Thread by @TonyByrne

I'm at the @wamu885 event on #MoCo #Thrive2050 debate hosted by the inimitable Kojo. Will try (somehow!) to live-tweet a' la @MoCoMikeE ... :)

#Kojo sets the right stage by noting the fundamental dearth of housing in #MoCo - driving higher rent and making homeownership less in reach.

@Will4MoCo came on a scooter! Points out growth of diversity in #MoCo, notes school system is 70% people of color, and they are housing-deprived.

Notes that zoning hasn't changed to adapt.

County exec @Marc_Elrich points out that single-family homeownership has left renters behind (I agree!)

@Marc_Elrich Elrich going into arcane math about how market rate housing won't generate enough MPDU equivalency. (He's ignoring market forces here, as usual.)

.@Will4MoCo acknowledges that MPDUs are not enough. Need to build more and different types of housing. Market + affordable. Rightly points out that there is too much zero-sum thinking on this topic. "all of the above" - yessssss...

Interesting emblem of the "weak exec" model for MoCo where the Execs own Planning department is now upbraiding him with... facts and data... 😉

Rental advocate now weighing in. Wants housing to not be a commodity and more of a right. This is the local version of national debate. I agree shouldn't be a (retirement) asset. @Marc_Elrich has said it is... But who is going to turn housing into a public good? Feels utopian.

@Marc_Elrich Elrich is now saying that the only way to preserve communities of color is rent control. Many researchers would beg to disagree -- at least to some extent. He's ranting now against market-rate housing. He suggests that new housing causes segregation.

I wish someone would raise the Jim Crow origins of the zoning laws that @Marc_Elrich so desperately tries to defend...

Now it's come time for community input. First person, a renter, asks for more condos. Renters' advocate says you can't build your way out of this -- no one is arguing a single point solution though -- but then pivots to a more reasonable position of "all of the above."

.@Will4MoCo points out that rent stabilization is part of the answer.

Now the cell tower conspiracists have entered the chat.

Now Elrich is going on about units zoned for new housing, but unbuilt -- this is his typical fall-back. How do we get more people near transit, services, and amenities? @Marc_Elrich and his constituents don't seem to care...

* units approved...

Now the (very conservative) MoCo federation of civic associations is saying that the plan is not tactical enough. Refers to (of course) the 1964 county plan as a model! More anti-developer talk...

Elrich calls (predictably) for more delays (this has been two years in germination). He claims #thrive will lead to more segregation and reduced affordability. He hates zoom. Classic conservative. (He hates the planning department).

Finally a homeowner points out the inequitable nature of single-family homeowner zoning. First time transit and walkability has come up -- always the ghost at this banquet!

.@Will4MoCo pointing out his formal support for "missing middle" housing. A lot of people thought his proposed amendments were premature. I disagree. He's forward thinking...

Another speaker points out that single-family zoning exacerbates racial and generational segregation.

And now: direct challenge from audience to Elrich on supply. He says he's supported upzoning and that has been sufficient; the real problem is developers. (He's not conceding he opposed ADUs and other density initiatives.) Talking about affordability, but doesn't have a plan...

Affordable housing advocate now saying that #thrive2050 actually has a lot of affordability considerations if you look at the details. Points out (rightly) that Purple Line could create undue replacement. Advocates for a larger preservation fund.

Elrich says 30-40% of new units have to be affordable. This does not seem do-able to me...biases a preference for no development over imperfect development, and discounts market forces entirely.

Discussion around affordability and insufficiency of recent legislation around transit-oriented development that doesn't address needs of county workers like teachers.

My POV: a lot of this discussion avoids broader economic trends at national & global level--e.g., interest rates, growing economic disparity, etc. To me key stat is that for 20 years we haven't built enough housing nationally. It's going to take state & national work to resolve.

Kensington homeowner saying there's a group of orgs asking to pause Thrive. Claims "diversity," but feels inorganic to me. @Will4MoCo points out that nearly 3/4 of African American MoCo citizens support Thrive.

Elrich wraps up convo saying developers are not interested in building more. @Will4MoCo concludes that Thrive is right direction, and now it's a political process via the Council about how to execute. I was impressed by his approach tonite: more of a natural leader than Elrich...