Fires, blackouts, and soaring housing costs--has California officially reached a tipping point? Or are we simply recycling the same old tired doomsday tropes every time the state faces a collective challenge? On this episode of Gimme Shelter, Matt and Liam chat with New York Times columnist Farhad Manjoo about why the state's twin climate change and housing affordability problems make him pessimistic about the future. 

First, an Avocado of the Fortnight poses a $10,000 question: How much would it take for you to leave the Bay? (4:30) Then a discussion of where Southern California decided to put 1.3 million new units of state-mandated housing, and why the decision was so surprising to Liam (7:30). Finally, a conversation about whether we should rebuild in high fire risk areas, followed by an interview with NYT op-ed columnist and fan of the pod Farhad Manjoo (33:00). 

Farhad's Column: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/opinion/sunday/california-fires.html

Is California as we know it over? With the New York Times' Farhad Manjoo

Why is it so expensive to live in California? And what can the state do about it? Every other week, Los Angeles Times housing reporter Liam Dillon and CalMatters housing reporter Manuela Tobias chat about the latest developments in California housing policy and interview key newsmakers and other reporters. You can also subscribe to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and anywhere else you get your pods. 

Gimme Shelter is supported by The James Irvine Foundation, committed to a California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically.

Is California as we know it over? With the New York Times' Farhad Manjoo

Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Pod