Legislature punts again on housing fixes, slashing cities’ endless red tape
Graph of the housing market
Courtney Gilstrap LeVinus, executive director of the Arizona Multifamily Association, writes in this op-ed that the group has been working hard to unite stakeholders on common-sense bipartisan solutions to the state’s housing crisis only to face disappointment. Three bills—SB 1161, SB 1163 and HB 2536—failed, providing zero options for bringing down housing costs and staving off homelessness. Bipartisan support for change exists, exemplified by HB 2547, sponsored by Republican Speaker of the House Ben Toma and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. It requires cities and towns to consider a housing impact statement—including the cost impact on building or renting homes—before adopting or amending any ordinance related to zoning. Now that Steve Kaiser, the sponsor of the Senate bills and a champion of housing reform, has resigned, it remains to be seen who will step up to fight red tape and cities’ and NIMBYs’ opposition to new apartments.
