The point of having the state do it so you don't have production constrained by those returns, just like we don't expect a profit margin off of public education. There is a higher goal society is in need of whose benefits can't be measured in dollars, the higher taxes are fine. - ThreadSky

swoletariat.bsky.social • 91 days ago

The point of having the state do it so you don't have production constrained by those returns, just like we don't expect a profit margin off of public education. There is a higher goal society is in need of whose benefits can't be measured in dollars, the higher taxes are fine.

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rafamonsta.bsky.social•91 days ago

Have you thought about the scale of the problem though? What percentage of the housing shortage should the government fulfill? At 4.5m units, even at just $200k/unit we’re talking $900B, or nearly 3x the once in a generation highway spending of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

swoletariat.bsky.social•91 days ago

That parts harder and would require modeling to figure out population growth rates. However on the cost side of a state like California created a top to bottom system like what China has for nuclear, state bank for financing, dedicated constitutional crews, remove CEQA, you could drop that.

swoletariat.bsky.social•91 days ago

The biggest cost currently is land, but out west at least there is considerable state owned land that can be leveraged in the initial phase, while laws are drafted to find ways to acquire new land (like say a down payment assistance for older homebuyers on condition of state acquisition after death)

rafamonsta.bsky.social•90 days ago

Most of the federal owned land in the West is not near existing urban centers. Las Vegas is the only exemption. State land primarily is parks or office buildings. Only the latter would be politically feasible to redevelop.

swoletariat.bsky.social•90 days ago

Every major city in California has a UC/CSU whose land they already own, mich of which is underdeveloped. Use them as the starting post while you spin up other polices with longer time horizons.

rafamonsta.bsky.social•90 days ago

Which parts of UCLA or UC Berkeley do you think should be developed with more housing?

swoletariat.bsky.social•91 days ago

Now should the state aim for reducing costs with higher density of housing? Sure, but the ultimate goal is shaping society. Like if blue cities lose money on housing, but the subsequent increase in residents ups congressional representation and reduces car emissions, that's a benefit.

swoletariat.bsky.social•91 days ago

Take congestion pricing for example, NYC could light that money on fire and the quality of life benefits of reduced traffic accidents, pollution, and travel time would be a benefit.

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