Tag: Policy

AB 3155

AB 3155

05/23/20

“What is the significance of California’s AB 3155 bill?”

California’s housing crisis is causing more and more suffering to the state every year. However, a recent bill that was passed will lend its hand to ameliorate this. AB 3155 by Assemblymember Robert Rivas will allow for apartment buildings with up to 10 homes to be approved by city planning staff instead of having to go through public hearings in front of a planning commission or city council. In addition, half the homes on those lots reserved for first-time homebuyers for 90 days.

For some technical details about where the development can be placed:

The development must be within some form of urban/metro area
A site in which at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses. Specifically, parcels that are only separated by a street or highway shall be considered to be adjoined.
At least two-thirds of the square footage of the development designated for residential use
shall remain available at affordable housing costs or rent to persons and families of lower or moderate-income for no less than the following periods of time:
- (i) Fifty-five years for units that are rented.
- (ii) Forty-five years for units that are owned.

The development must satisfy the requirements below.

The locality has been underproducing affordable housing for the area
The amount of housing at minimum percentage of below-market-rate housing based on one of the following:
- The project dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of units to housing affordable to households making at or below 80 percent of the area median income. However, if the locality has adopted a local ordinance that requires that greater than 10 percent of the units be dedicated to housing affordable to households making below 80 percent of the area median income, that local ordinance applies.
- If the project is located within the San Francisco Bay area, then the project must dedicate 20 percent of the total number of units to housing affordable to households making below 120 percent of the area median income with the average income of the units at or below 100 percent of the area median income. However, a local ordinance adopted by the locality applies if it requires greater than 20 percent of the units be dedicated to housing affordable to households making at or below 120 percent of the area median income, or requires that any of the units be dedicated at a level deeper than 120 percent. In order to comply with this subclause, the rent or sale price charged for units that are dedicated to housing affordable to households between 80 percent and 120 percent of the area median income shall not exceed 30 percent of the gross income of the household.
If the project contains 10 units of housing or less and is subject to an inclusionary housing ordinance when the project application is submitted, the project satisfies the requirements of the inclusionary housing ordinance. If the project contains 10 units of housing or less and is not subject to any inclusionary housing ordinances, the developer pays a fee to the local government
The development is not located on a site that is any of the following:
- A coastal zone
- Prime farmland or farmland of statewide importance
- Wetlands
- Very high fire hazard severity zone
- Hazardous waste site
- Delineated earthquake fault zone
- Special flood hazard area

Ecofascism

Ecofascism

05/22/20

“How can environmentalism fuse with fascism in the most revolting of ways?”

In most political contexts, environmentalism and fascism are on diametrically opposing sides. The former seems to wish for humanity to live in natural harmony with the latter wishes for a particular group to conquer the world using exploitive military tactics. However, a new ideology is beginning to emerge that combines both of these into a whole. Ecofascism. Ecofascists believe that “lesser races” and “decadent lifestyles” are driving the planet to destruction, and that only through extinguishing these can humanity hope for long-term survival. Ecofacist movements today can be seen online in the social media sphere, the shootings at Christchurch and El Paso, and the current Austrian government.

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Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience

Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience

05/17/20

“Why would building more affordable housing in wealthy areas lead to greater climate resilience?”

Due to historic and ongoing structural discrimination, wealthier neighborhoods not only have greater opportunities but are located disproportionately in areas more resilient to climate change. Due to the steep costs of living in these places, climate refugees will have a difficult time finding shelter in them, leaving their options for a new community more limited. But if more affordable housing was developed in these wealthier places, then this barrier can be lifted and a greater range of people can find safe habitation for the rest of their lives. This is Why Building More Affordable Housing in Wealthy Areas Will Build Climate Resilience.

Misadaptation

Misadaptation

05/16/20

“How can climate adaptation be appropriated for nefarious purposes?”

Discussion of climate adaptation and resilience is becoming more apparent in the world. However, just like greenwashing takes place in mitigation, misadaptation can exacerbate climate vulnerabilities for marginalized populations while benefiting privileged ones. For example, building a levee that causing flooding down a river only shifts the climate risks, not mollifies it.

Computational Migration Analysis

Computational Migration Analysis

05/15/20

“How can we analyze how migration occurs using computational technology?”

Migrations are one of the key themes of human existence. Whether it on a grand scale like the original movement out of Africa and the upcoming mass climate displacement or smaller such as the Great Migration of African Americans from the American South to the North and modern-day international immigration. However, analyzing this can be very complicated, requiring researchers to keep track of a variety of tables, notes, and diagrams. Taking inspiration from computational demographic techniques, Computational Migration Analysis can be done to see how movement occurs. This is usually accomplished with tools such as census data, life tables, and statistical distributions.

How Climate Change Will Affect Hydropower Production

How Climate Change Will Affect Hydropower Production

05/13/20

“How will climate change affect hydropower production?”

With the advent of climate change, precipitation levels will drastically increase in some areas and decrease in others. The former can cause water body flooding while the latter would lead to drought. These events could destroy the hydropower plant parts and diminish the energy source respectively. This is How Climate Change Will Affect Hydropower Production.

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Why It Would Be Good for Pest Control to Become More Knowledgable About Climate Change

Why It Would Be Good for Pest Control to Become More Knowledgable About Climate Change

05/11/20

“Why would it be a good idea for pest control to learn more about climate change?”

The pest control profession is often thought up as being static in nature. Not changing, only using time-proven methods. However, with the advent of climate change, vermin infestations are going to become more and more out of control. Because of this, pest control professionals should learn about how the changing weather and precipitation levels will affect their work. This is Why It Would Be Good for Pest Control to Become More Knowledgable About Climate Change.

Why Global Warming Will Lead to More Vermin Infestations

Why Global Warming Will Lead to More Vermin Infestations

05/08/20

“Why will global warming lead to more vermin infestations?”

Vermin infestations are the worst. Whether it’s roaches in a house or rats in a workplace, these pesty creatures always seem to bring trouble along with them. Usually, when colder weather arrives, these species die off and their breeding process slows down. However, with the advent of Global Warming, temperatures are expected to rise (on average) and rain is on track to explode throughout the year. This will give pests more time to breed and less time to die, leading towards more outbreaks. This is Why Global Warming Will Lead to More Vermin Infestations.

Climate Disinformation

Climate Disinformation

05/06/20

“Why do malevolent institutions try to spread disinformation about climate change?”

Although climate change will bring extreme suffering to people of all backgrounds, certain institutions are based upon the very sources that are causing it. Since moving to more sustainable physical and social infrastructures would harm their economic bottom line, they try to slow it by spreading doubt about climate change. This Climate Disinformation strategy takes multiple forms, such as in think tanks or funding politicians and parties to repeat their lies. If you would like to learn more about this topic, you can find more information on the website of the Union of Concerned Scientists here.