Dave Cooke
@ucsdave.bsky.social
Using my white male privilege to rabble rouse companies and govt agencies into doing more. Midwest-grown, California-schooled, Senator-less citizen of the Douglass Commonwealth.
This is a personal acct, but I'll still be mad about transportation issues.
This is a personal acct, but I'll still be mad about transportation issues.
But also, it was just a general point re: coalition work that led into the literal next post in the thread emphasizing the importance of approach, "calling in" vs "calling out". I feel like you see mansplaining type of shit across everything... that's a (bad) communication style.
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 AM
But also, it was just a general point re: coalition work that led into the literal next post in the thread emphasizing the importance of approach, "calling in" vs "calling out". I feel like you see mansplaining type of shit across everything... that's a (bad) communication style.
Are you questioning whether YIMBYs do/have done that? Like, there are replies in this thread that have done that and defended it. And that was certainly a bug in early days that I think active orgs broadly are smarter about today but not necessarily individuals.
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Are you questioning whether YIMBYs do/have done that? Like, there are replies in this thread that have done that and defended it. And that was certainly a bug in early days that I think active orgs broadly are smarter about today but not necessarily individuals.
My man. Do not put words in my mouth. Besides the concerns I raised w/the blogpost specifically that focused on continuing dialog being more productive for coalition building, I've focused on ways to be better, but some of that is already going on! I don't keep score on who's the best YIMBY, sorry.
November 28, 2025 at 11:35 PM
My man. Do not put words in my mouth. Besides the concerns I raised w/the blogpost specifically that focused on continuing dialog being more productive for coalition building, I've focused on ways to be better, but some of that is already going on! I don't keep score on who's the best YIMBY, sorry.
and the more that this can be harmonized the stronger the overall movement. I mean, the o.g. piece even had to walk back some of its original criticism through edits. Considering my guarded, milquetoast critique of the piece, it's wild to me the offense taken. This is basic to NGO coalition work.
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
and the more that this can be harmonized the stronger the overall movement. I mean, the o.g. piece even had to walk back some of its original criticism through edits. Considering my guarded, milquetoast critique of the piece, it's wild to me the offense taken. This is basic to NGO coalition work.
Secondly, the emphasis was on coalition work and how red lines that don't recognize the different roles orgs can play can be bad for movement building overall. That's not to say there can't bad actors but there also has to be a recognition of different constituencies and priorities...
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Secondly, the emphasis was on coalition work and how red lines that don't recognize the different roles orgs can play can be bad for movement building overall. That's not to say there can't bad actors but there also has to be a recognition of different constituencies and priorities...
First off, I don't give a shit abt CA YIMBY specifically and have pointed out that I am talking about the YIMBY movement broadly repeatedly-- @resnikoff.bsky.social's original post may have targeted CA groups, but I was responding to a NY poster and viewing it through the movement lens.
November 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
First off, I don't give a shit abt CA YIMBY specifically and have pointed out that I am talking about the YIMBY movement broadly repeatedly-- @resnikoff.bsky.social's original post may have targeted CA groups, but I was responding to a NY poster and viewing it through the movement lens.
A comprehensive housing policy would go beyond BBB to prioritize the ppl structurally disadvantaged the most. BBB is insufficient but necessary -- that covers the "production" caucus. What about the "protection" caucus? What exactly are you struggling with here?
November 28, 2025 at 10:43 PM
A comprehensive housing policy would go beyond BBB to prioritize the ppl structurally disadvantaged the most. BBB is insufficient but necessary -- that covers the "production" caucus. What about the "protection" caucus? What exactly are you struggling with here?
I view this as a Yes-And -- the core policy of BBB helps lift all boats, but the priority should incorporate a justice element aimed at those who've been most fucked structurally and need additional support.
November 28, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I view this as a Yes-And -- the core policy of BBB helps lift all boats, but the priority should incorporate a justice element aimed at those who've been most fucked structurally and need additional support.
I don't get the question here. It's speaking generally about the grasstops of the YIMBY movement and reads pretty obviously in that way.
November 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I don't get the question here. It's speaking generally about the grasstops of the YIMBY movement and reads pretty obviously in that way.
YIMBYs should be able to make that connection - BBB is necessary but insufficient. But if at the end of the day YIMBY groups are going to leave communities to solve those priority housing and justice issues on their own, why support your priorities in the 1st place? They'll choose their own path.
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 AM
YIMBYs should be able to make that connection - BBB is necessary but insufficient. But if at the end of the day YIMBY groups are going to leave communities to solve those priority housing and justice issues on their own, why support your priorities in the 1st place? They'll choose their own path.
There are ppl in the YIMBY movement working to bridge that gap and move beyond Build Baby Build, which can and has come off as tone deaf. So treating anyone who's not swayed by BBB as acting in bad faith ignores that plenty of ppl who could benefit don't see that "just 1 trick" solving their issue.
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 AM
There are ppl in the YIMBY movement working to bridge that gap and move beyond Build Baby Build, which can and has come off as tone deaf. So treating anyone who's not swayed by BBB as acting in bad faith ignores that plenty of ppl who could benefit don't see that "just 1 trick" solving their issue.
That is quite clearly a question for those communities to answer. But the choice is either a) do the work to bring in those folks or b) deal with the fallout of not. There is no c) they magically change their mind and agree with my solution and priorities.
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 AM
That is quite clearly a question for those communities to answer. But the choice is either a) do the work to bring in those folks or b) deal with the fallout of not. There is no c) they magically change their mind and agree with my solution and priorities.
Yes, this is famously why YIMBYs are definitely representative of the communities in greatest need of housing affordability. /s A number of YIMBY groups have even changed strategies around urban housing to be better partners... that was because this is still a very real issue!
November 27, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Yes, this is famously why YIMBYs are definitely representative of the communities in greatest need of housing affordability. /s A number of YIMBY groups have even changed strategies around urban housing to be better partners... that was because this is still a very real issue!
Being right is not itself a path to victory. Building power is. If a movement can't figure out how to bring groups that should be aligned into the fold, it will fail.
November 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Being right is not itself a path to victory. Building power is. If a movement can't figure out how to bring groups that should be aligned into the fold, it will fail.
This is a gross misunderstanding of why housing justice groups may support left-NIMBY policies, which is even touched on in the original article.
November 27, 2025 at 4:53 PM
This is a gross misunderstanding of why housing justice groups may support left-NIMBY policies, which is even touched on in the original article.
Funders aren't the reason these groups are better positioned to be advocates for the communities they serve. As @stephenjacobsmith.com noted, these groups have successfully worked on issues that communities care about. You wanna build that trust too? You've gotta do the work.
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Funders aren't the reason these groups are better positioned to be advocates for the communities they serve. As @stephenjacobsmith.com noted, these groups have successfully worked on issues that communities care about. You wanna build that trust too? You've gotta do the work.
At the end of the day I think the YIMBY movement is aligned with housing justice and will be stronger by recognizing the groundwork needed because offering solutions that haven't been vetted by the communities that are supposed to benefit is not a long-term recipe for success.
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
At the end of the day I think the YIMBY movement is aligned with housing justice and will be stronger by recognizing the groundwork needed because offering solutions that haven't been vetted by the communities that are supposed to benefit is not a long-term recipe for success.
Scientific/enviro communities are starting to get this -- just talking AT ppl because you have good data isn't a convincing argument. And the communities are rightly starting from a place of mistrust. Building that trust in coalition takes time and I'm not sure targeting groups helps that endeavor.
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Scientific/enviro communities are starting to get this -- just talking AT ppl because you have good data isn't a convincing argument. And the communities are rightly starting from a place of mistrust. Building that trust in coalition takes time and I'm not sure targeting groups helps that endeavor.
While @resnikoff.bsky.social's article has some valid criticism, part of the challenge underscored here is that the YIMBY movement needs to continue to engage with justice orgs and listen to the lived experiences in dialogue. Swooping in and telling communities what to think is the wrong approach.
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
While @resnikoff.bsky.social's article has some valid criticism, part of the challenge underscored here is that the YIMBY movement needs to continue to engage with justice orgs and listen to the lived experiences in dialogue. Swooping in and telling communities what to think is the wrong approach.
I think if you dig into [pick your fav BIL analysis] that they generally ignore the surface transportation part of the bill or do nothing more than a cursory analysis that ignores elasticity. But I'd love to see something more comprehensive that didn't if you've got one in mind.
November 25, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I think if you dig into [pick your fav BIL analysis] that they generally ignore the surface transportation part of the bill or do nothing more than a cursory analysis that ignores elasticity. But I'd love to see something more comprehensive that didn't if you've got one in mind.