My New Favourite Acronym

Naturally, there was a “disagreement” during a recent family game of Scrabble. One of the players, who shall remain nameless, irrefutably argued my 12 point word, which happened to land on a double word square, skyrocketing me to first place. The conversation went something like this.

“A what? What’s that?”

“A NIMBY,” I responded, and elaborated on what word? each letter on the five tiles represented in the acronym.?

“You can’t use acronyms.”

“Yes, I can.”

“Well that one doesn’t exist.”

“Yes, it does,” I responded, “especially in my world. Everyone knows NIMBY.’

“Well no one at this table knows it, so you can’t use it.”

It very quickly ended up where most of our escalating Scrabble feuds go, which is directly to the question, “Are you challenging me?” But we didn’t reach the do-or-die point of having to answer that, because what ensued was a much longer, and healthy debate - on the word, the meaning, and the movement.?

Turns out, by the way, that it depends on which particular Scrabble dictionary you’re using, to see if NIMBY is a yay or nay. While its eligibility for the board remains in limbo (at least for my family), its worthiness as a word in itself, is undeniable.?

NIMBY entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 1989. For those still confused (some of my own family members among you - which is a little surprising, given the global conversation we’re having re the housing crisis) it stands for Not In My Back Yard.??

It’s used to describe a person who is generally supportive of new developments and projects in a neighbourhood… as long as it’s not their own. In the familiar attempt of making good excuses for bad behaviour, many believe that it? stems from fear. We want to protect what’s “ours'' - and homes tend to be at the top of the list.? So anything that might get in the way of retaining its value, must be destroyed.?

Though the term has persisted for decades, its connotation has not. We’re seeing a shift. What was once almost an esteemed description of a person, community, city, or state (Hello California) is now taking a turn and on a very different route. And it’s one that most people are traveling at full throttle, with a healthy dose of road rage on the side. It’s understandable, warranted, and to be perfectly honest, expected. After all, the many people that have suffered the consequences of NIMBYism are tired of feeling excluded, resentful of inheriting fallout from the generation that preceded them, and bitter for the opportunities they’ve been robbed of. Most importantly, a home.

And they’re not shy to point the finger at those they hold responsible. At least in part. A NIMBY population with a scarcity mindset that is worsening the US vs. THEM rivalry, when it comes to shelter. In fact, they’re even layering on blame for some enormous ticket items, such as? inequity. Data is? leaning in the direction of correlating strict zoning with racial exclusion and economic segregation. ? They’re also being accused of being hypocrites. How can governments and leaders that praise inclusive and welcoming cities and communities, have politics and policies that prevent them from being so?

They’re an enthusiastic bunch, that is galvanizing change.? Guess what their favourite word is? YIMBY. Yes In My Back Yard. (There’s even a conference named after them).

The changes might not be in your backyard, or in my own, but they do exist. They’re visible through single family zoning restrictions, the permissibility of new housing such as ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units), Laneway housing, In-law suites, and even parking requirement reductions. We are perhaps, very gradually dismantling the “old” ways that exacerbated the availability and affordability challenges of housing that many, if not most, experienced.

The best change is never merely for the sake of change, as we know. It’s change for the sake of good. Change for the sake of better. That’s what this group of YIMBY’s are advocating for.? Some say there’s a generational divide taking place - and that we’re seeing the birth of a new form of pro- housing activists. They include young hard working professionals that are demanding answers to the not-so-unreasonable questions about where they fit, and whether or not there is “room” for them,? in their own cities.?

They’re also earning a reputation as not being a very discerning group in terms of advocating for what is being built, as long as there’s enough for everyone. The criteria that the? SF Bay Area Renters’ Federation uses to gauge support for what? is proposed is two-fold. Is it tall? And is it soon??

Ms. Trauss, who leads the group, does not discriminate against product type and encourages others to do the same. Even if it’s something you typically hate, she recommends “getting over yourself.” Because what’s more important than your opinion, is the collective need, which is for more of EVERY type of housing -? subsidized affordable, affordable, market-rate, or high-end, rental or condo. Ideally, a healthy balance.

I’m hopeful. And who knows? At this rate, I may even be able to play my new Scrabble word this weekend. And it’s worth even more points, as it should be. My guess however,? is that I’ll have a bit of a wait until it makes its way into the Scrabble dictionary. Hopefully it’s a far shorter wait, until it makes its way into people’s hearts, minds… and most importantly, legislation.