America pays roughly 50 percent more per mile for public transit than comparable countries do, and a little-examined culprit is the community engagement process meant to improve projects. A new analysis from the Urban Institute finds that poorly structured public…
Why Building More Apartments is Good for the Planet
Building apartments in American cities is one of the most effective climate strategies available right now. While federal EV incentives are gutted and gas-ban building codes face litigation across the country, apartment construction continues to reduce climate pollution through four…
We lost on transfer taxes — but will keep fighting
For months, California YIMBY has worked on a state-level solution to fix bad transfer taxes that are crushing new housing construction in many cities. In the process, we also hoped to prevent the passage of an anti-tax ballot measure that would harm the finances of virtually every jurisdiction in California.
Why California YIMBY Opposes the Billionaire Wealth Tax
California YIMBY is taking a formal position against the One-Time Wealth Tax (California Billionaire Tax Act or “CBTA”) headed for the November ballot. For an organization built around housing, that may look like a detour. It isn’t, and we want…
California YIMBY Endorses Xavier Becerra for Governor
California YIMBY is excited to announce our endorsement of Xavier Becerra to be the next Governor of California. This election will be pivotal for California’s future. And the choice could not be any clearer. Xavier Becerra is the best candidate…
Why Building Homes in Your Neighborhood’s Backyard Is Actually the Fiscally Conservative Move
Building homes near jobs, transit, and stores costs governments roughly $21,000 less per unit in upfront infrastructure than building at the suburban fringe — and that gap widens over time. America’s housing shortage is well-documented, but policymakers have rarely accounted…
Your Suburb Is Making You Sick, Broke, and Lonely — And the Data Proves It
America’s most sprawling metro areas cost their residents thousands more per year in transportation and energy expenses, produce worse health outcomes, and leave young people cut off from economic opportunity, according to a sweeping new national study. Urban sprawl, the…
Help Save Housing Production – No “New Prop 13”
Several jurisdictions in California have passed poorly-designed tax measures that are hindering housing production while threatening to severely harm the state’s ability to fund vital services like housing, schools, public safety, and fire protection. The California legislature and Governor’s office…
On the Race for California Governor: An Abundance of Pro-Housing Candidates
For the past decade, the fight to make it legal and feasible to build housing at scale in California felt Sisyphean. California YIMBY and our allies pushed against exclusionary land use policies, and a political class content to blame the…
Suburban Apartment Bans May Be Making Poorer Neighborhoods’ Rents Increase
When suburbs block apartments, rents in nearby poor neighborhoods may rise by about $27 a month, according to a new national study. Most research on exclusionary zoning has focused on costs within the communities that adopt it; this study finds…