Amazing conclusion, “that guy” really understood what YIMBYism is all about
I don’t understand all the spilled ink about “YIMBY’s should do x.” The main advantage of a distributed movement is different orgs can experiment with different things that work for them! Ideological and strategic diversity is a strength
I think Yglesias broader point is that NIMBY-ism isn’t just driven by crotchety old people afraid of change. Its primary fuel is regular people trying to protect their neighborhoods and schools by segregating from disorder. If the housing in your neighborhood is too expensive for the poors, the dysfunction of the poors stays away from you.
So if you really want to disarm the beating heart of NIMBY-ism you need things like law and order and well functioning schools. You do that and the crotchety old people lose the real deep wellspring of NIMBYism.
That’s why yimbys tend to find a natural home in the moderate camp.
P.s. if you’ve got a prepared speech about how nimbys are racists or classist nobody gives a fuck and shouting at then wanting to protect their families isn’t going to get housing built
That’s exactly the kind of rhetoric YIMBY s should avoid. The movement is really about getting consensus on projects that benefit an entire region but will have a negative impact on a small part of that region. The people living there may be of any given demographic so divisive language will alienate people who you are trying to convince.
More housing in a neighborhood is not a negative impact on that area. More people means more businesses within walking distance, more tax dollars for better schools and transit and a better quality of life overall.
Amazing conclusion, “that guy” really understood what YIMBYism is all about
I don’t understand all the spilled ink about “YIMBY’s should do x.” The main advantage of a distributed movement is different orgs can experiment with different things that work for them! Ideological and strategic diversity is a strength
I think Yglesias broader point is that NIMBY-ism isn’t just driven by crotchety old people afraid of change. Its primary fuel is regular people trying to protect their neighborhoods and schools by segregating from disorder. If the housing in your neighborhood is too expensive for the poors, the dysfunction of the poors stays away from you.
So if you really want to disarm the beating heart of NIMBY-ism you need things like law and order and well functioning schools. You do that and the crotchety old people lose the real deep wellspring of NIMBYism.
That’s why yimbys tend to find a natural home in the moderate camp.
P.s. if you’ve got a prepared speech about how nimbys are racists or classist nobody gives a fuck and shouting at then wanting to protect their families isn’t going to get housing built
That’s exactly the kind of rhetoric YIMBY s should avoid. The movement is really about getting consensus on projects that benefit an entire region but will have a negative impact on a small part of that region. The people living there may be of any given demographic so divisive language will alienate people who you are trying to convince.
More housing in a neighborhood is not a negative impact on that area. More people means more businesses within walking distance, more tax dollars for better schools and transit and a better quality of life overall.
Great post, thanks!