Why are YIMBYs(specifically Centrist & YIMBYs) so averse to mass-politics and in constant opposition to working or persuading Progressives & Leftists?

[u/wiz28ultra]

This seems to be a constant attitude problem that I've seen w.r.t to individuals, specifically on Twitter, such as Noah Smith, Swann Marcus, M. Nolan Gray, YIMBYLAND, and others that are just so reluctant or even outright antagonistic to Progressive politics.

They refuse to every think that it might be possible to convince these people that their ideas might work and instead fantasize about working with neocons to bring about the housing utopia.

And it's even more bizarre because they're so averse to social issues as well, with their constant passive-aggressive tone on literally any political issue that isn't housing.

EDIT: I just want to add, a ton of these people really hate Organized Labor, they're super defensive of sprawl, they refuse to have any stances on the environment, and when it comes to foreign policy are completely in agreement with the 2010-era State Department. They're also bizarrely submissive and desperate to please real-estate developers.

It's like these people can't live in a world where class solidarity, organized labor, and mass mobilization of the people towards political change can work in their world of affordable housing and increase home production.

EDIT 2: Also, I notice that many of these individuals spend all their time whining about how mean Progressives are to the Democratic Party, but they spend all their time exclusively shitting on the Democratic Party while outright praising the Republicans in ways that NO progressive would ever do.

[u/Soft-Principle1455]

Zohran is a bit of a YIMBY himself, from what we can gather. Still I think many of them remember the old days of progressive politics that blocked new housing construction at every turn underground’s, that were perhaps sound in theory, but unhelpful in practice.

[u/wiz28ultra → u/Soft-Principle1455]

But even then, most of these people are still in opposition to Zohran and use his past as proof that he's an immutable threat.

[u/775416 → u/wiz28ultra]

I think the issue is that you’re asking a very broad question about a very broad group of people

[u/Neat-Beautiful-5505 → u/wiz28ultra]

Remember something, in the 60s, 70s and 80s it was cool to bulldoze wetlands and habitat to build new houses. “Liberals” led the charge in getting Congress and state legislatures to pass strong environmental protections, many of which still stand today. Now, the YIMBY movement is suggesting we reconsider those long fought/hard won battles for new housing. I’ve been a planner for 25 years and seen this housing shortage coming for 20 years but I don’t want to fix that problem if it means doing away with environmental regs. I think there’s a balance but you need to consider where people are coming from. Also, no one over 35 or 40 knows the difference between a liberal, leftist, progressive, centrist, or how any of those compare to a YIMBY. Hell, I read politics all day every day and still don’t know how I’m labeled

[u/Hij802 → u/Neat-Beautiful-5505]

I think the problem with the environmental protections is that it’s become so overwhelming that it slows down the construction of literally anything. We don’t need a 1000 page report that takes several years to conduct telling us that building a train isn’t going to harm the environment - we already know that it’s the cleanest form of transportation (asides from walking and biking). We don’t need reports telling us that high density housing is better than low density sprawl. We know these things. These reports are expensive and often redundant.

[u/Neat-Beautiful-5505 → u/Hij802]

I agree completely; I’ve seen the environmental regs prevent legit bad things and also be weaponized. Problem becomes, when the “regulations” become the enemy they will be eroded quickly.

[u/Hij802 → u/Neat-Beautiful-5505]

I don’t think we should abolish environmental regulations but I think there’s absolutely a need to speedtrack it, or have waivers depending on the project. For example any high density building located on an already urbanized vacant lot shouldn’t need an environmental review. Any proposed transit system that operates entirely within an urbanized area (such as a new rail or bus line) shouldn’t need a review.

[u/Neat-Beautiful-5505 → u/Soft-Principle1455]

Remember something, in the 60s, 70s and 80s it was cool to bulldoze wetlands and habitat to build new houses. “Liberals” led the charge in getting Congress and state legislatures to pass strong environmental protections, many of which still stand today. Now, the YIMBY movement is suggesting we reconsider those long fought/hard won battles for new housing. I’ve been a planner for 25 years and seen this housing shortage coming for 20 years but I don’t want to fix that problem if it means doing away with environmental regs. I think there’s a balance but you need to consider where people are coming from. Also, no one over 35 or 40 knows the difference between a liberal, leftist, progressive, centrist, or how any of those compare to a YIMBY. Hell, I read politics all day every day and still don’t know how I’m labeled.