The Bay Fairfax Votes 'No' In Recall Election About Housing
Nov 17, 2025
Izzy Bloom, a politics reporter and producer for KQED, dives into the recent recall election in Fairfax, Marin County, where voters opted to keep their mayor and vice mayor despite tensions over housing development. She unpacks the community's split over a proposed six-story apartment complex and what this reflects about broader housing issues in California. With insights into voter motivations and the influence of state mandates, Bloom reveals how this local conflict resonates beyond Fairfax, highlighting ongoing challenges in the housing crisis.
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Small Town, Big Housing Tension
- Fairfax is a small, affluent Marin town with a strong arts culture and progressive reputation but steep housing costs.
- That mix creates tension between wanting affordable housing and resisting high-density developments.
Signs Side-By-Side On Neighboring Yards
- Halloween decorations and competing recall signs sat next to each other on the same streets.
- Neighbors in Fairfax found the recall to be intensely personal and divisive.
Affordable Units Didn’t Feel Affordable
- Mill Creek proposed a 243-unit, six-story project with 49 so-called affordable units.
- Proposed rents (studios $1,900–$2,500) left some residents calling it unaffordable.