Opinion | America’s Cities Are Unlivable. Blame Wealthy Liberals. - The New York Times

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've touched a nerve OP. Unfortunately this forum is almost uniformly wealthy liberals.

You people are funny. You talk about global warming yet have 3 children in comfortably air conditioned houses. You talk about racial diversity yet only live in the whitest neighborhoods.

Most of normal America hates you

This

I put very little stock in the ability of DCUM posters to speak on behalf of “normal America.” Too many insecure, status-obsessed types who will latch onto any topic to reveal their own resentments.

The majority of DCUM are transplants originally from southern and midwestern states, so I think they can speak about “normal” America. If that’s what you want to call it.

First of all, you don't know crap about the background of the majority of DCUM posters and, second, those who are transplants from such places aren't necessarily representative of the places they left.

You just want cover for your own grab bag of typical, DC-area insecurities.

Jeff has said often that this board is represented by majority UM white women. Until 2010, DC was majority Black Working and middle class, from which I came. Im sure you have far more insecurities than I can ever imagine.

NO. How does this translate to transplants from southern and midwestern states? Source?

+1. PP just needs to say she resents and hates other DCUM posters and stop trying to pawn it off on what "normal America" thinks.

I don't resent you. I feel sorry for you. You've only just begun to see the storm coming for you

What storm? If you're talking political, newsflash - I'm as liberal as they come (and live in DC - liberal haven) but DJT's policies have done nothing but help my bottom line.

It's you who should be worried. The economy of the midwest is tanking fast with half the states underwater, literally thanks to flooding and financially thanks to trade embargos, which is causing their state economies to go bankrupt. The South too is under-pressure, although its of their own making - with economic boycott movements starting in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi because of their heartbeat bills last month.

Meanwhile D.C. has HQ2 which the entire country was fighting over, retail and restaurants opening up daily, and corporate headquarters like Google and Facebook opening up larger offices here.

Oh, and last but not least, the Kushner family (you know - the president's son-in-law?), just invest $1 Billion in D.C. real estate.

I'm not worried. You should be.

Ouch. Doesn’t sound like storm-warning PP is going to find anyone but her shadow for solidarity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um, he’s making a simple point: when you block housing from being built, there is not enough housing. Not enough housing makes housing prohibitively expensive.

There is zero room for new housing where I live. Zero open spaces, no land. I remember listening to an NPR piece 10 years ago about how valuable land/property would be exponentially in the future in the close in DC/VA/Md areas. In 10-years, I’ve seen a $400k appreciation in my main property in VA 2.5 miles across boarder of DC. Neighbors that bought 5-7 years before me have seen &1 million, from $400k purchase to $1.4 million value.

It’s crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, he’s making a simple point: when you block housing from being built, there is not enough housing. Not enough housing makes housing prohibitively expensive.

There is zero room for new housing where I live. Zero open spaces, no land. I remember listening to an NPR piece 10 years ago about how valuable land/property would be exponentially in the future in the close in DC/VA/Md areas. In 10-years, I’ve seen a $400k appreciation in my main property in VA 2.5 miles across boarder of DC. Neighbors that bought 5-7 years before me have seen &1 million, from $400k purchase to $1.4 million value.

It’s crazy.

If you bought 15-17 years ago, before the pre-recession run-up in prices, and held on to your properties, you could expect to see large appreciation in a lot of places further out than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've touched a nerve OP. Unfortunately this forum is almost uniformly wealthy liberals.

You people are funny. You talk about global warming yet have 3 children in comfortably air conditioned houses. You talk about racial diversity yet only live in the whitest neighborhoods.

Most of normal America hates you

This

I put very little stock in the ability of DCUM posters to speak on behalf of “normal America.” Too many insecure, status-obsessed types who will latch onto any topic to reveal their own resentments.

The majority of DCUM are transplants originally from southern and midwestern states, so I think they can speak about “normal” America. If that’s what you want to call it.

First of all, you don't know crap about the background of the majority of DCUM posters and, second, those who are transplants from such places aren't necessarily representative of the places they left.

You just want cover for your own grab bag of typical, DC-area insecurities.

Jeff has said often that this board is represented by majority UM white women. Until 2010, DC was majority Black Working and middle class, from which I came. Im sure you have far more insecurities than I can ever imagine.

NO. How does this translate to transplants from southern and midwestern states? Source?

+1. PP just needs to say she resents and hates other DCUM posters and stop trying to pawn it off on what "normal America" thinks.

I don't resent you. I feel sorry for you. You've only just begun to see the storm coming for you

What storm? If you're talking political, newsflash - I'm as liberal as they come (and live in DC - liberal haven) but DJT's policies have done nothing but help my bottom line.

It's you who should be worried. The economy of the midwest is tanking fast with half the states underwater, literally thanks to flooding and financially thanks to trade embargos, which is causing their state economies to go bankrupt. The South too is under-pressure, although its of their own making - with economic boycott movements starting in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi because of their heartbeat bills last month.

Meanwhile D.C. has HQ2 which the entire country was fighting over, retail and restaurants opening up daily, and corporate headquarters like Google and Facebook opening up larger offices here.

Oh, and last but not least, the Kushner family (you know - the president's son-in-law?), just invest $1 Billion in D.C. real estate.

I'm not worried. You should be.

Ouch. Doesn’t sound like storm-warning PP is going to find anyone but her shadow for solidarity.

You should get out more. Your bubble is about to pop

And pp doesn't sound as liberal as she claims, more like a closet conservative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've touched a nerve OP. Unfortunately this forum is almost uniformly wealthy liberals.

You people are funny. You talk about global warming yet have 3 children in comfortably air conditioned houses. You talk about racial diversity yet only live in the whitest neighborhoods.

Most of normal America hates you

This

I put very little stock in the ability of DCUM posters to speak on behalf of “normal America.” Too many insecure, status-obsessed types who will latch onto any topic to reveal their own resentments.

The majority of DCUM are transplants originally from southern and midwestern states, so I think they can speak about “normal” America. If that’s what you want to call it.

First of all, you don't know crap about the background of the majority of DCUM posters and, second, those who are transplants from such places aren't necessarily representative of the places they left.

You just want cover for your own grab bag of typical, DC-area insecurities.

Jeff has said often that this board is represented by majority UM white women. Until 2010, DC was majority Black Working and middle class, from which I came. Im sure you have far more insecurities than I can ever imagine.

NO. How does this translate to transplants from southern and midwestern states? Source?

+1. PP just needs to say she resents and hates other DCUM posters and stop trying to pawn it off on what "normal America" thinks.

I don't resent you. I feel sorry for you. You've only just begun to see the storm coming for you

What storm? If you're talking political, newsflash - I'm as liberal as they come (and live in DC - liberal haven) but DJT's policies have done nothing but help my bottom line.

It's you who should be worried. The economy of the midwest is tanking fast with half the states underwater, literally thanks to flooding and financially thanks to trade embargos, which is causing their state economies to go bankrupt. The South too is under-pressure, although its of their own making - with economic boycott movements starting in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi because of their heartbeat bills last month.

Meanwhile D.C. has HQ2 which the entire country was fighting over, retail and restaurants opening up daily, and corporate headquarters like Google and Facebook opening up larger offices here.

Oh, and last but not least, the Kushner family (you know - the president's son-in-law?), just invest $1 Billion in D.C. real estate.

I'm not worried. You should be.

Ouch. Doesn’t sound like storm-warning PP is going to find anyone but her shadow for solidarity.

You should get out more. Your bubble is about to pop

And pp doesn't sound as liberal as she claims, more like a closet conservative

Sorry - I can't and won't ever vote conservative. My friends and family's well-being are far more important to me than lining my own pocket. I just happen to be sitting pretty under this administration and the last one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've touched a nerve OP. Unfortunately this forum is almost uniformly wealthy liberals.

You people are funny. You talk about global warming yet have 3 children in comfortably air conditioned houses. You talk about racial diversity yet only live in the whitest neighborhoods.

Most of normal America hates you

This

I put very little stock in the ability of DCUM posters to speak on behalf of “normal America.” Too many insecure, status-obsessed types who will latch onto any topic to reveal their own resentments.

The majority of DCUM are transplants originally from southern and midwestern states, so I think they can speak about “normal” America. If that’s what you want to call it.

First of all, you don't know crap about the background of the majority of DCUM posters and, second, those who are transplants from such places aren't necessarily representative of the places they left.

You just want cover for your own grab bag of typical, DC-area insecurities.

Jeff has said often that this board is represented by majority UM white women. Until 2010, DC was majority Black Working and middle class, from which I came. Im sure you have far more insecurities than I can ever imagine.

NO. How does this translate to transplants from southern and midwestern states? Source?

+1. PP just needs to say she resents and hates other DCUM posters and stop trying to pawn it off on what "normal America" thinks.

I don't resent you. I feel sorry for you. You've only just begun to see the storm coming for you

What storm? If you're talking political, newsflash - I'm as liberal as they come (and live in DC - liberal haven) but DJT's policies have done nothing but help my bottom line.

It's you who should be worried. The economy of the midwest is tanking fast with half the states underwater, literally thanks to flooding and financially thanks to trade embargos, which is causing their state economies to go bankrupt. The South too is under-pressure, although its of their own making - with economic boycott movements starting in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi because of their heartbeat bills last month.

Meanwhile D.C. has HQ2 which the entire country was fighting over, retail and restaurants opening up daily, and corporate headquarters like Google and Facebook opening up larger offices here.

Oh, and last but not least, the Kushner family (you know - the president's son-in-law?), just invest $1 Billion in D.C. real estate.

I'm not worried. You should be.

Ouch. Doesn’t sound like storm-warning PP is going to find anyone but her shadow for solidarity.

You should get out more. Your bubble is about to pop

And pp doesn't sound as liberal as she claims, more like a closet conservative

So when that storm comes, the bubbles will pop, will they?

I guess you think “normal America” likes bad cliches, too. One right on top of the next.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps we need to stop selling our real estate to the Chinese government?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The US needs to simply spread out more. We have a HUGE country full of livable land, but we keep concentrating more and more people and jobs in the same locations.

I get it - who wants to move to *gasp* the mid-west, because there is nothing to do! It's a chicken/egg problem. People don't move to open areas of the country because there is nothing there so companies don't move there because talent is too hard to attract. But if companies don't move there, nothing gets developed that'd entice people to move.

Maybe there should be plans in place for a Marshall Plan for our own country. Develop huge swaths of the mid-West and South to attract more investment and development. Spread the wealth and population out more evenly throughout the country.

See this is the problem though and it's not even really true. We moved to the Midwest (Finger Lakes region of upstate NY) so my husband could take an executive level job. I was against it at first for the reason you mention but eventually learned how wrong and short sighted I was being about it.

First, he has a great job making upwards of 500k so it's not true that high paying jobs don't exist in these parts. Housing is cheap here so we were able to buy our house in cash with no mortgage. Our money goes a lot farther with no mortgage or other debt so we are putting a TON of money into our kids' college accounts and retirement and spending a lot on traveling every year besides (50-60k). And there is plenty of stuff to do for family oriented people - lots of nearby state parks for hiking and boating in the summer, skiing in the winter, festivals all summer long.

It's probably not exciting for young people in their twenties but for people in their thirties and forties with kids? It's great. Our neighborhood is sandwiched in between one major R1 university, two small colleges, and a nationally ranked hospital so we have lots of highly educated, liberal people as our neighbors. We're a blue dot in an otherwise red area. But I never interact or even come into contact with those conservative people so who cares.

I'm from the Finger Lakes area (born in Corning). Since when is NY State any part of the Midwest? What the hell are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The US needs to simply spread out more. We have a HUGE country full of livable land, but we keep concentrating more and more people and jobs in the same locations.

I get it - who wants to move to *gasp* the mid-west, because there is nothing to do! It's a chicken/egg problem. People don't move to open areas of the country because there is nothing there so companies don't move there because talent is too hard to attract. But if companies don't move there, nothing gets developed that'd entice people to move.

Maybe there should be plans in place for a Marshall Plan for our own country. Develop huge swaths of the mid-West and South to attract more investment and development. Spread the wealth and population out more evenly throughout the country.

See this is the problem though and it's not even really true. We moved to the Midwest (Finger Lakes region of upstate NY) so my husband could take an executive level job. I was against it at first for the reason you mention but eventually learned how wrong and short sighted I was being about it.

First, he has a great job making upwards of 500k so it's not true that high paying jobs don't exist in these parts. Housing is cheap here so we were able to buy our house in cash with no mortgage. Our money goes a lot farther with no mortgage or other debt so we are putting a TON of money into our kids' college accounts and retirement and spending a lot on traveling every year besides (50-60k). And there is plenty of stuff to do for family oriented people - lots of nearby state parks for hiking and boating in the summer, skiing in the winter, festivals all summer long.

It's probably not exciting for young people in their twenties but for people in their thirties and forties with kids? It's great. Our neighborhood is sandwiched in between one major R1 university, two small colleges, and a nationally ranked hospital so we have lots of highly educated, liberal people as our neighbors. We're a blue dot in an otherwise red area. But I never interact or even come into contact with those conservative people so who cares.

I'm from the Finger Lakes area (born in Corning). Since when is NY State any part of the Midwest? What the hell are you talking about?

She’s a Liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, he’s making a simple point: when you block housing from being built, there is not enough housing. Not enough housing makes housing prohibitively expensive.

There is zero room for new housing where I live. Zero open spaces, no land. I remember listening to an NPR piece 10 years ago about how valuable land/property would be exponentially in the future in the close in DC/VA/Md areas. In 10-years, I’ve seen a $400k appreciation in my main property in VA 2.5 miles across boarder of DC. Neighbors that bought 5-7 years before me have seen &1 million, from $400k purchase to $1.4 million value.

It’s crazy.

There is always room in one direction -- up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, he’s making a simple point: when you block housing from being built, there is not enough housing. Not enough housing makes housing prohibitively expensive.

There is zero room for new housing where I live. Zero open spaces, no land. I remember listening to an NPR piece 10 years ago about how valuable land/property would be exponentially in the future in the close in DC/VA/Md areas. In 10-years, I’ve seen a $400k appreciation in my main property in VA 2.5 miles across boarder of DC. Neighbors that bought 5-7 years before me have seen &1 million, from $400k purchase to $1.4 million value.

It’s crazy.

There is always room in one direction -- up

Not in a city with height restrictions. And not in suburbs with zoning restrictions.

There's only one direction -- out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps we need to stop selling our real estate to the Chinese government?

Ding, ding, ding. Winner. And also limit all foreign money in real estate. It’s not Americans driving up the cost of real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've touched a nerve OP. Unfortunately this forum is almost uniformly wealthy liberals.

You people are funny. You talk about global warming yet have 3 children in comfortably air conditioned houses. You talk about racial diversity yet only live in the whitest neighborhoods.

Most of normal America hates you

This

I put very little stock in the ability of DCUM posters to speak on behalf of “normal America.” Too many insecure, status-obsessed types who will latch onto any topic to reveal their own resentments.

The majority of DCUM are transplants originally from southern and midwestern states, so I think they can speak about “normal” America. If that’s what you want to call it.

First of all, you don't know crap about the background of the majority of DCUM posters and, second, those who are transplants from such places aren't necessarily representative of the places they left.

You just want cover for your own grab bag of typical, DC-area insecurities.

Jeff has said often that this board is represented by majority UM white women. Until 2010, DC was majority Black Working and middle class, from which I came. Im sure you have far more insecurities than I can ever imagine.

NO. How does this translate to transplants from southern and midwestern states? Source?

+1. PP just needs to say she resents and hates other DCUM posters and stop trying to pawn it off on what "normal America" thinks.

I don't resent you. I feel sorry for you. You've only just begun to see the storm coming for you

What storm? If you're talking political, newsflash - I'm as liberal as they come (and live in DC - liberal haven) but DJT's policies have done nothing but help my bottom line.

It's you who should be worried. The economy of the midwest is tanking fast with half the states underwater, literally thanks to flooding and financially thanks to trade embargos, which is causing their state economies to go bankrupt. The South too is under-pressure, although its of their own making - with economic boycott movements starting in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi because of their heartbeat bills last month.

Meanwhile D.C. has HQ2 which the entire country was fighting over, retail and restaurants opening up daily, and corporate headquarters like Google and Facebook opening up larger offices here.

Oh, and last but not least, the Kushner family (you know - the president's son-in-law?), just invest $1 Billion in D.C. real estate.

I'm not worried. You should be.

Ouch. Doesn’t sound like storm-warning PP is going to find anyone but her shadow for solidarity.

You should get out more. Your bubble is about to pop

And pp doesn't sound as liberal as she claims, more like a closet conservative

So when that storm comes, the bubbles will pop, will they?

I guess you think “normal America” likes bad cliches, too. One right on top of the next.

Keep judging, you'll look stupid in a few years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've touched a nerve OP. Unfortunately this forum is almost uniformly wealthy liberals.

You people are funny. You talk about global warming yet have 3 children in comfortably air conditioned houses. You talk about racial diversity yet only live in the whitest neighborhoods.

Most of normal America hates you

This

I put very little stock in the ability of DCUM posters to speak on behalf of “normal America.” Too many insecure, status-obsessed types who will latch onto any topic to reveal their own resentments.

The majority of DCUM are transplants originally from southern and midwestern states, so I think they can speak about “normal” America. If that’s what you want to call it.

First of all, you don't know crap about the background of the majority of DCUM posters and, second, those who are transplants from such places aren't necessarily representative of the places they left.

You just want cover for your own grab bag of typical, DC-area insecurities.

Jeff has said often that this board is represented by majority UM white women. Until 2010, DC was majority Black Working and middle class, from which I came. Im sure you have far more insecurities than I can ever imagine.

NO. How does this translate to transplants from southern and midwestern states? Source?

+1. PP just needs to say she resents and hates other DCUM posters and stop trying to pawn it off on what "normal America" thinks.

I don't resent you. I feel sorry for you. You've only just begun to see the storm coming for you

What storm? If you're talking political, newsflash - I'm as liberal as they come (and live in DC - liberal haven) but DJT's policies have done nothing but help my bottom line.

It's you who should be worried. The economy of the midwest is tanking fast with half the states underwater, literally thanks to flooding and financially thanks to trade embargos, which is causing their state economies to go bankrupt. The South too is under-pressure, although its of their own making - with economic boycott movements starting in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi because of their heartbeat bills last month.

Meanwhile D.C. has HQ2 which the entire country was fighting over, retail and restaurants opening up daily, and corporate headquarters like Google and Facebook opening up larger offices here.

Oh, and last but not least, the Kushner family (you know - the president's son-in-law?), just invest $1 Billion in D.C. real estate.

I'm not worried. You should be.

Ouch. Doesn’t sound like storm-warning PP is going to find anyone but her shadow for solidarity.

You should get out more. Your bubble is about to pop

And pp doesn't sound as liberal as she claims, more like a closet conservative

So when that storm comes, the bubbles will pop, will they?

I guess you think “normal America” likes bad cliches, too. One right on top of the next.

Keep judging, you'll look stupid in a few years

In the long run, we’re all dead. You look stupid now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Um, he’s making a simple point: when you block housing from being built, there is not enough housing. Not enough housing makes housing prohibitively expensive.

There is zero room for new housing where I live. Zero open spaces, no land. I remember listening to an NPR piece 10 years ago about how valuable land/property would be exponentially in the future in the close in DC/VA/Md areas. In 10-years, I’ve seen a $400k appreciation in my main property in VA 2.5 miles across boarder of DC. Neighbors that bought 5-7 years before me have seen &1 million, from $400k purchase to $1.4 million value.

It’s crazy.

I'm sure there's plenty of room. It's simply a question of tearing down existing SFH housing and replacing it with higher density multifamily housing. If we built on the scale the Victorians did, in higher density urban rows with perhaps apartment blocks at the end of each block, we'd easily accommodate a much higher urban density without much trouble. That's what people manage to do in Europe and survive just fine and dandy.

The issue, as the OP's article pointed out, is that there is staunch resistance to rezoning to allow higher density housing in urban areas. And most of that resistance is from liberals who have entrenched interest in not changing zoning regulations, whether they're gentry liberals in Bethesda or urban liberals afraid of gentrification in inner city areas.