If we want to make homeownership more attainable in California, we have to start building condos again. Today, we barely do. Here's why that matters — and why I'm working on reforming California's construction defect laws. 🧵

Oh & amidst all the craziness last week (👇) let's not forget, we passed my $11B housing bond! It took me 4 years, but we got it done. This will expand housing for veterans, first-time homebuyers, farmworkers, our unhoused neighbors & more. A good reminder that government can still deliver.

Buffy Wicks@buffywicks.bsky.social · last mo.

I'm the author of ACA 22. I'm also adamantly opposed to it. That deserves an explanation – so I want to tell you what went down w/the ACA, and the fight over transfer taxes & the Taxpayer Protection Act. 👇

I'm the author of ACA 22. I'm also adamantly opposed to it. That deserves an explanation – so I want to tell you what went down w/the ACA, and the fight over transfer taxes & the Taxpayer Protection Act. 👇

When we talk about housing, it’s easy to get caught up in units and budgets. But this has always been about helping families have a safe, affordable place to call home. I’m so proud we passed the Veterans & Affordable Housing Bond today — now let’s take it to the voters.

Governor Gavin Newsom@governor.ca.gov · last mo.

Everyone deserves a place to call home. That's why I just signed legislation placing the Veterans and Affordable Bond Act on the November ballot. Voters will be able to help shape the future of affordable housing, expand access, and provide resources to become homeowners.

Trump is holding housing hostage over a bill that threatens Americans’ fundamental right to vote. Using housing as leverage for a racist, undemocratic agenda is reprehensible. We need leaders focused on building homes & lowering the cost, not erecting barriers to the ballot box.

Captain Mark Kelly@captmarkkelly.bsky.social · last mo.

Trump just said he won't sign a bill to lower housing costs. Are we surprised? He called the affordability crisis a hoax and said he "loves inflation" — all while he gets billions of dollars richer. Americans deserve a president who actually cares about the pain they're feeling.

Huge news: after four years of tirelessly fighting to advance public investment in affordable housing, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 is now in print.

Factory-built housing in the wild! Excited about this 100% affordable 70-unit building right next to BART being built with prefab modules and finished on-site with Carpenters’ labor. Housing innovation has this part of the El Cerrito Plaza going up in weeks instead of months.

Thank you to the Bay Area Council for having me, Mayor Barbara Lee and @mattmahansj.bsky.social speak about the complexities of our housing crisis and what potential solutions look like. Solving this will take leadership at the state and local level, but together we can get to yes on more housing.

Last June we passed AB 130, which included a CEQA exemption for infill housing—clean and simple. But passing a bill is not the same thing as solving a problem. And solutions are what we should be held accountable to, so let’s take stock and see where we’re at. /8

CA has made great strides in reducing gun violence, but there is more work to be done. June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and I encourage everyone to stand in solidarity with the victims, families, and communities that have been impacted. Together, we can end gun violence.

Modular housing is magical. Less than a week ago modular units started being added to the El Cerrito Plaza BART TOD podium. Today there are nearly two stories of homes. And we’re just getting started. This phase is 70 affordable homes, the full project includes 743 homes.

Huge congrats to my friend, @scottwiener.bsky.social. No one works harder - San Francisco is lucky to have you! So proud to support you. Onward to November 💪❤️🔥

It’s no secret that I’m laser-focused on housing policy. But I’ve also gotten quite active in trying to improve pedestrian/bike safety. Sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit stops get us from point a to point b, and we have to make sure they are safe and accessible.

Curious about how the leading Democratic candidates for governor think about housing affordability in California? Here's what they had to say backstage at last month's housing forum. youtu.be/9mRz9VTT6Rc

Buffy asked California’s candidates for governor one question:

Curious about how the leading Democratic candidates for governor think about housing affordability in California? Here's what they had to say backstage at last month's housing forum.

youtu.be

Today marked a huge milestone in the legislative process, and I'm happy to share that all my bills are now headed to the Senate!

Drivers: "We shouldn't be enforcing traffic laws! We should be doing other things to reduce driver violence!" "You mean like slow streets?" "No." "You mean like bike lanes?" "No." "You mean like transit and walkable neighborhoods?" "No." "You mean like charging for parking?" "Hell no."

“When working families cannot afford to buy, they leave.” That's why I'm taking on construction defect liability this year. AB 1903 will speed up repairs and bring down the cost to build condos so we can unlock more homeownership opportunities in California. www.presstelegram.com/2026/05/13/n...

Not every housing fix requires a new law. Some require fixing old ones.

AB 1903 is a step in the right direction, removing one of the most persistent barriers to building the homes our communities need.

presstelegram.com

AB 1903 by @buffywicks.bsky.social, which will reduce housing costs and increase opportunities for homeownership by allowing builders to fix problems in newly-constructed homes before triggering costly lawyers fees and courts, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee! Next stop: Assembly floor.

AB 1903: Housing Construction Defect Reform

AB 1903 will reduce housing costs and increase opportunities for homeownership by rewarding high-quality construction, and allowing builders to fix problems in newly-constructed homes before triggerin...

cayimby.org

Housing has been the defining issue of my time – both in the legislature and as a Californian trying to raise a family. That’s why I was so proud to open Friday’s Gubernatorial Candidates Housing Forum, hosted by @ezraklein.bsky.social and the @nytimes.com

2/ @buffywicks.bsky.social advocating that whoever becomes gov focus on results: “more ribbon cutting and less bill signing ceremonies”

I’m proud to have opened today’s California Gubernatorial Candidate Housing Forum, hosted by @ezraklein.bsky.social and the @nytimes.com One of these participants will likely be our next governor – so tune in to learn where they stand on California’s most important issue.

The Gubernatorial Candidates Housing Forum is happening today! You can watch some of the top candidates dive into their plans to address our housing crisis via the Ezra Klein Show’s livestream starting at 4:15pm: youtube.com/live/6HETwu7...

California Gubernatorial Candidates Housing Forum | The Ezra Klein Show

YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show

youtube.com

The median single-family detached house in Los Angeles is over $940,000. The median condo? $650,000. That’s nearly $300,000 less, so why aren’t we building them? Builders have walked away because a broken process made condos too risky to be worth it. AB 1903 (Wicks) is the fix.

oWow is using factory-built housing components to bring almost 300 new affordable apartments to Oakland more quickly and more affordably than traditional construction would allow for. This is exactly the type of housing innovation I want to see more of! www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...

This Bay Area affordable housing project is finally rising. The real test is what comes next

Rather than relying on city and county subsidies, the project was funded on a streamlined mix of tax credit equity, debt and institutional partnership.

sfchronicle.com

It’s so exciting to see momentum building around housing construction innovation. Industrialized construction, prefabricated building components, factory-built housing–whatever you want to call it, we need more of it. www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/arti...

Is prefab housing finally ready to break through in California?

OPINION: Prefab housing has been around in California for over a century. We just haven’t built much of it. That could soon change under new state legislation, columnist Allison Arieff writes.

sfchronicle.com

I’m happy to report that the Housing Innovation bill package made huge progress this week—five of the six bills were presented in Assembly policy committees and passed with bipartisan support! More on each bill:

Join a free community event on emergency preparedness in Emeryville on Saturday, May 2!

I love to see this kind of support for our community college students! www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/arti...

Nearly 200 East Bay college students just got a surprise text: Your debt is gone

Contra Costa College’s foundation wiped out $31,490 in unpaid tuition and fees for 181 students, clearing balances that had kept some from enrolling or graduating.

sfchronicle.com

Yesterday I presented AB 736—the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026—in the Senate Housing Committee so that we can get a $10 billion (billion with a ‘b’!) affordable housing bond on the November ballot.

That's Marc, our state policy director @streetsforall.org, testifying next to @buffywicks.bsky.social about AB 1976, the Safe Streets Streamlining Act 👊 Thank you Asm Wicks for stepping up for safe streets!

Warren Wells, AICP@warrenjwells.bsky.social · 4mo ago

"I've been radicalized on bicycle and pedestrian safety." CA Assemblymember @buffywicks.bsky.social at yesterday's transportation committee. You love to hear it! 👏🏻👏🏻