The Stench of Lobbyists

Here's a story that has the stench of "lobbyist" all over it.

In an effort to address housing challenges in the state, Republicans unveiled a package of bills that would create more affordable housing for workers and reduce regulations....

 ...To provide developers more flexibility to construct homes in neighborhoods residents may oppose, another bill addresses "not in my back yard" or "NIMBY."

Sen. Quinn, a co-sponsor of the proposal and realtor in northwestern Wisconsin, said it would increase certainty and predictability in the development-approval process by giving local governments more power to resist neighbors who challenge new housing development.

"Unfortunately, some of the processes we have in place, if you get a group of neighbors who complain at the last planning commission meeting, they could put things on hold," Quinn said. "They could move the goal post for developers and inadvertently drive up the costs of construction."...

IOW, realtors (!!!) and developers will determine what your neighborhood is going to look like, not you.  After all, you're just another lumpen taxpayer.

 ...If builders fix up older buildings or construct new ones, they could apply for a zero-interest loan under another bill.

For a project to be eligible under the "Main Street Rehabilitation" bill:

• It must be located on the second or third floor of an existing two-or-three-story building with a commercial use on the main floor
• Constructed at least 40 years prior to the loan application and has not had any significant improvements over the last 30 years
• The building is vacant or underutilized...

That one absolutely reeks.  People who are paying 3, 5, of 7% mortgages will subsidize real-estate developers who re-purpose older buildings, with a LOT of conditions in the bill that are .....suspicious.

Again:  if you can't smell "lobbyist", you're under a rock.