Not In My Backyard?
It is natural for cities to grow and evolve. However, residents are not always happy with these changes. Oftentimes, when a city plans to build something new, it encounters opposition from people who want their neighborhoods to stay the same. This hostile attitude toward change near one’s home is known as NIMBYism.The term NIMBY is an acronym that stands for “Not In My Backyard.” It describes opposition from residents to undesirable developments in their neighborhood. This opposition usually involves organizing protests, gathering signatures, and even running for office, all to prevent an unwanted project from being completed.Among the different examples for NIMBYism, one of the most common is housing. As affordable housing has become harder to find in many cities, governments are under pressure to find solutions.However, proposals to build affordable housing are typically rejected due to resistance from NIMBY homeowners. These residents commonly express concerns about crime, safety, and decreasing quality of life, which they associate with lower-income families.Another common example of NIMBYism is opposition to necessary but unpleasant infrastructure. Every city needs landfills and waste treatment plants. However, no one wants to live right next to one of these facilities.The same goes for airports, train stations, prisons, and even sports stadiums. In each of these cases, residents believe that the sites will bring unwelcome problems to their neighborhood.Proponents of NIMBYism say their stance ensures that their quality of life does not deteriorate. On the other hand, the attitude can also impede necessary development. It can allow a small minority of often wealthier residents to overrule the desires of a less influential majority.In recent years, YIMBY has emerged as a reaction to NIMBY. The acronym stands for “Yes In My Backyard,” and the concept promotes development that will benefit disadvantaged people or communities.
Questions:1. What is NIMBYism?2. What NIMBY describe?3. Why is housing one of the most common examples of NIMBYism?4. What do proponents say about NIMBYism?5. What do you feel about this attitude? What can make you have a NIMBY attitude? Why?
