Latest news with #YesInMyBackyard
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Explained: YIMBY vs NIMBY - Why Barack Obama is calling out liberals on housing hypocrisy
AI generated image TL;DR Obama goes YIMBY: The former US president has embraced the 'Yes In My Backyard' movement, urging more housing construction and zoning reform. Liberal hypocrisy under fire: He's criticising wealthy, progressive communities that oppose new housing—especially affordable and mixed-income units. DNC 2024 spotlight: Obama's push for YIMBYism is now central to the Democratic Party's housing agenda heading into 2025. What's this all about? The US is in the midst of a housing crisis. Sky-high rents, unaffordable homes, and crippling shortages have become daily realities for millions of Americans. Enter: the YIMBY vs NIMBY debate. YIMBY stands for 'Yes In My Backyard'—a movement that wants to relax zoning laws, allow more housing (especially in urban areas), and build up supply. NIMBY, or 'Not In My Backyard,' represents resistance to new development, often from affluent or suburban homeowners who fear property devaluation, increased density, or social change. What makes this a big deal now? Barack Obama—once the patron saint of the liberal elite—has come out swinging against the NIMBY mindset. And he's not pulling punches. Obama's YIMBY Turn: A Long Time Coming Obama's alignment with the YIMBY movement didn't come out of nowhere. In fact, it began during his second term. In 2016, the Obama White House released a little-noticed but now prophetic document: the Housing Development Toolkit. It recommended local governments roll back exclusionary zoning, eliminate parking minimums, and legalise denser housing types like duplexes and apartments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 發現這個之後我就不再玩其他遊戲了！ ——大多數遊戲玩家都不知道… 突襲暗影傳奇 立即安裝 Undo At the time, few noticed. But with today's crisis-level housing prices, that document reads like a warning unheeded. What did Obama say? At a closed-door Democratic fundraiser and later during a major speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Obama made his most direct case yet: 'We have to get serious about housing. That means more construction. And yes, that means zoning reform—even when it's politically hard.' He called out 'progressive neighbourhoods' that support liberal causes in theory but block low-income housing projects in practice. In other words: they're pro-diversity, until it moves in next door. Why is this a shot at fellow Democrats? Because many of the most restrictive housing regulations in the US are in deep blue cities—places like San Francisco, New York, and parts of Los Angeles. Obama is essentially saying: you can't claim to care about inequality, climate change, and racial justice while blocking housing near public transit or good schools. YIMBY advocates have long pointed out that opposition to dense, affordable housing often comes cloaked in environmental or aesthetic language—but in practice reinforces segregation and skyrocketing rents. This puts him at odds with parts of the Democratic base: wealthy suburban liberals who vote blue but don't want their single-family neighbourhoods to change. Why now? A few reasons: The youth crisis: Young Americans can't afford to buy homes. Many are drowning in rent or forced to move far from job centres. Housing affordability is a top issue for voters under 40—a key Democratic constituency. Climate and equity : Denser housing near jobs and transit cuts emissions. It also integrates neighbourhoods. Political urgency: With Trump back in power, Democrats are trying to show they offer practical solutions. Housing is now seen as a tangible, winnable fight. How is YIMBYism changing Democratic politics? The Democratic Party is undergoing a housing policy transformation, and Obama's backing gives YIMBYism establishment credibility. Key moments: Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign made YIMBYism a core part of her agenda, pledging federal incentives for cities that reform zoning. Mayors like Karen Bass (LA) and Brandon Johnson (Chicago) are testing pro-housing reforms at the local level. Younger lawmakers, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna , have expressed cautious support for YIMBY goals—if paired with tenant protections. There's even talk of conditioning federal infrastructure and transit funds on whether cities allow more housing—a stick-and-carrot approach Obama helped pioneer. So who's still saying 'Not In My Backyard'? NIMBYism isn't gone. In fact, it's alive and well in blue and red states alike. Common arguments include: 'Character of the neighbourhood': A vague but often racially coded argument against multifamily housing. 'Traffic and parking': A perennial excuse to halt development. 'Environmental concerns': Sometimes legitimate—but often used to delay or kill projects. Ironically, some NIMBYs are now rebranding as 'PHIMBYs' (Public Housing In My Backyard), arguing for 100% government-built units only. Critics say this is a clever way to block private development without looking regressive. Bottom line Barack Obama siding with YIMBYs marks a turning point in America's housing debate. It pits him—and now much of the Democratic establishment—against wealthy liberals who've long avoided scrutiny for their role in fuelling inequality. He's not just talking policy. He's talking values. And asking a tough question: Are we serious about justice? Or only when it doesn't mess with our property values? FAQ Q: What's YIMBYism in simple terms? A: It's the belief that we need to build more housing—everywhere—to tackle affordability, segregation, and climate change. Q: What's Obama's stance? A: Strongly pro-YIMBY. He's called for zoning reform, denser housing, and ending liberal double standards on development. Q: Is this a partisan issue? A: Not entirely. There are YIMBYs and NIMBYs in both parties, though Democratic cities tend to face sharper contradictions between rhetoric and reality. Q: Will this fix the housing crisis? A: Not alone. But most economists agree more supply is essential—especially near jobs, transit, and good schools.
ABC News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Coming up: Yes In My Backyard - ABC Religion & Ethics
Compass follows Sydney's Yes In My Backyard movement on their quest to change attitudes about housing. With Sydney on track to become a city with no grandchildren, the Yimbys are fighting for the future of their city. Coming up 6:30pm Sunday 29th July on ABC TV and anytime on ABC iview. Posted 14m ago 14 minutes ago Wed 25 Jun 2025 at 12:45am
Sydney Morning Herald
16-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Apartments get green light despite breaching Victoria's liveability rules
'Last year, it was 20,000 short. Missing targets by such a margin puts great pressure to approve high-density developments, even if they are of questionable quality,' Hayward said. The Greensborough tower, developed by Greensborough Central Investments, will feature more than 200 one- and two-bedroom apartments, to be rented out below market rates. Together Housing, a newly registered community housing provider, secured federal government funding through Housing Australia to deliver the community housing at the site. Planning documents reveal Kilkenny approved the project despite its variation from the state's apartment design standards, which mandate minimum sizes for bedrooms and living rooms. The development also falls short on stipulated total storage requirements for some apartments. Despite the non-compliance, the government's assessment of the Greensborough project said the units were 'generously sized' and provided a 'high level of internal amenity', and therefore met the guidelines' objectives. It did not reveal how many of the 200 apartments had bedrooms and living rooms smaller than standard, or give further information on why the deviation was deemed acceptable. The apartment design guidelines allow developers to propose alternative solutions, which the government then assesses against the guidelines' objectives. A government spokesperson said up to a quarter of the homes would be social housing, with the remainder affordable housing for 25 years. The apartments ranged from 50.5 square metres to 76.3 square metres, and met minimum internal storage volume requirements, the spokesperson said. They did not directly address a question asking why the government approved the project despite it not meeting minimum room sizes. Tetris, a company that invests in and helps deliver social and affordable housing and has links to the Greensborough project, said it looked forward to the homes becoming available for people in urgent need of such housing. But Greensborough resident and real estate agent Wayne Hutchinson said the development had locals' 'blood pressure boiling', and he feared the suburb would be stuck with low-quality housing. 'It will be visible from just about every part of Greensborough and change it forever,' he said. 'The community was not consulted in any way and only found out about it after it was approved. No one denies that we need more appropriate housing, but make sure it's done appropriately. It should not be done in stealth.' YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) lead organiser Jonathan O'Brien said it was reasonable to deviate from the standards for homes in a suitable location where people wanted to live. 'We know that construction costs are super-high at the moment, and we know that we want to deliver affordable housing. Australia builds some of the biggest apartments and houses in the world – if we want more affordable options, we might need to deliver less expensive apartments that people can choose to live in,' he said. Loading 'The best outcome is that people have homes, and if the homes are slightly smaller than a set of standards made for brand-new market housing then I think that's a fair trade-off.' Separately, documents obtained through freedom-of-information laws by the state opposition raise fresh concerns about the government's plans to redevelop 44 public housing towers, a process that has already seen demolition begin at Carlton's Elgin Street and relocations under way in North Melbourne, Flemington, South Yarra and Richmond. Meeting minutes from Homes Victoria last year show the board noted the complexity of the redevelopment project, which it said needed a tailored approach for each site, but noted lowering the unit price was a priority. The documents also show the government is looking at ways it can alter the specifications of Homes Victoria's new low- and medium-density units to make them cheaper. Emeritus Professor Hayward said he was increasingly concerned that the government's primary focus was its growth objectives for social and affordable housing, with tenant wellbeing and quality design taking a backseat. Liberal MP David Davis accused the Allan government of planning its social housing projects 'on the cheap, slashing quality and looking at yield beyond the long-term viability'. 'People expect more, Victorians expect more from their government than cheap, nasty shoddy builds,' he said. A spokesperson for Housing Minister Harriet Shing said all homes delivered by the state government would meet or exceed minimum design standards, including bedroom and living sizes. 'When the Liberals aren't blocking the delivery of new homes for Victorians who deserve the same opportunity of home ownership that their parents had, they are cutting corners and dudding consumers,' the spokesperson said.
The Age
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Apartments get green light despite breaching Victoria's liveability rules
'Last year, it was 20,000 short. Missing targets by such a margin puts great pressure to approve high-density developments, even if they are of questionable quality,' Hayward said. The Greensborough tower, developed by Greensborough Central Investments, will feature more than 200 one- and two-bedroom apartments, to be rented out below market rates. Together Housing, a newly registered community housing provider, secured federal government funding through Housing Australia to deliver the community housing at the site. Planning documents reveal Kilkenny approved the project despite its variation from the state's apartment design standards, which mandate minimum sizes for bedrooms and living rooms. The development also falls short on stipulated total storage requirements for some apartments. Despite the non-compliance, the government's assessment of the Greensborough project said the units were 'generously sized' and provided a 'high level of internal amenity', and therefore met the guidelines' objectives. It did not reveal how many of the 200 apartments had bedrooms and living rooms smaller than standard, or give further information on why the deviation was deemed acceptable. The apartment design guidelines allow developers to propose alternative solutions, which the government then assesses against the guidelines' objectives. A government spokesperson said up to a quarter of the homes would be social housing, with the remainder affordable housing for 25 years. The apartments ranged from 50.5 square metres to 76.3 square metres, and met minimum internal storage volume requirements, the spokesperson said. They did not directly address a question asking why the government approved the project despite it not meeting minimum room sizes. Tetris, a company that invests in and helps deliver social and affordable housing and has links to the Greensborough project, said it looked forward to the homes becoming available for people in urgent need of such housing. But Greensborough resident and real estate agent Wayne Hutchinson said the development had locals' 'blood pressure boiling', and he feared the suburb would be stuck with low-quality housing. 'It will be visible from just about every part of Greensborough and change it forever,' he said. 'The community was not consulted in any way and only found out about it after it was approved. No one denies that we need more appropriate housing, but make sure it's done appropriately. It should not be done in stealth.' YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) lead organiser Jonathan O'Brien said it was reasonable to deviate from the standards for homes in a suitable location where people wanted to live. 'We know that construction costs are super-high at the moment, and we know that we want to deliver affordable housing. Australia builds some of the biggest apartments and houses in the world – if we want more affordable options, we might need to deliver less expensive apartments that people can choose to live in,' he said. Loading 'The best outcome is that people have homes, and if the homes are slightly smaller than a set of standards made for brand-new market housing then I think that's a fair trade-off.' Separately, documents obtained through freedom-of-information laws by the state opposition raise fresh concerns about the government's plans to redevelop 44 public housing towers, a process that has already seen demolition begin at Carlton's Elgin Street and relocations under way in North Melbourne, Flemington, South Yarra and Richmond. Meeting minutes from Homes Victoria last year show the board noted the complexity of the redevelopment project, which it said needed a tailored approach for each site, but noted lowering the unit price was a priority. The documents also show the government is looking at ways it can alter the specifications of Homes Victoria's new low- and medium-density units to make them cheaper. Emeritus Professor Hayward said he was increasingly concerned that the government's primary focus was its growth objectives for social and affordable housing, with tenant wellbeing and quality design taking a backseat. Liberal MP David Davis accused the Allan government of planning its social housing projects 'on the cheap, slashing quality and looking at yield beyond the long-term viability'. 'People expect more, Victorians expect more from their government than cheap, nasty shoddy builds,' he said. A spokesperson for Housing Minister Harriet Shing said all homes delivered by the state government would meet or exceed minimum design standards, including bedroom and living sizes. 'When the Liberals aren't blocking the delivery of new homes for Victorians who deserve the same opportunity of home ownership that their parents had, they are cutting corners and dudding consumers,' the spokesperson said.
