Santa Barbara officials are reinforcing their commitments to housing production, moving thousands of new units toward development while pushing back against misconceptions surrounding the cost of federally guided housing projects.
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The discussion landed in the spotlight on Election Night, when journalist and policy analyst Ezra Klein addressed a packed Arlington Theatre audience as part of the UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures series. Klein, a New York Times columnist and host of The Ezra Klein Show, was invited to explore themes from his recent book Abundance, which urges policymakers to adopt a more ambitious, future-driven approach to public investment — particularly in housing and infrastructure.
During the talk, Klein argued that federally guided housing costs more than twice as much as private development. But that claim doesn’t align with documented research. While federal projects must comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires prevailing wages for construction workers, studies consistently show a cost impact of 10–30 percent, not the 150 percent gap Klein suggested.
Local officials and housing experts are stressing that wage protections exist for a reason — to ensure safe, fair, and stable labor practices in a sector already challenged by shortages. As the article notes, “These requirements reflect a commitment to fair labor standards, not inefficiency.”
Santa Barbara leaders point to hard evidence of progress happening now. The County of Santa Barbara has already approved roughly 4,000 multifamily units, including about 1,000 homes dedicated to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. Most of these developments are already under construction or scheduled to break ground soon. This accelerated push reflects what local leaders say is the result of years of regional planning, streamlined processes, and state-driven pressure to meet housing goals.
Local representatives are also emphasizing that these approvals represent cross-jurisdictional coordination — between federal partners, state housing agencies, county departments, and city governments — all working to chip away at chronic regional housing shortages. Many of the forthcoming units are infill projects located near transit, job centers, and community corridors, aligning with California’s climate and land-use goals.
Commissioner Lisa Knox Burns underscores the broader message: elected leaders are following through. “Our elected officials and institutions are delivering on the promises made,” she wrote, pointing to the county’s proactive stance and willingness to approve both affordable and workforce housing after years of stalled progress.
Klein’s call for abundance has been positively received in local circles, but housing advocates stress that the pursuit of abundance must be grounded in data, realism, and the realities of building in California. As Knox Burns notes, “Fair wages, thoughtful planning, and local action are not barriers to abundance — they’re the foundation of it.”
With more units in the pipeline, Santa Barbara is positioning itself as a leader in balancing rapid housing development with fair labor standards, long-term planning, and community-centered policies. The debate sparked by Klein may continue, but local officials say the numbers speak for themselves: progress is happening now, and momentum is growing.
Originally reported by Lisa Knox Burns, Commissioner, Housing Authority for the County of Santa Barbara, S.B in Independent.
