LAT Columnist Lopez Is A True YIMBY

In today’s column, Steve Lopez writes about an ugly issue that very well promotes homelessness in our community—NIMBY (Not In My Backyard). These are the vocal groups that fight against locating homeless services in their community.

It doesn’t matter how much money our cities and county pumps into providing services and housing for the homeless ($100 million from the county, $50 million from the city), if NIMBYism prevails, we still won’t be able to place these services and housing in our communities. NIMBY is a significant barrier. Money alone, will not solve homelessness. Enough affordable housing placed throughout our county, and coordinated services that helps people enter the service system and access housing, will only work if the community allows these facilities in their neighborhoods.

Although Lopez unfairly points a finger at Supervisor Antonovich, he does challenge public officials to take a leadership role in fighting back NIMBYism. He says, “Given the astounding wealth in the Southern California real estate market, public officials ought to be embracing creative solutions like inclusionary zoning, which would require developers to build more low-income units. Instead we've got political cowards afraid to jeopardize campaign contributions and incur the wrath of fellow NIMBYs.”

I say every community needs a “Project YIMBY” program. Yes! In My Back Yard is a campaign we are doing in the Hollywood and West Hollywood area that mobilizes the community to respond to homelessness in positive ways—like “Connect” days, coordinated street outreach, finding locations for emergency and permanent housing, and getting community members to help organize these efforts.