Affordability is not just hurting people and communities across the region, it’s at the heart of many Cascadian communities’ most pressing challenges: homelessness, economic insecurity and wealth inequality, sprawl and loss of habitat, traffic congestion and climate pollution. Many local jurisdictions are making progress, but a patchwork of upgrades isn’t making a dent. Too many people are priced out and pushed further from their jobs.Â
The answer is to set state-wide standards with plenty of local flexibility.Â
This is a familiar fix for problems that cross municipal boundaries. States and provinces set reasonable, effective standards all the time to protect their residents’ health, safety, and well being. Think: auto emissions requirements and speed limits, workplace protections and family leave, or state-wide growth management standards to protect farms and forests.
A handful of affordability measures before the Washington state legislature this session have us talking about why a state-level, coordinated effort not only makes sense—but is urgently needed to protect people and places we love.Â
