As distinguished economist Michael Walden points out, “in government work there is no automatic motivation to be efficient.” Maybe that’s why recent Councils have never wanted to account for the five thousand affordable housing units lost each year, compared to the highly praised new units that account for only one tenth of those lost. Here is what recent Council’s fuzzy affordable housing math looks like:

It is encouraging that incoming Mayor Janet Cowell has pledged to replace fuzzy affordable housing math with comprehensive performance metrics:

“We should be tracking the number of units destroyed, number of units acquired/life extended by efforts of the city, number of new units by affordability, level of affordability, type of housing units, [and] location of housing unit[s].”  [link]

In calling on Raleigh to use focus, attention and “every tool in the toolbox,” Cowell has done an about face from the previous pro-growth mayor, by connecting those who benefit most from rapid growth with efforts to remedy Raleigh’s affordable housing crisis:
“Raleigh is experiencing a housing crisis. Everyone in Raleigh is feeling the effects of our city’s rapid growth. The cost of housing has skyrocketed and is preventing teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and others who serve our community from being able to live here.”  [link]
Day two of Council’s annual retreat kicks off on January 25th with a discussion of affordable housing. It will be interesting to see if Mayor Cowell can convince her fellow Councilors to move beyond the kinds of fuzzy math that has concealed the real size and causes of Raleigh’s affordable housing crisis. Effective solutions will be fact-based, data driven and will reform current growth rules that promote the loss of five thousand affordable units each year.
Livable Raleigh Editorial Team

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