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SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
Sat Jul 6, 2019, 02:56 PM Jul 2019

Interesting article I came across, describing attempts to fix housing shortages for lower income...

workers/families/people. I didn't realize that there was so much opposition to these attempts to expand the amount of affordable housing and/or transportation/etc. (but to be honest, I haven't really paid attention to it, since I've sold my bigger home and moved to a smaller home 1 mile away, same neighborhood)...
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Article located at:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/as-cities-try-to-fix-housing-boomers-are-radicalizing-to-stop-progress_n_5d1bcf0ee4b07f6ca58598a9

Progressive Boomers Are Making It Impossible For Cities To Fix The Housing Crisis
Residents of wealthy neighborhoods are taking extreme measures to block much-needed housing and transportation projects.

SEATTLE — In May 2018, a public meeting in a wealthy enclave of one of America’s most progressive cities devolved into a two-hour temper tantrum as longtime residents incensed about a proposed tax to fund homeless services shouted down its proponents. “Lies!” the crowd bellowed as an attendee explained that the tax would be levied on corporations, not citizens. “Shill!” “Plant!” “Phony!” they shouted as another supporter spoke. “Coward!” a man yelled at a homeless woman as she took the microphone.
These scenes are usually sparked by projects or policy changes intended to address America’s worsening housing crisis. More than 200 American cities now have median home values above $1 million. The construction of new dwellings has lagged behind the number of new households eight years in a row. Both congestion and climate change are prompting many cities to explore expanding their public transportation networks.
etc.
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The article is pretty long. I didn't want to copy it all here, as it's too long, but it's good reading and it woke me up to a situation that I didn't know was that serious of an issue. Perhaps you're seeing it in your area. I suspect that it has to do w/ massive development projects undertaken in earlier days that pretty well rode roughshod over the objections of previous city residents (the city listened to developers instead of home owners) AND the fact (in my case) that many of us brought our homes in these cities w/o any help from anyone and fixed up our homes by the tens of thousands, again, with no one else's help, and then, 20-30 years later, all of a sudden we have people coming in and telling the residents what needs to be done.

What say you? Perhaps you've seen something similar to this article in your area. Like I said, I didn't realize that this was getting to be a big issue w/ lots of cities but apparently it is, and will probably impact eventually housing prices and services (since prices are so high, who is going to buy these homes later? and services, how are you going to get workers if they have to drive quite a ways to get to their jobs in the cities?).














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mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
1. This is a real issue, but blaming it on 'progressive boomers' just because these are generally
Sat Jul 6, 2019, 03:09 PM
Jul 2019

'Liberal Cities' ... is bullshit.

Even the SF Bay Area is MAYBE 60-40 left-leaning vs. right-leaning people. IOW, there's PLENTY of righties around in EVERY big city to start up organizations trying to stop housing developments for lower-income folks. And yeah, they'll convince moderates, and even attract some bona-fide liberals to at least some parts of their platforms ... but I really doubt it's 'progressive boomers' predominately behind this shit.

Gonna have to show me some real data, put it like that.

There's also an issue in big cities where SO MUCH of people's wealth is tied up in their property values, and the fact that SCARCITY is a MAJOR factor in those values ... forces an awful lot of folks into a Faustian Bargain they'd rather not be making but feel like they have little choice.

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
5. Thanks for responding ... scarcity would make sense in making demand for housing (pricing etc., ...
Sat Jul 6, 2019, 06:14 PM
Jul 2019

so outrageous in pricing (or maybe not so outrageous in pricing, just that not everyone can live in SF, LA, Chicago, NYC, Miami, Dallas/FW, etc.)...however, the author of the article does make the point that jobs tend to gravitate in these localities, thus the demand is somewhat being driven by the 'lopsided' job market. I kind of thought the job market was starting to move away from high cost of living cities so they could find a pool of workers could be live/work in these affordable areas.

And you're absolutely right, blaming 'liberals' for the whole problem...I certainly don't agree w/ that sentiment (and I didn't detect a slant towards liberals vs. right wing in the article, perhaps I didn't catch).

One thing we're seeing in STLMO is that we've got a few people moving back from Calif to MO since housing is so affordable compared to Calif/elsewhere. As a MO resident, I do somewhat resent the fact that these out of state residents, even though they may have had a much smaller home than I (Calif. vs. STLMO) were able to uptick into more expensive homes in STLMO despite all of the work I've put into my home (and thus wouldn't be able to reciprocate (STLMO to Calif). Seems lopsided. Oh well, I really wouldn't want to live in CA (vs. here in MO, friends are here), and at least most of the folks from CA miss CA, but hey, that's the price they pay in order to get a bigger home, paid for, in MO vs. CA.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
6. No problem, interesting topic. But it does say 'progressive boomers' right under your link ...
Sat Jul 6, 2019, 07:24 PM
Jul 2019

Which kinda implies ... you know ... the headline is trying to paint a picture from the git-go.

I can't afford to live in California, at least not where I want to, which is why I'm in AZ where I can afford to own a house. Eventually there's ... houseS ... waiting for me back there when my parents pass (or need me back to take care of them), but ... yeah. It's freaking ridiculous ATM.

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
3. These boomers have taught their kids to be the same . Wear liberal on your sleeve only types
Sat Jul 6, 2019, 03:13 PM
Jul 2019

It’s beyond generational imo

“Most of the abuse I got came from older suburban or retired folks, and always from people who considered themselves progressive,” said Rob Johnson, a Seattle City Council member who retired in April after three years in office. During his tenure, he supported proposals to increase housing density, expand public transit and establish safe use sites for drug addicts.

CrispyQ

(36,231 posts)
4. Title should be "rich boomers" or "well off boomers."
Sat Jul 6, 2019, 03:17 PM
Jul 2019

Cuz trust me, right wing boomers are doing the same if they can afford it.

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
7. rump almost said the same thing...only way he can make money buying on the cheap when ...
Sun Jul 7, 2019, 03:23 PM
Jul 2019

prices have collapsed but this tactic still didn't work for rump...

Everything else rump has touched ended up costing rump big time, hence why he's declared bankruptcy multiple times...football team, casino, airline, etc.

Ironically, the only remaining money rump has is money/stuff inherited from good ole dad and the properties dad brought

CrispyQ

(36,231 posts)
8. What a heist if he can pull off a dictatorship & control the US Treasury.
Sun Jul 7, 2019, 03:36 PM
Jul 2019

People think it can't happen here even as it's happening.

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