I just think that the nicer suburban towns depend on their neighboring cities for their prosperity and standard of living. I feel like there should be some mechanism to ensure that they pay their fair share, rather than walling themselves off administratively.

West Hartford couldn’t exist without Hartford. But by being a separate municipality it is able to reap the benefits of being close to Hartford, without having to worry about anything that happens in Hartford, or pay for any Hartford services.

Large portions of our economy are predicated on building nice things for cheap. We love Americans who make nice things cheap. Henry Ford is widely celebrated for inventing a way to build an item formerly reserved for only the rich (cars) and making it much cheaper and accessible to more people.

Most, if not all, consumer goods are much cheaper now relative to average salaries than than they were when they were introduced, because companies innovated to make nice things cheap for everyday people.

Housing costs have risen though, because the pace of construction has not kept up with demand.

Why shouldn’t we let entrepreneurs do what they do best, and make nice housing cheaper? We just need to pare back some of the excessive regulations and let Americans do what they do best.

I love America, what’s more American than letting Americans get out there and build shit?

So you’re saying that even if we have the ability to make housing less expensive for the average person, we should not try to do that?

If housing were cheaper wouldn’t that allow people to enjoy a higher standard of living? If I were paying less on my mortgage (or rent), I could spend that money on other things. I would be more likely to go on vacation, start a family, etc. it seems like a very desirable goal to me. I don’t know what the downside is.

Which is why we should also allow the construction of more market-rate housing!

Yeah, but that’s holding out for a higher rent, it’s not just keeping a unit vacant to keep it vacant. Presumably if someone paid the asking price they would rent it to them.

Wouldn’t an environment with more competitors (i.e. more housing units available to rent) make this practice less economically feasible?

Also (sorry) but if rental companies are only interested in create money for their owners, why would they leave apartments vacant? It seems like that’s just leaving money on the table- with a vacant apartment you’re just paying the carrying costs of taxes/upkeep, with no return.

I live in Norwalk, I moved down recently for work. And believe me, I want more apartments in Litchfield county as well!

I want all of the above, and more of it!

More housing units produced will result in overall cheaper housing. I don’t believe that there is any commodity where an increase in supply will cause prices to rise. If we increase the number of housing units that developers are allowed to build, the price per housing unit will go down.

Also my apologies, I have moved to Fairfield county since the post you reference.

Those towns along the metro north in Fairfield county aren’t valuable because they’re charming, they’re valuable because they’re within commuting distance of New York City.

Woodstock is a perfectly charming place, but there aren’t thousands of people clamoring to move there because it isn’t commutable to a major metropolitan hub, with (relatively) well functioning public transportation.

I would argue that NYC is still the financial capital of the country, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. By making it easier for people who work in NYC to live in Connecticut (i.e. building more housing in NYC-accessible Fairfield county), the state will draw in more population, thus increasing the tax base, and benefitting local businesses who service those residents.

You’re right- didn’t mean to insinuate that, edited my comment accordingly.

I am a fan of any and all kinds of improvements to increase density- reduce lot size and setback requirements, allow multi family units as of right in more zones (preferably duplexes and triplexes allowed everywhere), make it easier to build larger multi-unit developments.

I also think we should embark on more publicly funded housing and deed restricted affordable developments. I think the solution is all of the above.

Also, loosening zoning restrictions will not only help developers build luxury units, it will make it easier for public housing and non-profits as well.

The more we build, the more affordable they will get.

Also, the rich don’t move in response to policy changes nearly as much as they’d like us to think:

https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/nov/20/if-you-tax-the-rich-they-wont-leave-us-data-contradicts-millionaires-threats

We have allowed a regulatory system that artificially drives up prices in those towns. This is not a market for cars, it is a tightly regulated system, designed to benefit incumbent residents.

If the free market were allowed to actually dictate development in Fairfield county towns, there would be apartment buildings across from the train station in Darien.

I think Duff generally does a good job, and I’ll keep voting for him. I also think we need to keep bringing these kinds of issues to the forefront- this kind of action will be vigorously opposed by the folks who benefit from the current system of land use regulation, and it is important to let elected officials know that many voters support more dramatic changes to housing and education policy.

Edit (addition): As an elected official, just because you’re working hard on behalf of your constituents doesn’t mean your constituents should stop asking for things!

I agree 100% with this Op Ed. If we want to advance as a state and foster an environment of equity and upward mobility, we absolutely need state-level action to force reform in our NIMBY-est suburbs. We cannot realize our full potential as a state as long as we let wealthy towns wall themselves off, reap the benefits of the cities they surround, and refuse to make basic concessions in return.

u/senatorduff, as my representative in the state senate, Let’s Go! We need more action on these issues!

Edit: for clarity, I’m asking the Senator to gather support within the state democratic caucus for bold action on land use and education reform. As the op ed indicates, allowing towns to tackle these issues on their own is not working.