Democrats Need a Better Answer on Affordability. Here’s One.

Housing Scarcity

Addressing housing scarcity requires a shift in how community engagement is perceived and implemented. Brian Schatz argues that current practices allow a few homeowners to dominate the process, hindering the construction of new homes. He emphasizes the need for a more inclusive approach that acknowledges the struggles of families unable to afford basic necessities like housing 1. Ezra Klein highlights the tension between incumbents and newcomers, noting that while some resist change to preserve their community's character, others are motivated by self-interest 2.

We have created the scarcity on purpose. We have elevated something called community engagement, but is not actually like objectively community engagement.

--- Brian Schatz

Schatz believes that overcoming these challenges requires acknowledging the real struggles people face and focusing on solutions that increase housing availability.

   

Regulatory Hurdles

Regulatory challenges significantly impact housing development, often stalling progress. Schatz criticizes the procedural hurdles that prevent effective policy implementation, suggesting that these barriers are sometimes exploited by right-wing and fossil fuel interests to halt beneficial projects 3. He advocates for a shift towards a more constructive approach, emphasizing the need for the Democratic Party to become the "party of construction" and focus on building rather than obstructing 4.

We're gonna have to be the party of construction. We're gonna have to be the party of financing things. We're gonna have to be the party of breaking ground.

--- Brian Schatz

This perspective calls for reevaluating environmental safeguards to ensure they support rather than hinder clean energy and housing initiatives.