Decoder with Nilay Patel Recode Decode: Conor Dougherty
Feb 28, 2020
Conor Dougherty, a New York Times reporter and author of "Golden Gates: Fighting For Housing in America," dives into the San Francisco housing crisis, which he argues represents a broader national issue. He discusses the resentment caused by tech buses, the clash between YIMBY and NIMBY sentiments, and the failed SB50 bill aimed at increasing housing near transit. Dougherty also emphasizes the necessity of co-locating knowledge and service workers and critiques the need for less artisanal construction methods to combat the housing shortage.
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From Google to Housing
- Conor Dougherty was hired to cover Google but wasn't great at it.
- He preferred covering broader topics and Google's impact on housing intrigued him.
Meeting Sonia Trowell
- Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp CEO, directed Dougherty to Sonia Trowell and the Bay Area Renters Federation (BARF).
- This encounter sparked Dougherty's interest in the YIMBY movement and its connection to the housing crisis.
Tech Buses and Resentment
- Tech buses, while solving a commuting problem for tech workers, symbolized a two-tiered system.
- This fueled resentment, as tech workers were perceived as prioritizing their own systems over the city's.
