"The conference-which bills itself as a "pro-homes" gathering-was first held in Boulder, Colorado, in 2016, when it was small enough that attendees could take a group photo together. No longer: Now there are governors and congresspeople in attendance, as well as big donors like Arnold Ventures and Open Philanthropy, helping to fund both the meetup and the activities of its attendees."
"This was a demonstration of how far the "yes in my back yard" cause has come since Sonja Trauss started the San Francisco Bay Area Renters Federation, or BARF, a decade ago. Beyond the stuffed hotel ballrooms, there is an unmistakable sense of momentum behind the idea-basically, "more housing, fewer rules about where it can be built"-which has been embraced by everyone from AOC to Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte."
More than a thousand people attended the tenth YIMBYtown meeting in New Haven, reflecting rapid growth since the first 2016 gathering in Boulder. Governors, members of Congress, and large philanthropic donors now participate and fund meetups and activities. The surge in attendance nearly doubled expectations and strained local catering capacity. The movement traces back to Sonja Trauss and BARF about a decade ago and centers on expanding housing supply and reducing restrictive location rules. The cause has attracted a wide political spectrum and inspired a bestselling book framing its success as a broader theory of "abundance." A presenter disclosed a conflict-of-interest, participated on panels, presented an award, and attended with a three-month-old in a "Housing Is a Human Right" onesie.
Read at Slate Magazine
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