Don’t buy into the GR Chamber of Commerce housing plan, come to the Tenant Assembly to build collective power instead

Recently, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum to address the issue of the housing shortage. 

It’s no surprise that the GR Chamber of commerce only invited developers, business leaders and local politicians to such an event, since their goal is to build more houses in order to attract more talent to the area.

According to the GR Chamber’s website, the purpose of the forum was as follows:

The event focused on challenges and solutions regarding construction costs, regulatory barriers, and zoning reforms for workforce housing. Speakers emphasized collaboration, financial support, and smart zoning changes. The audience was encouraged to engage with planning commissions, stay informed on policy changes, and streamline processes to address housing affordability.

Even more instructive was the solutions they were offering, which I would identify as false solutions or solutions that will primarily benefit developers and other entities that see housing through a profit-making lens. Where you see comments in italics, this is my response to their false solutions. 

• Stabilization in Construction Costs: Despite initial pandemic-related increases, there’s now a stabilization and even softening in some areas, particularly in wood products. This stability boosts builder confidence. This only benefits the developers, not those who seek to purchase or rent housing. 
• Collaboration for Budget-friendly Designs: Emphasizing collaboration between builders, designers, and buyers can help align designs with budget constraints, potentially lowering costs. Again, they only seek to reduce costs for themselves, but not for the public.
• Financial Support for Workforce Housing: Successful funding strategies involving local community foundations, government grants, and tax increment financing (TIF) were highlighted as crucial for workforce housing projects. A more effective strategy here would be to pay people a living wage. Not only would a living wage be sustainable, it doesn’t provide those with economic power to pat themselves on the back for their so-called philanthropic contributions. 
• Regulatory Barriers Highlighted: Regulatory hurdles, including lengthy approval processes and infrastructure costs, were identified as significant barriers to affordable housing development. In other words make it easier for developers and investors to make money from housing.
• Zoning Reforms for Increased Housing: Efforts to overhaul zoning regulations were discussed as a means to facilitate more housing options and address community needs effectively. The zoning reforms that the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce are endorsing is primarily driven by the desire to make more profits. De-regulation is a standard tactic of the rich and powerful, plus it gives them more freedom to take advantage of people.
• Importance of Public Engagement: Encouragement for community members to engage with planning commissions and advocate for supportive policies to streamline the development process. Since the Planning Commission meets during the day, when most working class people are at work, it increases the chance that those in the professional class will show up and control the narrative during public comment.
• Need for Support for Emerging Developers: Recognition of the importance of supporting smaller developers to ensure a diverse range of housing options and address affordability issues. Anything to assist new developers, with no interest in supporting tenants.
• Emphasis on Supply and Demand Dynamics: Highlighting the importance of addressing housing supply shortages to alleviate pressure on housing costs across all income levels. Standard Capitalist mantra!
• Recognition of Inspection Process Challenges: Acknowledgment of challenges in the inspection process and the need to align housing needs with regulatory requirements effectively. More de-regulation rhetoric.
• Call for Consistency in Policies: Frustration expressed over inconsistencies in policies across different communities, emphasizing the need for standardized and supportive regulations. In other words, more standardized and supportive regulations that benefit developers and speeds up the process of profit making from housing.

There are alternatives to these false solutions. On Saturday, April 13th, from 10am to 3pm, the Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union will be hosting a Tenant Assembly at the Linc Up community space. 

The Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union has made it clear in their event description, that landlords, property management companies and cops will not be allowed to participate. This will be a safe space for tenants to gather, to learn and to build collective power to fight landlords and property management companies who seek to exploit their tenants and who are motivated by profits.

The Grand Rapids Area Tenant Union promotes housing justice and is working with the statewide The Rent is Too Damn High Coalition, which has four main goals to promote housing justice – Rent Control, Social Housing, Housing First and a Renter’s Bill of Rights. You can find more details at this link.

The Tenant Assembly is free for participants, plus food and child care are included. There will also be Spanish translation for those that want it and there will be actionable steps for people to take before they leave on April 13. 

Here is a link to the Facebook event for the Tenant Assembly, in both English and Spanish. https://www.facebook.com/events/408957648170468/?ref=newsfeed 

Here is how you can register, in both English and Spanish. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQhYKlT72qcXc6K-QmwXFnnewb3gMW0i-1erBAT32mxu3gWQ/viewform