By Kevin V. Nguyen and Gabe Greschler : sfstandard – excerpt

The Democratic nominee has made “ending America’s housing shortage” a key pillar of her campaign. That pledge is light on details but heavy on vibes.

Amid a worsening housing and homelessness crisis, the defining political fight in San Francisco for more than a decade has been between pro-development YIMBYs and slow-growth NIMBYs.

Now, with a Bay Area politician as a major party nominee, Kamala Harris may become the first YIMBY president of the United States.

Tucked inside her newly unveiled economic agenda last week was a proclamation that housing activists never thought they’d hear from a presidential candidate.

“There’s a serious housing shortage,” Harris said to an enthusiastic audience of supporters in Raleigh, N.C. “In many places, it is too difficult to build, and it’s driving prices up.”

She followed the statement with a pledge that wouldn’t feel out of place at a YIMBY rally.

“We will take down barriers and cut down red tape, including at the state and local levels,” she said. “And by the end of my first term, we will end America’s housing shortage by building 3 million new homes and rentals that are affordable for the middle class.” …(more)