alt Hacker NewsRealistically basically no one is aware of the details of zoning policy or the mechanics.
Are there pitchforks in Denver or Austin? Are angry homeowners overthrowing governments and blocking homebuilding?
People seem to complain that housing costs too much. The straightforward bet is that lower prices would be popular.
For example, re Texas, 9 out of 10 say housing prices are too high: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/08/texas-housing-afford...
Replies
> Are angry homeowners overthrowing governments and blocking homebuilding?
No, they're already in the government, have been for decades, and they're the ones responsible for anti-development policy.
> For example, re Texas, 9 out of 10 say housing prices are too high
Cute punchy polls like that make for nice sound bits, but don't tell the whole story. I'm sure if you followed that up with, "If the government were to enact new housing development property that would reduce the value of your home by 20% over the next 10 years, would you support it?", I guarantee you that 9 out of 10 (homeowners) would absolutely not.
> Are angry homeowners overthrowing governments and blocking homebuilding?
Yes. Go to city council meetings when new housing developments are being proposed. See the throngs of people that'll show up demanding that new development doesn't get built. See the angry people shouting about how allowing ADUs will just destroy their way of life.
The amount of vitrol I saw about the Plano Tomorrow plan against past mayor LaRosiliere was astounding, people fighting tooth and nail to prevent denser housing from being approved. So many people saying things like the "wrong kind of people" would be moving in and allowing more density would make the city unsafe.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/plano-repeals-compre...