California Democrats have long advocated for the construction of multi-family housing under the guise of "affordable housing" and increasing the state's housing supply—often at the expense of single-family residences. Now, leveraging the recent Eaton and Palisades fires, they appear to be using these disasters as justification to displace families from their single-family homes in order to further their agenda for dense housing development.
Gov. Newsom (D-CA) said:
“Los Angeles has taken significant steps to rebuild after January’s fires, but the devastation is significant and there remains a long road ahead. Thousands of families – from Pacific Palisades to Altadena to Malibu – are still displaced and we owe it to them to help. The funding we’re announcing today will accelerate the development of affordable multifamily rental housing so that those rebuilding their lives after this tragedy have access to a safe, affordable place to come home to.”
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton issued a sharp rebuke of Newsom and the Democratic legislature's plan to "rebuild" Altadena and the Pacific Palisades:
They don't want to rebuild Pacific Palisades as it was. They want apartments.
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) July 8, 2025
It's their agenda. War on single family homes. You must live in an apartment! Near transit! No car!
Is that how Gavin Newsom lives? If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for every Californian.… pic.twitter.com/XBma2m3YQs
Hilton said, in part:
"What we see across California now is the Democrat war on single-family homes, accelerating. That's why they're not issuing permits. That's why it's taking so long. They [California Democrat politicians] don't want people to stay here, they don't want people to rebuild the Palisades, the way it was. They want it rebuilt the way Gavin Newsom is talking—reimagining LA 2.0... That's their extreme ideology. To tell you how to live. They want to tell you to live in apartments, near transit, without a car—is that how they live?"
Hilton cited several bills previously introduced by Democrats in the state Senate and Assembly aimed at converting single-family homes into apartments or multi-family units. Fortunately, there is still a strong sense of reason among Californians—particularly homeowners—who are pushing back against these proposals. If such legislation were to succeed, it could mark the final step in transforming the California dream into a California nightmare.
RELATED: Los Angeles GOP Chair: There's More Than Enough 'Blame Pie' for Everyone in the LA Fires
Ric Grenell Rips Gavin Newsom, Lays Out What Needs to Happen to Make California a Golden State Again
LA’s mansion tax was supposed to fund affordable housing. But what if the way it’s structured is actually holding the city back? Developer and urban policy expert @mottsmith breaks down the issue and why it deserves a closer look. pic.twitter.com/7TMgjjXhtN
— California Insider Show (@CA_Insider) July 7, 2025
Are homes in California expensive and, for many, unaffordable? Absolutely. But the primary reason is that real estate developers are reluctant to build new housing due to high labor and material costs, as well as the lengthy permit process, complex regulations, and bureaucratic involvement. Replacing single-family residences with apartments and multi-family units will only reduce opportunities for homeownership and fail to address the underlying issues driving up housing costs for these homes.
Los Angeles County Supervisor @LindseyPHorvath wants to create a new government agency to work with the other government agencies and a new Administrator to help fund the Palisades rebuild.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 9, 2025
I have a better idea - how about the current politicians just get out of the way and let… pic.twitter.com/OC6cXmeN2S
If Newsom and his allies in the legislature actually wanted to address housing affordability and not eliminate home ownership by proposing apartment and multi-family developments, they would make the rebuild process easier for homeowners and developers, and if they eased the regulations, make the permit process simple and quick, the housing costs would decrease because more development of single-family homes would bring supply up, while driving costs down.
Having said that, homes in California will not be the same price per square foot as they are in a state like Texas, but at least it would increase home ownership in the Golden State.
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