the locals have far less incentive to abolish zoning laws than the Feds have to solve the problem. the more sensible YIMBY view is to take zoning out of the hands of locals, but i don’t think affluent homeowners — well enfranchised at all levels — just roll over and let their neighbors densify. 1/

i don’t think the YIMBY strategy wins the war even if it wins the battle for zoning, because i don’t think you just defeat the best enfranchised mass constituency in the country. you have to convince them, coopt them somehow. perhaps a sufficiently severe political crisis persuades then, though. 2/

if you want my views about this stuff, here and the links in the end. drafts.interfluidity.com/2024/06/13/y... /fin