THE REAL BLOG

This is an excerpt from my forthcoming book, LANDLOCKED by Policy: A Lower Standard of Living, Sold as Progress. The Gospel of Growth (For Them, Not You) If you've paid attention to housing policy over the last two decades, you've heard the sermon: Growth is bad . Sprawl is wasteful . We need to live smaller, consume less, accept density. Your desire for a yard? Unsustainable. Your dream of homeownership? Outdated. Your expectation that you might afford what your parents had

The Story Begins with an Elderly Property Owner An 80-year-old man and his wife owned a lot in Whatcom County for 10+ years. He'd paid $150,000 for it in 2007, paid taxes on it faithfully, and dreamed of eventually building a home there. In July 2017, in getting prepared for the building permit, the owners filed a Critical Area Review (CAR) for the property. Part of the process is to have the area reviewed by a wetlands and critical areas planner. Matt Mahaffie, a Wetlands an

Bellingham’s Greenways Levy and watershed programs have been sold to voters as ways to preserve open space, protect water, and improve...

Discover what House Bill 1217 really means for renters, landlords, and the future of affordable housing in Washington. Get the full story—without the spin.