
Infill: A YIMBY Podcast
Audio selections from YIMBY Action. Interviews, panel discussions, speeches and more, including round-table discussions on local politics and urban policy with folks across the US in the pro-housing movement.
Latest episodes

Sep 15, 2022 • 39min
YIMBYs in Action: Orlando, Florida
Come meet our Orlando chapter! In this episode, our Volunteer Podcast Producer Ed sits down with Austin Valle who co-founded our chapter Orlando YIMBY. Austin talks about why he cares about housing and how Orlando YIMBY is fighting for abundant, affordable housing in Orlando. He shares what it was like to start a chapter, how his personal story drives his activism, and how his group is working with their neighbors to welcome even more people to the community they love. Links: Learn more about Orlando YIMBY: https://www.moreneighborsdallas.org/ Follow Austin Valle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/austinvalleFollow Orlando YIMBY on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OrlandoYIMBYFollow Orlando YIMBY on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrlandoYIMBY/Follow Orlando YIMBY on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orlandoyimby/ Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/ Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/ Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Sep 7, 2022 • 28min
What ever happened to Social Housing in CA?
Why must the good die young? This year, California Assemblymember Alex Lee introduced the California Social Housing Act (AB 2053). YIMBY Action sponsored the bill, organized in support of it, and worked with fellow supporting organizations to get it passed. The bill got through several hurdles but ultimately died in the legislature several months ago. In this episode of Infill, Sonja Trauss, one of the founding members of the YIMBY movement, sits down with Paul Williams, founder of the Center for Public Enterprise. They discuss social housing, details about the California Social Housing Act, and why the bill died. Links: Read about the California Social Housing Act: https://www.californiasocialhousing.org/Read the full Social Housing Bill: https://trackbill.com/bill/california-assembly-bill-2053-the-social-housing-act/2226585/ Follow Paul Williams on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PEWilliams_Follow the Center for Public Enterprise on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PubEnterpriseLearn more about the Center for Public Enterprise: https://www.publicenterprise.org/ Follow Sonja Trauss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonjaTraussLearn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Aug 26, 2022 • 50min
YIMBYs in Action: Dallas, Texas
Come meet the founders of our Dallas chapter! In this episode, our National Chapter Manager Jes sits down with DeDe and Adam who founded our chapter More Neighbors Dallas. The two of them share why they care about housing and how they're fighting for abundant, affordable housing in Dallas. They share what it was like to start a chapter, how their previous experiences help drive their activism, and how they're working with their neighbors to welcome even more people to the community they love. Links: Learn more about More Neighbors Dallas: https://www.moreneighborsdallas.org/Follow More Neighbors Dallas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeighborsDTXFollow More Neighbors Dallas on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeighborsDTXFollow More Neighbors Dallas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moreneighborsdallas/Follow More Neighbors Dallas on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moreneighborsdallas Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Aug 16, 2022 • 1h 2min
Planning for Housing or Planning to Fail? San Francisco's Housing Element
The first draft of San Francisco's housing plan was released last week and guests Chris Elmendorf and David Broockman talk about what it means for the city as well as the state overall. Cities across California are creating housing plans (aka "housing elements") that will be in effect for the next eight years. YIMBYs have successfully advocated for laws that help make sure this process is especially impactful. Because of these laws, the housing element process can potentially add millions of homes in communities across the state. The California State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) plays an important role in making sure that cities comply with these laws. This is in contrast to the housing element process just a few years ago, when there were few methods in place to ensure housing plans were practical and ultimately implemented. Now, there are several consequences for submitting a non-compliant plan. Chris Elmendorf is a UC Davis law professor and David Broockman is a professor at UC Berkeley. Links: Learn more about housing elements: https://yimbyaction.org/rhna/Volunteer to help make housing plans fair across the state: https://www.fairhousingelements.org/volunteer Learn more about 2700 Sloat: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-s-next-west-side-housing-battle-will-be-on-16710991.phphttps://sfrichmondreview.com/2022/03/08/new-housing-proposed-on-sloat-blvd-between-45th-46th-aves/ Learn more about Shawn Kumagai: https://www.shawnkumagai.com/Follow Shawn Kumagai on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShawnKumagai Follow Chris Elmendorf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSElmendorfFollow David Broockman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dbroockman Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Aug 8, 2022 • 27min
YIMBYs in Action: San Luis Obispo County, California
In this episode, our volunteer podcast producer Ed talks with two of our leads from San Luis Obispo County, California! Hear from Krista and Kevin on what they've been working on and how they're advocating for housing in their community!They also talk about how SB 9 and SB 10 have impacted SLO County. Both bills passed in California last year, and they became law at the beginning of 2022. SB 9 legalizes duplexes and lot splits so up to four homes can be built on lots that currently only have a single-family detached home. SB 10 makes it easier for cities and towns to allow multifamily buildings that include up to ten homes. Links:Learn more about SLOCo YIMBY: https://www.slocoyimby.org/Follow SLOCo YIMBY on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SlocoYimbyFollow SLOCo YIMBY on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sloco_yimby/Follow Krista on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kinder_fiercerLearn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

Jun 29, 2022 • 47min
California Housing Law Enforcers
YIMBYs in California advocate for laws to address the housing shortage and housing affordability crisis, but what happens after the Governor signs them? Housing law enforcement is an important but often less flashy part of the process of making housing abundant and affordable. Housing law enforcement is possible because of volunteers, organizations like YIMBY Law, the CA Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Attorney General's office. Working together, we're able to hold cities accountable to the laws that are passed, including dozens of California cities that don't have housing plans that are compliant with state law. In this episode, Louis Mirante from California YIMBY sits down with David Pai, Deputy Attorney General in the Housing Strike Force, and David Zisser, the Assistant Deputy Director in the HCD Housing Accountability Unit. They talk about what housing law enforcement looks like at the state level and when they intervene. Special thanks to our friends at California YIMBY for hosting this event! To get involved and support housing law enforcement in California, become a watchdog! https://www.fairhousingelements.org/volunteer Links:Watch the video on YouTube (with all the slides mentioned): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWveuGw7C3kBecome a housing element watchdog: https://www.fairhousingelements.org/volunteerLearn more about housing elements: https://www.fairhousingelements.org/explainerLearn more about California YIMBY's work: https://cayimby.org/Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

May 28, 2022 • 42min
More Affordable Homes, Less Parking: Making the Most of Density Bonus Programs
A new report from Circulate San Diego shows us what's possible with density bonus programs. Laura sits down with Colin Parent and Jesse O'Sullivan to talk about their Homerun for Homes report that outlines the outcomes from the program. Links:Check out the Homerun for Homes report: https://circulatesd.org/homerunforhomesLearn more about Colin Parent and Jesse O'Sullivan at Circulate SD: https://www.circulatesd.org/staff_and_internsMore from Colin Parent on his article "City-Wide: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth," which outlines how housing reform is more likely to be successful when it's made across a larger geography: https://www.circulatesd.org/citywideLearn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/

May 21, 2022 • 15min
Breaking Down the CA Housing Budget
California Governor Newsom released a revised version of the state's budget on May 13th, so what does it mean for housing? Laura Foote sits down with Michael Lane, the State Policy Director for SPUR Urbanist, to discuss the details.SPUR is a nonprofit public policy organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. They bring people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. They are recognized as a leading civic planning organization and respected for its independent and holistic approach to urban issues. Links:More details on the California State budget: https://ebudget.ca.govLearn more about SPUR: https://www.spur.org/Learn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/

May 9, 2022 • 39min
How to Get More YIMBYs Elected, with Giselle Hale and Jon Wizard
Electing pro-housing legislators is one of the most efficient ways to address the housing shortage.YIMBY Action and our chapters across California have worked hard to find the best pro-housing candidates running for the state legislature. And these two candidates have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their willingness to support housing.Hear from Jon Wizard and Giselle Hale as they talk about their backgrounds on housing and the impact that we can all have on these races and others.Jon Wizard is running for State Assembly District 30, which covers the California Central Coast from just south of Santa Cruz through Monterey, all the way down past San Luis Obispo.Giselle Hale is running to represent Assembly District 21, which covers the peninsula including Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Foster City, San Carlos, Redwood City, and East Palo Alto. Links:Support Jon Wizard's campaign: https://electwizard.com/Support Giselle Hale's campaign: https://www.gisellehale.com/See YIMBY Action's 2022 endorsements: https://yimbyaction.org/endorsements/

Apr 26, 2022 • 52min
Matt Haney and the Power of Pro-Housing Campaigns
San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney won the special election for California Assembly District 17 on April 19! By using a strong pro-housing message, his campaign demonstrated just how compelling a pro-housing message is for voters. Pro-housing platforms hold a lot more power than they did just a few years ago.Housing moves voters. So many of us have been directly affected by the housing shortage and we're ready to make the change we NEED to see in our communities.The YIMBY voting bloc is growing.Hear from Assemblymember-elect Matt Haney about his winning campaign message and how other candidates outside of San Francisco can use similar messages to get out the vote! Links:SF Chronicle coverage: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Matt-Haney-s-Assembly-victory-is-a-coup-for-17108666.phpLearn more about YIMBY Action: https://yimbyaction.org/Follow YIMBY Action on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Instagram: https://instagram.com/yimbyaction/Follow YIMBY Action on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yimbyaction/