Thread by @yimbyaction

The White House event on reducing land use and zoning restrictions is today 🏛🥑

Join us at the event and here on Twitter for some live highlights!

Register here: pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/regist…

Here we go! @BrianDeeseNEC is introducing the webinar, talks about the importance of housing.

Says housing affordability and stability strategy is at the forefront of @POTUS' priorities.

.@BrianDeeseNEC up the Build Back Better Act which includes a huge investment in housing, including funding construction and preservation of Affordable Housing.

Also brings up the importance of reducing barriers to building housing.

Why this is important: the Federal Government can't address these issues without state and local governments being at the center.

Lack of housing supply could cost us up to 2% GDP annually.

Shout out to CA for legalizing duplexes with SB 9 🙌

Also mentions other important progress localities and states have made.

The hope for today: energize all of us to make change in our states and communities.

Even with the federal investments and changes, we need partnerships in communities all over the US in order to facilitate meaningful action.

This will be as practical and solutions-oriented as possible 👏

.@BrianDeeseNEC passes it over to @CeciliaERouse who is discussing the economic advantages to implementing these changes to exclusionary zoning.

It's not practical to only allow for single-family homes.

The bottom rung is completely out of reach for families trying to build wealth through housing.

It also limits options for renters and those living in public housing.

Neighborhoods impact health outcomes, educational opportunities, and other opportunities.

Redlining was originally created to keep people of color out of white neighborhoods, and it continues to impact communities of color through disinvestment and exclusionary zoning.

By making historic investments at the federal level and creating local partnerships, we can make meaningful change.

Ed Glaeser now speaks about the costs of land use regulation.

Highly productive places have become unaffordable.
Segregation by race is exacerbated by poor land use regulations.

Increasing construction in neighborhoods with high amounts of carbon emissions means low income families of color face environmental impacts.

More regulated coastal cities do not make room for the people who want to live there. That's why it's so expensive.

We don't allow growth in the places where our economy is the most productive. Zoning makes that more difficult. Land use regulation makes that more difficult.

Zoning can enable you to move out of places where you don't want to do.

Some people are sleeping on their parents' couches simply because there's nowhere else for them to go that they can afford.

Exclusionary zoning prevents integration. Redlining maps and modern zoning maps line up to illustrate this.

This prevents mobility for Black Americans and other people of color.

Housing net worth chart via Ed Glaeser.

Housing production is nowhere near where it needs to be.

Ed Glaeser closes by saying he's so glad the Biden Administration is prioritizing housing so families have more opportunities to thrive.

Next is a panel of folks including Jeana Dunlap, @MayorAdler, and @SupFletcher. Hosted by Erika Poething from the White House.

Erika asks @MayorAdler how housing constraints are being addressed in Austin, TX.

@MayorAdler .@MayorAdler talks about the increasing population in Austin, mentioning the same NIMBY behavior we see in other parts of the US.

Austin created a comprehensive zoning reform plan that's currently in the courts. We'll find out the outcome next week.

They're currently looking at reducing parking requirements, reducing setbacks, and other ways to increase housing supply.

Austin was successful in creating opportunities when Affordable Housing is included in the housing project.

Mentions the work of a nonprofit Conservancy as well as the benefits of having investments in housing from @HUDgov

@HUDgov Now Erika turns to talk with @SupFletcher, mentioning his work as a San Diego County Supervisor and his work on transit in San Diego.

.@SupFletcher talks about the importance of reducing carbon emissions, lower car usage. And part of how we do that is by adding dense housing.

@SupFletcher There isn't much room in Southern California to continue to sprawl, especially with the increasing wildfire risk.

.@SupFletcher gives a shout out to @Scott_Wiener and his work at the state level on housing.

@SupFletcher @Scott_Wiener The unincorporated areas are more difficult for development because they tend to be more rural, have more risk of wildfires, etc.

They're focused on county-owned land to allow for more housing. If the government owns the land, that's one way to save money since land is so expensive.

On the transit side, they're taking steps to make more transit centers, turning existing shoulders into rapid bus lanes, and other important infrastructure changes all while using union labor.

Transit and housing are essentially the same issue. They're excited about the opportunity to move transit away from fossil fuels and build more housing.

Erika moves to talk with Jeana Dunlap from Louisville, asks about what's being done there.

There is now a committee focused especially on equity, and is working on development code with the planning commission to work on an interactive map that digs into the history and the impact of land use and zoning.

Much of the land is zoned for residential, which will help increase the supply of housing.

Erika's final question for this group: What advice would you have for leaders and champions in other cities?

.@SupFletcher: You can't be so fearful of opposition that you don't make change. Opposition will happen when we meaningful change. We have to be willing to face it.

We also have to talk about workers' wages. We can't subsidize greed and worker exploitation.

Jeana: practictioners, commissioners, other officials need to include enough stakeholders in these conversations and changes.

There also must be diversity in planning commissions.

Erika thanks the panelists, introduces Julie Rodriguez who will talk with the next panel.

The panel led by Julie is focused on State level leaders, including @Scott_Wiener, @Political_Jake, and @TinaKotek

@Scott_Wiener @Political_Jake @TinaKotek .@TinaKotek shouts out the previous panel, mentions the importance of states working with local governments on housing.

Mentions middle housing, says the housing crisis means we must be creative in our solutions. Oregon needs to build 30,000 additional units per year in addition to adjusting for the growing population.

Oregonians are interested in preserving forests and farmland, and it's also important to make room for people who want to move to OR.

Middle housing is part of how we address that.

Larger cities over 25,000 people are now allowed to build more middle housing options, and they have a bit more time before implementation begins.

Housing choice has to mean housing choice everywhere.

Middle housing is less expensive than building single-family homes and it reduces inequities.

Middle housing reduces carbon emissions by allowing people to live closer to their jobs which reduces commutes.

.@TinaKotek says it will likely take 20 years to see the effects fully take effect, and reminds us that middle housing must be re-legalized.

@TinaKotek Julie Rodriguez turns to speak with @Scott_Wiener, who shouts out @SupFletcher, saying even though some cities are resistant to more housing, some local governments are doing the right thing and Supervisor Fletcher is one of the champions doing the important work.

.@Scott_Wiener talks about the increase in ADU production in California, the success of the density bonus.

Also talks about SB 9 and SB 10, which legalize duplexes and allows cities to zone for up to 10 units per lots more easily.

@Scott_Wiener We need to build almost 200,000 per year and we're nowhere close to that so we need to increase production dramatically.

Talks about the pro-housing coalition of builders, the YIMBY movement (😊🥑), student groups, senior groups, and other stakeholders who help get legislation passed.

.@Scott_Wiener: housing is not a partisan issue. There is bipartisan support for zoning reform and other pro-housing legislation.

We all see the pain caused by the housing shortage. So it is an opportunity to work together to address that.

Now Julie speaks with @Political_Jake, who talks about the work he's doing in Utah.

One bill outlines best practices that cities can choose which ones to adopt. Cities submit reports that share what they're doing in Affordable Housing in order to get funding for transportation.

Over time cities may have to adopt more and more of those best practices.

State legislation can sometimes give political cover for local governments who want to do the right thing but are concerned about opposition.

Utah Housing Preservation Fund: state money and philanthropic money coming together in a nonprofit space.
More info here: uhpf.org

Utah has less incentive for residential development compared to commercial. So this year we're looking at removing that barrier to residential development.

Julie wraps up by asking for advice for other state leaders.

.@TinaKotek: think big. Work with local jurisdictions to address local concerns by addressing time constraints, incentives, and other solutions.

@TinaKotek .@Scott_Wiener: remember that you're not just there to address the needs of the people who share public comments in hearings, but you're also here to address the needs of the people who aren't able to be there.

Mentions SB 50, which was a huge bill in CA that didn't pass (RIP 😭) saying that public polls illuminated the fact that there was a huge amount of public support.

.@Political_Jake: the people moving into Affordable Homes and apartments are your kids. They're people like your kids. Those types of homes are needed for all of us as we move forward.

We have to listen to people and educate people.

Now @HUDgov Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman speaks about the importance of being thoughtful and intentional on applying housing solutions.

@HUDgov .@HUDgov is looking forward to Unlocking Possibilities in the Build Back Better framework in order to work with communities and help more families thrive.

We will also work to address racism in housing policies. Reducing land use restrictions and reforming zoning will help us create an equitable, sustainable future.

And that's a wrap! Thank you all for joining us here on Twitter and to those who tuned in on Zoom.

We're so excited that the federal government is hosting these conversations and is poised to invest in housing 🙌🥑

The recording is already on YouTube!

Check out the full White House event on Reducing land use and zoning restrictions: