Why did California’s major housing bill fail so quickly?

SACRAMENTO — Without the political heft of an official housing package backed by top legislative leaders and the governor, a proposal that could have added millions of apartments and condominiums throughout the state failed suddenly this week at its first committee hearing, giving its champions no time to finesse the thorny policy and politics of development.
Last year’s package gave staying power to tough housing bills, such as one to fast-track housing near public transportation, w