[adipose]

NIMBYism is rancid in general because it prevents the realization of anything that could materially help people, and keeps people at arm's length from problems.

Concerns about property values, congestion, and other impacts are valid, but are plainly less important than preventing homelessness. Or not having medical care. Or not having good drinking water. Etc.

It's possible that the NIMBYs in this case are right, especially if the proposed new "affordable housing" isn't really affordable at all, etc.

But in general NIMBYism is essential for keeping things exactly as they are: it lets people feel good about "wanting" better things for society, without having to make material decisions which are inevitably imperfect and zero-sum.

[davidw]

Brand new market-rate housing is rarely "affordable", just like new cars aren't, but the economic research is very, very clear that it creates "moving chains" that fairly rapidly do have effects on the overall market:

https://bendyimby.com/2024/01/01/housing-supply-and-demand/

Agree with everything else about NIMBYs.