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So - I'm broadly supportive of the whole YIMBY thing, but I have to ask this: given how dysfunctional state and local governments have been here, are they capab

So - I'm broadly supportive of the whole YIMBY thing, but I have to ask this: given how dysfunctional state and local governments have been here, are they capable of managing the giant influx of people that would result from a massive rebalancing of policy towards adding more homes? Here in Sydney we've had absolutely no problem managing to flood the market with apartments, but there's been a substantial disconnect in terms of funding and regulation to provide transport, education, healthcare and green space for all those new people.

foobar1962 7y ago
I'm glad this angle has been brought up. (I'm in Sydney too, not that that really matters.) Its one thing increasing housing density; it's another providing services (particularly basic ones like water and sewer) and maintaining a quality of living. It's like, you could fill your bedroom with 4 or six beds, but there won't be enough bathrooms, living rooms, the house internet speed will degrade... it won't be a nice pace to live. At some point it's sensible to go somewhere else. Now, about Sydney in particular and Australia in general: we are dry, don't get much rain, most of the continent except for the costal strip is arid and infertile, and that's where something like 80% of the population live. Sydney's water supply is limited and there are only so many people the water resources can supply reliably (we nearly ran out several years ago, and we currently have level 1 water restrictions in force now). That population is much smaller than the number of people that can be housed on the land in high density developments.
wasdfff 7y ago
In LA the city is really trying to encourage dense building around current and future transit corridors. Metro and city planning really do great work and are staffed with brilliant engineers, but are generally stymied by NIMBYs who eagerly sue their own city and burn their own and public money on subsequent litigation that only serves to dilute these projects. Beverly hills spent millions out of their school district funding mounting a failed challenge against a subway extension: thats the level of delusion among NIMBYs in CA, burning their own childrens education funding in hopes of not seeing a black or brown person at trader joes.

foobar1962 7y ago

I'm glad this angle has been brought up. (I'm in Sydney too, not that that really matters.) Its one thing increasing housing density; it's another providing services (particularly basic ones like water and sewer) and maintaining a quality of living. It's like, you could fill your bedroom with 4 or six beds, but there won't be enough bathrooms, living rooms, the house internet speed will degrade... it won't be a nice pace to live. At some point it's sensible to go somewhere else. Now, about Sydney in particular and Australia in general: we are dry, don't get much rain, most of the continent except for the costal strip is arid and infertile, and that's where something like 80% of the population live. Sydney's water supply is limited and there are only so many people the water resources can supply reliably (we nearly ran out several years ago, and we currently have level 1 water restrictions in force now). That population is much smaller than the number of people that can be housed on the land in high density developments.

wasdfff 7y ago

In LA the city is really trying to encourage dense building around current and future transit corridors. Metro and city planning really do great work and are staffed with brilliant engineers, but are generally stymied by NIMBYs who eagerly sue their own city and burn their own and public money on subsequent litigation that only serves to dilute these projects. Beverly hills spent millions out of their school district funding mounting a failed challenge against a subway extension: thats the level of delusion among NIMBYs in CA, burning their own childrens education funding in hopes of not seeing a black or brown person at trader joes.