Message from the Editor-in-Chief

Cosmos Eubany

Here it is; The Housing Issue! I understand that the statement is hyperbolic and as such I offer the following thoughts. We recognize how difficult it is to boil down the complex housing crisis into one journal issue. There are so many aspects to consider and a truly interdisciplinary approach is necessary to tackle the problem. We received a lot of interest in this topic and had the unfortunate task of trying to fit as much content as possible into these limited pages. As a result, there are aspects of the crisis that have been left out. Be that as it may, the editorial board is quite pleased with the ultimate selection and hope that it sparks insight, questions, and ultimately a fire in our readership that can be channeled towards solving the crisis.

First, Jordan Levine’s "Time to Get Serious About Supply," frames the housing crisis in terms of a shortage of supply and looks at the root of the problem as well as the concomitant effects the shortage has had on the economy as a whole, homelessness, and on minority communities. He posits that numerous changes are required to resolve the fundamental issue.

Next, Matt Gelfand’s "The Housing Accountability Act: Recent Improvements and Success," argues local governments are disincentivized from approving housing projects because of local constituents and notions of "Nimby-ism." He then details a legislative effort to increase housing supply by making it more difficult for local governments to limit development in certain instances.