorporated Santa Barbara County—home to expat and media royalty—will be subject to the builder’s remedy starting February 16.

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Happy Thanksgiving, and safe travels to all who are traveling. We’ll post again next week.