Griffin Young, American University -- The political ramifications of unaffordable housing have already bubbled up in big-city politics, with cities like San Francisco making national headlines for blocking new development while simultaneously dealing with an affordability crisis. Although NIMBY (not in my backyard) views transcend the political spectrum, many of its proponents share a common trait: ownership. While the housing crisis locks many young Americans out of home ownership, rising home prices reward homeowners with a massive increase in home equity. In this way, soaring housing prices create winners and losers.
