Younger YIMBYs should ease up on soft ageism about e.g. Boomers. I'm as guilty as anyone, and there's an element of truth. But I increasingly see older folks hurt by the crisis join YIMBY groups. (And become key allies.) I'd hate for this rhetoric to make them feel unwelcome.
It's okay to recognize that (say) public hearings are unrepresentative re: age, or that our housing policy disproportionately harms younger people. But centering Boomer hate in our rhetoric—especially if there's a YIMBY Boomer present, as is increasingly the case—isn't helpful.
A more cynical appeal: Part of why NIMBYs are successful is that they mobilize older people who have (a) high human/social capital and (b) a lot of free time. A YIMBY movement that can peel off some of those people and make them feel welcome is infinitely more effective.
@mnolangray So we shouldn't point out that the same group excluding people from housing were the same folks doing it in the 1960s before fair housing laws were passed i.e. boomers?
@mnolangray Also, not to be brutal, but the property owners are going to be getting suddenly younger over the next couple decades. But their interests will be largely the same.
@mnolangray 100%, not always said but an important thing you’re hitting on.
@mnolangray You're right, but it's so hard when so many are so cringe
@mnolangray Most of my local YIMBY group are Boomers, and they do good work. This group, which isn't quite YIMBY but does a lot to advocate for affordable housing, is run by four women in their seventies and they are great: enginesix.org