I just saw the headline and chuckled, because RI has almost no new homes, part of the thing driving up prices.

But the same is true of Chicago and Cleveland, and yet plenty of affordable housing exists in those places.

Why? Because people are moving here in droves, but not to Chicago or Cleveland.

RI definitely needs to build more homes. Providence mayor Smiley made that a centerpiece of his campaign. The reason we need more homes built? Demand. The reason there’s demand? People want to live here.