4 ms·

Seems like a local governance 'problem'. Are homeowners more likely to vote than renters? Or do homeowners and landlords outnumber renters and get the rational

by spoonie 10y ago

Seems like a local governance 'problem'. Are homeowners more likely to vote than renters? Or do homeowners and landlords outnumber renters and get the rational outcomes they want?

mahyarm 10y ago
Retried & unemployed people have the time to participate in local politics compared to the employed people with young families. On top of that they have the highest financial incentive to NIMBY to reduce their personal risk in their house equity since they have fewer earning years left and more value to capture. Over a large amount of people, this imbalance leads to older NIMBYs to become a naturally occurring political force in local politics.
- Tiktaalik 10y ago
  This is very much true. If renters and young people were more engaged in local politics this wouldn't happen. It's baffling to me how engaged people are with Federal politics, where many of the issues are distant and may never affect peoples' lives, while at the same time they have zero interest in local politics, which affects their lives closely, directly, every day. Additionally municipal government is so approachable and citizens have incredible access. You can just email people and they'll get back to you. You can go to meetings and address council directly. In my town of 600k+ I've coincidentally came across a councillor on the street multiple times.
  - mahyarm 10y ago
    Federal politics is very much like sports, while municipal politics feels like a boring necessary tar pit that sucks up time. These people won't be engaged as retired people, simply because of time. They make the personally rational decision to do their jobs. Also people don't want to necessarily invest in local politics if they feel they may be gone in a few years. A retired person if fairly likely to be in the same town many years from now, possibly the rest of their lives.
  - shostack 10y ago
    I see comments about how approachable it is... Just go to the meetings, etc. Unfortunately digital participation is still not a big thing yet. I'd love to attend meetings in Redwood City where i live but many start at 6 during the week (think there may even have been some as early as 5 or 5:30). I don't typically leave the office till 6 or a bit after that, and then I get home to things like needing to eat dinner and other family obligations. If they truly wanted higher participation among younger and less wealthy demographics they would have these meetings on the weekend where people can have a much greater chance of avoiding conflicts with work and other basic life needs during the work week. Or make digital participation in these sessions a priority.
    - talmand 10y ago
      Many local political events such as voting, council meetings, townhall meetings, school district meetings, etc. are usually scheduled to allow for the desired audience of the event holders. If such meetings are scheduled at times that younger, working adults cannot attend, it's because they don't want you there.

by spoonie 10y ago

Seems like a local governance 'problem'. Are homeowners more likely to vote than renters? Or do homeowners and landlords outnumber renters and get the rational outcomes they want?

mahyarm 10y ago

Retried & unemployed people have the time to participate in local politics compared to the employed people with young families. On top of that they have the highest financial incentive to NIMBY to reduce their personal risk in their house equity since they have fewer earning years left and more value to capture. Over a large amount of people, this imbalance leads to older NIMBYs to become a naturally occurring political force in local politics.

Tiktaalik 10y ago
This is very much true. If renters and young people were more engaged in local politics this wouldn't happen. It's baffling to me how engaged people are with Federal politics, where many of the issues are distant and may never affect peoples' lives, while at the same time they have zero interest in local politics, which affects their lives closely, directly, every day. Additionally municipal government is so approachable and citizens have incredible access. You can just email people and they'll get back to you. You can go to meetings and address council directly. In my town of 600k+ I've coincidentally came across a councillor on the street multiple times.
- mahyarm 10y ago
  Federal politics is very much like sports, while municipal politics feels like a boring necessary tar pit that sucks up time. These people won't be engaged as retired people, simply because of time. They make the personally rational decision to do their jobs. Also people don't want to necessarily invest in local politics if they feel they may be gone in a few years. A retired person if fairly likely to be in the same town many years from now, possibly the rest of their lives.
- shostack 10y ago
  I see comments about how approachable it is... Just go to the meetings, etc. Unfortunately digital participation is still not a big thing yet. I'd love to attend meetings in Redwood City where i live but many start at 6 during the week (think there may even have been some as early as 5 or 5:30). I don't typically leave the office till 6 or a bit after that, and then I get home to things like needing to eat dinner and other family obligations. If they truly wanted higher participation among younger and less wealthy demographics they would have these meetings on the weekend where people can have a much greater chance of avoiding conflicts with work and other basic life needs during the work week. Or make digital participation in these sessions a priority.
  - talmand 10y ago
    Many local political events such as voting, council meetings, townhall meetings, school district meetings, etc. are usually scheduled to allow for the desired audience of the event holders. If such meetings are scheduled at times that younger, working adults cannot attend, it's because they don't want you there.