California’s housing crisis keeps getting worse, and now pro-housing politics have become a central thread in the race for governor. The Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) movement stands out, especially in Marin County communities like San Rafael, Sausalito, Novato, and Larkspur.
This piece breaks down what the candidates are actually saying about market-rate, affordable, and “missing middle” housing. It also tries to make sense of what these promises could mean for Marin’s towns and neighborhoods, especially as everyone vows to speed up housing production while juggling environmental and labor concerns.
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The YIMBY Wave and the All-of-the-Above Plan
YIMBY leaders and lawmakers across California argue that most major gubernatorial candidates now back an all-of-the-above approach. They want a mix of market-rate, affordable, and missing-middle housing.
In Marin County—where towns like San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, Tiburon, and Sausalito face intense demand—the debate often focuses on how to speed approvals and cut red tape. The challenge? Expanding housing without losing sight of environmental safeguards or the unique feel of each community.
Grassroots organizing since 2018 has changed political norms and helped win bills that streamline approvals and encourage denser development. These efforts have also opened up public land for housing.
Some environmental groups and labor unions in the Bay Area warn about unintended consequences. They argue for careful environmental reviews and insist on protecting labor standards.
In Marin, the tension shows up as San Anselmo and Ross residents weigh density near transit corridors, while folks near Fairfax and the Alpine neighborhoods fight to protect hillsides. State-level policy choices echo through these local debates.
What the candidates propose (in broad strokes)
The policy menu stretches from full-on deregulation to ambitious public funding and new construction methods. Here’s a quick look at the diverse visions—plus a few thoughts on what could matter for San Rafael, Novato, and the rest of Marin County.
- Steve Hilton (Republican): Wants to cut regulations, cap fees, limit public hearings, end density incentives, and expand suburbs to boost single-family homes. In Marin, this means more sprawling development around places like Corte Madera and San Rafael. It might ease some constraints, but environmental and preservation groups will almost definitely push back.
- Chad Bianco (Republican): Blames state regulation for the housing crisis and promises rapid deregulation, including eliminating CEQA reviews. Marin residents will probably watch closely to see how changes to environmental review could affect hillside projects in Mill Valley or Sausalito’s bayside areas.
- Democrats: Offer a range of interventionist ideas. Tom Steyer pitches a state revolving loan fund and factory-built housing. Xavier Becerra wants faster approvals and prioritizes shovel-ready projects. Katie Porter focuses on construction innovation and using public land for deeply affordable units. In Marin, these could unlock funding for affordable housing near transit in San Rafael and Novato, and encourage modular options that fit local climate and permitting quirks.
- Mayoral figures and local leaders (like Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa) talk about cutting red tape, speeding up permits, factory-built housing, and investing in workforce housing and community land trusts. Tony Thurmond highlights repurposing surplus school land for new units and expanding down-payment help. Marin folks will look for chances to align with transit-oriented development in Larkspur, or maybe convert underused school sites in Corte Madera or Tiburon into housing—without losing green space.
Marin in Focus: What This Means for San Rafael, Novato, and the Rest
For Marin County residents, the governor’s race is anything but abstract. It lands right on the desks of planning boards in San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, and Sausalito.
Debates over zoning tweaks, permitting timelines, and environmental reviews shape everything from affordable apartments near the Larkspur ferry to workforce housing in Sausalito’s Marinship district. The tug-of-war between affordable housing, density, and environmental protection plays out across Marin’s hills, ridges, marshlands, and waterfronts—defining places like Tiburon, Belvedere, and Ross.
Local policy levers shaping Marin’s housing conversation
Marin County leaders have their eyes on a handful of hot-button issues. Candidates are eager to leave their mark, too.
- Zoning reforms could bring missing-middle housing near town centers in San Anselmo, San Rafael, and Novato. Still, nobody wants to erase the character of Belvedere or Tiburon.
- Permitting speed-ups might finally cut down those multi-year delays that leave project timelines in limbo in Mill Valley and Corte Madera.
- CEQA and environmental reviews need a fresh look. The challenge is to protect Marin’s coastlines and redwood forests while getting projects ready to break ground faster.
- Public land utilization and down-payment assistance programs aim to help teachers, firefighters, and essential workers actually buy homes in places like Sausalito or Larkspur. That’s the hope, anyway.
- Workforce housing and community land trusts could offer long-term ways to keep Marin’s towns affordable. Folks want to see growth that’s light on the land and climate-friendly, especially in Fairfax and Point Reyes Station.
The governor’s race is heating up. Marin voters will soon hear how each candidate plans to accelerate housing—but not at the expense of the Bay Area’s environmental protections or the community vibe people love.
For folks in San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, and those tucked away in the hills, the outcome could change more than the skyline. It’ll probably shift commute times, school priorities, and how much open space we get to keep along Marin’s coastline.
Here is the source article for this story: California governor candidates race to claim pro-housing mantle
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