The following Letter to the Editor was published in Newsday on January 24th, 2023. You can read the original version here.
To the Editor –
Planners have long argued that Long Island’s lack of housing affordability and inventory are the region’s greatest policy failures.
But in addressing this, the Editorial Board is correct in warning state policymakers from engaging in an overreaching top-down approach that ignores the many nuances of Long Island’s communities.
To successfully cultivate more housing development, the state must engage with those individual areas that are most appropriate for growth – measured not only by the local political willingness to build, but those with the infrastructure to accommodate further development.
While our region isn’t known for its flexibility, we have evolved before. Age-restricted housing for seniors that was shunned decades ago is now more commonplace, a feat accomplished without the state heavily intervening to supersede local land use policy.
As housing markets continue to be out of reach for the next generation, we will see localities become more adaptive and accommodating as a matter of not only financial and political necessity – but the region’s survival.
QUICK HITS: @MTA @LIRR Arrival at Grand Central - Momentous, Expensive, and Long Overdue https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2023/01/25/quick-hits-lirrs-arrival-at-grand-central-momentous-expensive-and-long-overdue/ After decades of planning and billions of dollars, the 1st train will leave at 10:45 AM and speed towards Grand Central, ushering in a momentous new era for New York.
In celebration of the @MTA @LIRR FINALLY coming to @GrandCentralNYC, check out TFI’s exclusive look at the project from back in 2018 when the cavernous station was under construction. This is a long overdue and historic moment for NY/LI https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2018/07/31/into-the-depths-an-exclusive-look-at-east-side-access/
ALL-NEW from TFI - @LasVegasSands Rolls the Dice on #LongIsland: https://www.thefoggiestidea.org/2023/01/13/is-las-vegas-sands-casino-plan-a-good-bet-for-long-islands-future/ "Have we gone so low in our suburban slump that our only aspirations for the Nassau Hub are for it to become the next Atlantic City?" #GetaFoggyIdea