Joel Singer

The High Cost of the California Dream

Matt Miller, Roxana Tynan, Joel Singer, Antonio Villaraigosa, Rudy Espinoza, Louis Feldman, Aliza Carney-Gurin, Mark Stagan, Dan Hamilton, Eve Chair, Michael Banner

Hosted by Matt Miller at the Milken Institute, a panel of civic leaders including Antonio Villaraigosa and Joel Singer analyzed the stagnating wages and soaring costs of housing, healthcare, and education that are eroding California's middle class. The discussion identified outdated zoning laws and NIMBYism as primary drivers of an affordability crisis while proposing solutions such as density bonuses, pension restructuring, and micro-equity investments to spur entrepreneurship. Ultimately, the panelists argued that reversing the state's talent drain requires a combination of regulatory reform, higher wages, and inclusive immigration policies to restore economic competitiveness.