If that's the case then it would be disastrous to abandon the YIMBY label and try a new one, because it capitulates to the false accusations, and completely tarnishes all of the ideas of the movement.
No, the only counter is to further show the true YIMBY values through policy proposals, discussions, and political legislation.
For example, the core YIMBY success so far is SB-35, "Planning and zoning: affordable housing: streamlined approval process."
The same people that last year were complaining that YIMBYs are anti-affordable housing have now finally stopped saying that and have moved on to other misrepresentations of YIMBY. And in fact, they often now support SB 35, particularly as a way to prevent actions like SB 827. In the future, they will come to like SB 827, or at least some will.
There's a ton of reactionary conservatism in nearly all political movements in California, even the leftist ones, because there's lots of older folks that run them and can't countenance a shift in the political landscape, particularly the emergence of a new political force.
There will be lots of rhetoric, but that won't stop the change. So much in politics seems impossible until its done. Gay marriage in California was a similar through the looking glass experience.
Housing will come around too. The more people say "that's impossible," the more optimistic I am that they will be proven wrong. Because that's just an admission that they hadn't really considered the possibility, the idea was just outside the realm of feasibility and thought. Eventually, the slow reactionary mind becomes comfortable with it, and reason breaks through.
It will take several years, several years that we shouldn't have to waste, but there will be more housing in California.
No, the only counter is to further show the true YIMBY values through policy proposals, discussions, and political legislation.
For example, the core YIMBY success so far is SB-35, "Planning and zoning: affordable housing: streamlined approval process."
The same people that last year were complaining that YIMBYs are anti-affordable housing have now finally stopped saying that and have moved on to other misrepresentations of YIMBY. And in fact, they often now support SB 35, particularly as a way to prevent actions like SB 827. In the future, they will come to like SB 827, or at least some will.
There's a ton of reactionary conservatism in nearly all political movements in California, even the leftist ones, because there's lots of older folks that run them and can't countenance a shift in the political landscape, particularly the emergence of a new political force.
There will be lots of rhetoric, but that won't stop the change. So much in politics seems impossible until its done. Gay marriage in California was a similar through the looking glass experience.
Housing will come around too. The more people say "that's impossible," the more optimistic I am that they will be proven wrong. Because that's just an admission that they hadn't really considered the possibility, the idea was just outside the realm of feasibility and thought. Eventually, the slow reactionary mind becomes comfortable with it, and reason breaks through.
It will take several years, several years that we shouldn't have to waste, but there will be more housing in California.