In this episode, Sonja Trauss joins us to talk about the YIMBY movement and its overnight success. Sonja helps us understand the history and future of this movement.
Frustrated by high rents in San Francisco, Sonja Trauss started taking part in local planning meetings in 2014 to stand up for more house construction and taller buildings. That led her to co-found the YIMBY movement (yes in my backyard) a political action committee, and YIMBY Law, a nonprofit Trauss runs to advocate for development projects in San Francisco that are affordable, inclusive and have multi-family units. What started as a small act of civic virtue has grown into a national movement.
We dive deep into the YIMBY movement, all the way back from when it began till actual date, their massive wins around buildings and more abundant housing and the use of law to impel these wins.
Dive in! You will learn about the YIMBY movement and how to fight for abundant housing that is affordable, inclusive and sustainable as well!
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Who is Sonja Trauss?
Sonja is the Co-Founder of Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY Action) and YIMBY Law, enforcing state housing law, making housing more affordable and accessible. Legal enforcement arm of YIMBY Action.
Topics:
Welcome Sonja Trauss to The Rhys Show!: (00:00:00)
Goal for listeners: (00:02:43)
Catalyzing moment that made Sonja push back against the state & start housing: (00:03:12)
Where does Sonja’s fire to fight come from: (00:10:29)
What YIMBY was like ten years ago: (00:16:14)
Coming to the idea that we need abundant housing production and how did the word YIMBY appear: (00:21:00)
About “burrowing the owl”: (00:26:04)
Actual state of YIMBY movement : (00:27:31)
Legal side of YIMBY movement: role judicial plays vs executive or legislative: (00:32:57)
PROPE E vs. PROP E: how does Sonja respond to folks that are “more affordable housing people”: (00:40:42)
Overrated & underrated questions: (00:45:38)
Wrap-up: (00:47:42)
Mentioned resources:
How Burrowing Owls Lead to Vomiting Anarchists or S.F.'s Housing Crisis Explained
Connect with Sonja Trauss:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sonjatrauss
Twitter YIMBY Action: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-trauss-02002968
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sonjatraussd6/?hl=en
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sonjatrauss/
YIMBY web: https://www.yesinmybackyard.org/team
