I get a lot of flack for these zoning bills, but I'll tell you: I have a lot of friends who are constantly worried every year when the rent goes up, who can't afford to buy a house, who can't find employment anywhere where housing is affordable, and are worried about losing everything.
I lucked out. I got a house in 2019. The door slammed shut behind me.
Young people who are fighting housing have trouble raising families. They can't build wealth. They have promotions that don't match inflation every year, and rent goes up beyond inflation every year. They can't afford a down payment on a home because they're too busy trying to earn enough for rent.
I also believe in basic supply an demand. Goverment historically restricts supply, and this leads to scenarios where people with land and property have a perverse incentive to prevent anything that would reduce the value of their "Investment".
The game is rigged so property values only go up and up and up while wages go down.
Compared to that issue, compared to this dystopian society that we've built that sacrifices the prosperity of the young for the benefit of the old, I have no qualms over-riding "Local Control" and placing limits on what local government can do.
"Local Control" means "Government Control". Plain and simple. The notion that somehow local government is "small government" when they are the ones spanding most hte money and they're the ones that interfere with liberty the most is absurd.
Liberty does not mean "kick it down to a lower authority". Liberty means "Stop messing with people and their private lives." I will vote for HB1588.
I may lose, but I'm happy with the vote.