Abundance Rhetoric vs Rent‑Control Politics

Progressive elite arguments for 'abundance' (removing regulatory barriers to housing) are colliding with grassroots and municipal politics that still elect stricter rent controls. That mismatch means national or state pro‑supply messaging can fail to change local policy outcomes—and may leave cities locked into rules that discourage construction and maintenance. — If progressive parties can’t translate abundance arguments into local wins, the left risks both policy failure on housing affordability and an electoral backlash that reshapes coalition strategy.

Sources

At least five interesting things: Buy Local edition (#74)

Noah Smith 2025.12.31 90% relevant

Noah Smith explicitly ties the 'abundance' agenda (faster permitting, lower regulatory overhead, infrastructure buildout) to small‑business revival and shows empirical evidence linking higher housing supply with falling rents; this is the same policy tension—pro‑supply/abundance messaging versus popular rent‑control politics—captured in the existing idea.

California Passes on Abundance

Jon Miltimore 2025.12.02 100% relevant

Los Angeles City Council 12–2 vote to limit rent increases to 1–4% (cited actor/event) and the St. Paul permit collapse example illustrate this dynamic.