I am definitely no economist, but it seems so simplistic to blame "progressives" for the fact that housing is unaffordable in big cities. First, hasn't that been a problem from the beginning of modern civilization if not before? Cities attract lots of people, so demand is high. Supply lags. Prices go up.... Real wages don't....or haven't in the last 20 or 30 years despite progressive attempts to the contrary. The people providing the supply want to make money. Give them looser zoning rules and they increase density, which I have witnesses in suburbia, but this does not seem to actually change the supply/demand equation or affordability in any appreciable way. Remote work might have been a solution but it is under attack.
It’s very hard to build housing - demand is not enough to overcome the hurdles of zoning restrictions, environmental reviews, slow permitting and extreme levels of NIMBYism. Progressives are all in favor of affordable housing as long as it’s not in their neighborhood. In Altadena and Pacific Pallisades the politicians have put their fingers on the scale to be sure that what’s rebuilt is no bigger (denser) than what was lost - what a wasted opportunity!
I am definitely no economist, but it seems so simplistic to blame "progressives" for the fact that housing is unaffordable in big cities. First, hasn't that been a problem from the beginning of modern civilization if not before? Cities attract lots of people, so demand is high. Supply lags. Prices go up.... Real wages don't....or haven't in the last 20 or 30 years despite progressive attempts to the contrary. The people providing the supply want to make money. Give them looser zoning rules and they increase density, which I have witnesses in suburbia, but this does not seem to actually change the supply/demand equation or affordability in any appreciable way. Remote work might have been a solution but it is under attack.
It’s very hard to build housing - demand is not enough to overcome the hurdles of zoning restrictions, environmental reviews, slow permitting and extreme levels of NIMBYism. Progressives are all in favor of affordable housing as long as it’s not in their neighborhood. In Altadena and Pacific Pallisades the politicians have put their fingers on the scale to be sure that what’s rebuilt is no bigger (denser) than what was lost - what a wasted opportunity!
Dave, thank you for your wit, and hugs to your beagles!