SacBee: Cheaper California housing? One idea to lower costs makes candidates for governor uneasy

It’s a controversial idea that advocates say could help alleviate California’s worsening housing crisis: strip cities of some of their zoning authority to unleash an enormous amount of new construction. State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco wants to give the state more power over land use within a half-mile of major transit stops or a quarter-mile of bus lines to create a more developer-friendly environment for new housing. But the proposal isn’t finding its footing with California’s candidates for governor this year. Both major Republicans flatly oppose it. Even Democrats who were initially favorable are clarifying their position or walking back from previous comments as opposition heats up from mayors and other local elected officials.