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Comment by pj_mukh | Hacker News Reader

“it wasn't a NIMBY vs YIMBY thing -- both wanted development”

This distinction isnt the most important point here but this is very much NIMBY-ism. Blocking a development because the community has different opinions about what should be built, particularly opinions they don’t want to fund via their tax dollars is basically textbook NIMBY-ism.

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It doesn’t have to be tax dollars funded. It’s about what they “want” and don’t “want”. It’s about having an opinion, almost entirely shaped by self interest, and not caring about anything else. That’s textbook NIMBY-ism.

in this particular case you're probably right, especially for the people opposed to DG on 'local character' grounds.

but it's not like YIMBYs literally say "yes" to every development. there's also DG opposition on the basis of creating sprawl on the outskirts of town, and that's the type of opposition you'd probably hear from the strongtowns-loving YIMBY types. they are strongly opposed to the types of developments that increase sprawl because of long-term infrastructure costs, reduced walkability, etc.

The principled approach to YIMBYism is to say yes to (or rather, to not artificially stand in the way of) every development (within reason). Otherwise you're just another NIMBY with slightly different opinions about what types of things you don't want in your backyard. Generally speaking the market is pretty good about sorting out what what developments provide value on its own without interference from the loud minority of people who want to vote on everything with their voices rather than their feet.

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