In March, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a 22-bill package aimed at reforming the building permitting process in California, an effort to fast-track housing development statewide. Wicks described the package as an effort to “slash red tape, remove uncertainty and to drastically reduce the time it takes to get new housing approved and built” in California. Asm. Wicks joined us to talk about the bills, why they are needed, and what it will take to get the package to the governor's desk this year. Next up, we're joined by Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero to talk about the impact of the new Trump tariffs on the nation's busiest port. Long Beach has already seen a significant reduction in shipping traffic this month; now, with zero container ships leaving China destined for California ports, empty shelves - and job losses - are likely not for behind. Plus, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/ Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang "#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io
In March, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a 22-bill package aimed at reforming the building permitting process in California, an effort to fast-track housing development statewide. Wicks described the package as an effort to “slash red tape, remove uncertainty and to drastically reduce the time it takes to get new housing approved and built” in California. Asm. Wicks joined us to talk about the bills, why they are needed, and what it will take to get the package to the governor's desk this year.
Next up, we're joined by Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero to talk about the impact of the new Trump tariffs on the nation's busiest port. Long Beach has already seen a significant reduction in shipping traffic this month; now, with zero container ships leaving China destined for California ports, empty shelves - and job losses - are likely not for behind.
Plus, as always, we tell you Who Had the Worst Week in California Politics
1:33 Insurance
2:43 Gubernatorial candidates
4:29 "I wrote my Master's thesis on the Recall"
5:14 Obligatory Alex Vassar reference
5:55 New Capitol Weekly Insiders survey
6:38 California Journal
7:43 Asm. Buffy Wicks
9:18 "People Want Change"
10:25 The need for CEQA reform
11:43 "A coalition of the willing"
14:36 A streamlined housing package on the governor's desk in September
14:47 BCTC and the Carpenters
16:49 "In California we make it too damn hard to build"
18:08 Permitting reform
20:24 "Government has to deliver for people"
21:58 Housing and Transportation Policy is Climate Policy
24:17 "As someone who grew up in a trailer, and dreamt of a wooden house someday..."
24:36 Where does the package go next?
25:28 $10 Billion affordable housing bill
26:01 Shout out to Asm. Joe Patterson
27:33 Two things to solve the Housing Crisis
28:04 Crisis Fatigue
32:49 Mario Cordero
33:22 Impact of the tariffs
34:40 The timing
36:43 May 2025 numbers vs. past
39:38 Are ships sitting offshore, waiting to come in?
42:29 "China plus one"
43:24 State of the wareshouses at the Port
46:02 How many workers are impacted?
48:01 The Green Port Policy
54:01 "When I was about 10 years old I wanted to be the Mexican-American Leonard Bernstein"
56:24 #WWCA
Want to support the Capitol Weekly Podcast? Make your tax deductible donation here: capitolweekly.net/donations/
Capitol Weekly Podcast theme is "Pickin' My Way" by Eddie Lang
"#WorstWeekCA" Beat provided by freebeats.io