Ben Christopher • CalMatters, Author at Stocktonia News

A construction worker in a hard hat walks past a parked white car and a crane arm with a hook, in front of an under-construction building.

Almost nowhere in California is building enough, according to the state. Here’s why

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters Aug. 13, 2026, 6:00 a.m.Aug. 11, 2026, 1:18 p.m.

Despite legislation and policy changes aimed at boosting construction, the number of new homes built annually is still just north of 100,000.

A $28 minimum wage for California construction workers is dead — killed by construction workers

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters June 27, 2026, 2:00 p.m.June 25, 2026, 1:11 p.m.

Construction site under a blue sky with fluffy clouds, showing wooden frames of a building. A worker in an orange vest stands on the structure.

Governor YIMBY: In California’s unsettled race, most candidates see eye-to-eye on housing

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters May 15, 2026, 6:00 a.m.May 13, 2026, 1:14 p.m.

Colorful two-story townhouses with large windows and red-tiled roofs, along a residential street.

How bad is California’s housing shortage? It depends on who’s doing the counting

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters Sept. 28, 2025, 3:23 p.m.Sept. 29, 2025, 8:25 a.m.

A train moving along behind single-family homes.

California Legislature overrides local zoning to boost transit-oriented development

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters Sept. 13, 2025, 5:13 p.m.Sept. 13, 2025, 5:18 p.m.

An advertising sign for an open house by MGT Real Estate Group, featuring the event time from 1-3 PM and the website URL. The sign is placed on a sidewalk and has a red and green color scheme with a directional arrow.

So many reasons to stay put: What’s behind California’s frozen housing market?

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters July 30, 2025, 6:01 a.m.July 29, 2025, 12:08 p.m.

Construction site with multistory building, crane, and safety signs.

One of the biggest obstacles to building new CA housing has now vanished

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters July 1, 2025, 4:05 p.m.July 1, 2025, 4:05 p.m.

House under construction with scaffolding and materials in the foreground.

Is the secret to housing affordability in California buried in the building code?

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters May 17, 2025, 12:05 p.m.May 15, 2025, 9:06 a.m.

Outdoor scene with parked bicycles, potted plants, laundry on a clothesline, and a two-story residential building in the background.

‘Quiet panic’ as national rental assistance program set to run out of cash

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters March 24, 2025, 6:00 a.m.May 7, 2026, 9:48 a.m.

Rows of small, identical white temporary housing units with gray trim and air conditioning units, enclosed by a green chain-link fence.

Supporters yank California’s largest-ever affordable housing measure

by Ben Christopher • CalMatters Aug. 16, 2024, 4:35 p.m.Aug. 16, 2024, 4:39 p.m.