Well, one of the main "reasons" this bill was killed was about what you're asking. From the LA Times[0]: "Senate Bill 50, which would have allowed construction

Well, one of the main "reasons" this bill was killed was about what you're asking. From the LA Times[0]: "Senate Bill 50, which would have allowed construction of mid-rise apartment complexes near transit and job centers and fourplexes in most single-family neighborhoods throughout California, was opposed by state senators who said the measure took too much power away from local governments and failed to sufficiently address low-income housing needs." So it seems there are people in the CA state senate who would rather see this done at county or city levels. However, sometimes these projects hinge on state support in the form of taxes/allocation or if there is existing state-level legislation that requires amendment or repeal... I think. I'm not a gov buff. Overall, though, I think the prevailing thought is that the cities/counties that some say "need" affordable/denser housing would never on their own vote for new legislation. Palo Alto is named in this article[0] where a resident claims building higher density dwellings is less important than curbing corporate expansion. Quote: "Greg Schmid, a 78-year-old retired economist, said the region should slow the expansion of large companies. Young, highly paid tech employees are overwhelming Palo Alto, he said, and adding to traffic congestion. The situation, he said, only works for the companies’ benefit and drives out families who earn less and could otherwise live in Palo Alto. “The aggressive expansion of big business does not have any sensitivity to the need for a sustainable community,” Schmid said." I think it's a fair point. -- 0. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-29/high-profile-california-housing-bill-to-allow-mid-rise-apartments-near-transit-falls-short https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-29/high-pro... 1. https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-california-apartment-construction-density-palo-alto-20190422-story.html https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-california-apartm...