As California faces a mounting housing crisis, many residents are left wondering why home prices and rents are soaring. The allure of the state’s stunning landscapes and rich cultural offerings seems to be slipping from the grasp of average families. To understand this issue, Nolan Gray, Senior Director of Legislation and Research at California YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) examined the mix of legislative challenges, socioeconomic factors, and supply-demand dynamics that contribute to the crisis.
Nolan Gray is the senior director of legislation and research at California YIMBY. Gray earned a PhD in Urban Planning at University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of City and Regional Planning degree at Rutgers University, and received BAs in philosophy and political science from the University of Kentucky. He was a Research Fellow in the Urbanity Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. His research focuses on land-use regulation, housing affordability, and urban design. Nolan was a Mercatus Frédéric Bastiat Fellow during the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2020-2021 academic years and a Mercatus Visiting Dissertation Fellow during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Gray previously worked on the front lines of zoning as a planner in New York City. He now serves as an Affiliated Scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he advises state and local policymakers on land-use policy. Gray is a contributor to Market Urbanism and a widely published author, with work appearing in outlets such as The Atlantic, Bloomberg Citylab, and The Guardian. He lives in Los Angeles, California and is originally from Lexington, Kentucky.
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