Comments on: Dealing With NIMBYs http://marketurbanism.com/2008/08/06/dealing-with-nimbys/ Urbanism for Capitalists / Capitalism for Urbanists Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:37:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: NIMBYism seen as biggest obstacle to evolution of vibrant urban communities « Saint Consulting http://marketurbanism.com/2008/08/06/dealing-with-nimbys/#comment-6239 NIMBYism seen as biggest obstacle to evolution of vibrant urban communities « Saint Consulting Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:57:46 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/?p=242#comment-6239 [...] Index survey of American opposition to development has struck a chord with the free-market blog Market Urbanism, which calls NIMBYism the biggest obstacle to the evolution of vibrant urban [...] [...] Index survey of American opposition to development has struck a chord with the free-market blog Market Urbanism, which calls NIMBYism the biggest obstacle to the evolution of vibrant urban [...]

]]> By: Market Urbanism http://marketurbanism.com/2008/08/06/dealing-with-nimbys/#comment-866 Market Urbanism Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:57:24 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/?p=242#comment-866 Great point! That 78% number is scary, isn't it? From my experience in urban areas, it is usually a very vocal minority opinion that shows up to complain. If you ask most neighbors, they are not concerned enough to take the time to protest. However, the handful of people who make the time to get involved, usually have an irrational fear of change (or sense of entitlement) and voice their opinion loudly. I agree. Hopefully, blogs like ours can bring out some ideas and concepts that communities and developers can use to shift public opinion toward liberalization of development restrictions. Great point! That 78% number is scary, isn’t it?

From my experience in urban areas, it is usually a very vocal minority opinion that shows up to complain. If you ask most neighbors, they are not concerned enough to take the time to protest. However, the handful of people who make the time to get involved, usually have an irrational fear of change (or sense of entitlement) and voice their opinion loudly.

I agree. Hopefully, blogs like ours can bring out some ideas and concepts that communities and developers can use to shift public opinion toward liberalization of development restrictions.

]]> By: Daniel Nairn http://marketurbanism.com/2008/08/06/dealing-with-nimbys/#comment-865 Daniel Nairn Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:48:33 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/?p=242#comment-865 I'd like to think NIMBYs constitute a minority opinion that has achieved a disproportionate amount of power, but I don't know if that is true. Doesn't the Saint index itself claim that 78% of Americans oppose all new development in their communities. That sounds like a majority to me. It seems to me that addressing this problem may run deeper than tweaking with the political system to ensure that voices carry an equal weight. We really need a sea change in the public perception of development and community life itself. I’d like to think NIMBYs constitute a minority opinion that has achieved a disproportionate amount of power, but I don’t know if that is true. Doesn’t the Saint index itself claim that 78% of Americans oppose all new development in their communities. That sounds like a majority to me.

It seems to me that addressing this problem may run deeper than tweaking with the political system to ensure that voices carry an equal weight. We really need a sea change in the public perception of development and community life itself.

]]> By: Market Urbanism http://marketurbanism.com/2008/08/06/dealing-with-nimbys/#comment-864 Market Urbanism Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:55:24 +0000 http://marketurbanism.com/?p=242#comment-864 The use of the word, "<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/19/2122339.htm" rel="nofollow">vocal minorities</a>" has been brought to my attention. I thought it was clear this meant vocal <em>people with <a href="http://www.wordreference.com/definition/minority" rel="nofollow">minority</a> opinions</em>, meaning not commonly held opinions. However, <a href="http://twitter.com/gharman" rel="nofollow">at least one person</a> has misunderstood this to mean opinions of <em>ethnic or racial minorities</em>, which it certainly does not. I have revised the wording to avoid further misunderstanding. The use of the word, “vocal minorities” has been brought to my attention. I thought it was clear this meant vocal people with minority opinions, meaning not commonly held opinions. However, at least one person has misunderstood this to mean opinions of ethnic or racial minorities, which it certainly does not.

I have revised the wording to avoid further misunderstanding.

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