How Anti-Growth Sentiment, Reflected In Zoning Laws, Thwarts Equality
The New York Times this week had an amazing article that breaks down the connections between affordability, equality, and zoning laws. The conversations and decisions that it discusses are very similar to debates happening in Eugene, particularly regarding South Willamette. The whole article is an essential read, but some highlights:
- Increasing housing prices in areas where the economy is strong and jobs are available is preventing people who need work from moving to those areas.
- Zoning laws targeted at "preserving neighborhood character" or limited the number of unrelated people living together contribute to racial segregation and class disparity, and decreases affordability by preventing housing supply in places where there is demand.
- Lost opportunities due to restrictive zoning laws may cost the US economy up to 1.5 trillion dollars per year.
““You don’t want rules made entirely for people that have something, at the expense of people who don’t,” said Jason Furman, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.”