Watching the nationwide unrest on television last night made me think of the potential of future conflicts. San Diego enjoys a rather mellow population but we undoubtedly have our concerns about any and all oppressed parties in America – but being physically farther away from the action makes it easier to witness, acknowledge, and then get back to our busy lives.
Great leadership might keep our attention on the topic, but we’re still waiting for it to show up.
As a result, revolutions will likely continue until solutions are created. We could all jump in and create non-violent solutions, but without leadership and resolve, the hard choices and tough decisions will be difficult to accomplish.
How does this pertain to housing?
If physical clashes in the street are perceived as effective, we could see other oppressed groups rise up – and well they should, if that is what it takes to get results.
We have witnessed how the real estate is only for the affluent now, and that there isn’t much being done for those of lesser means. We used to only put the homeless/poor people in that category, but now the middle-class and above are finding homeownership to be more unreachable every day.
Either we can create housing solutions in advance, or wait for the oppressed to rise up.
Some of the best ideas I’ve heard regarding the possible solutions for last night’s events include a Community Police-Review Board in every town in America, and independent community groups formed to encourage individual involvement in creating solutions.
Likewise with housing, we need to get more involved as a community. Ideas:
- Encourage ADUs as a solution for building lower-cost housing, especially closer to urban hubs.
- Press local governments to upzone properties/areas where higher density would be a good fit.
- Create communities of tiny houses/manufactured homes and give occupants a stake.
- Create places to park/live for those in cars and RVs.
The coronavirus is exposing our weaknesses. Let’s do something good with the opportunity.
I don’t know what else I can do today besides write this message, but I’m looking for more ways to be involved with creating solutions. I’ll post every idea I can find – please send along what you see….and think!
Very disheartening, to say the least:
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1266741059163389952
Mayor Carter said EVERY person arrested last night during the protests was from out of state. The governor said it is at least 80 percent, and that they will begin releasing the names. Dept of Safety Commissioner John Harrington says they are contract-tracing arrestees.
He adds that white nationalist groups are posting messages promoting going to Minneapolis to “get our loot on” and cause mayhem. He says they will investigate those using the outrage over the murder of George Floyd as a “cover” for illegal activity.
Gov. Walls acknowledged the legitimate “rage and anger” over the police-involved killing but “last night was a mockery of pretending it’s about George Floyd’s death or about disparities.”
Mayor Frey says on Tuesday the protests were very different. He says the masks worn by the protests after they morphed were about disguise, not covid safety.
I’ll get behind the push for making Prop 60/90 a statewide benefit, without having to buy down. I don’t believe there will be a big impact, but what do I know – let’s give it a shot.
If it frees up seniors to sell modest homes in suburbia and create more supply of reasonably-priced homes, then great.
Well said, I don’t think people, especially older established homeowners / pensioners really understand the plight younger generations today.
Politicians and the Federal Reserve are culpable, since 2007 the policy has been to bail out the rich at the expense of the masses. By printing trillions of dollars, allowing zombie companies to remain in business (and maintain executive bonuses) they’ve jacked up the cost of essential items for most. By artificially propping up asset prices, equity, pension funds and housing, they’ve squeezed most folks from being able to get ahead at all.
As recent as a couple decades, a one-income household could purchase a home and live a somewhat modest life. Now, even with two incomes the average American is likely one or two paychecks away from insolvency. Can’t earn a decent return on savings, impossible to compete for entry-level housing when Wall Street firms can borrow billions at 0%.
The boomers sat back, living off pensions with lifetime medical benefits (now extinct), rallying against every effort for affordable housing, education and healthcare now face the consequences.
It’s worst for minorities, who often face an occupying, unaccountable police force and municipalities that depend on criminal fines and penalties for revenue.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Homeownership is inherently discriminatory. Once you own a house, you want its value to grow and that feeds NYMBism. Means no incentive to build new houses and make them more affordable.
I agree – thank you both for commenting!
>Means no incentive to build new houses and make them more affordable.
This is where the general public needs to jump in and create change. It’s tempting to continue the NIMBY trend, but there has to be better solutions than what we have now – which is virtually nothing.
Good commentary from Saagar Enjeti from The Hill: https://youtu.be/tULvahD5ZJg
I feel the system needs to be changed so that it incentivizes homeowners to support policies that improve access to homeownership for renters. Right now, the system is such that many homeowners do not benefit in a clear, immediate, and defined way from supporting these policies.
Right now there is a division, an undercurrent feeling or mentality of this situation being an us versus them situation.
We need a system that unifies renters and homeowners where we align the interest of both the majority of renters and the majority of homeowners so that both sides are incentivized in a clear, defined and preferably fairly immediate way to support changes that improve access to housing . Easier said than done but if it can be done, that would potentially give significant traction to getting policy changes implemented to improve the path for homeownership for renters.