In a recent Los Angeles Times opinion piece, UCLA associate professor of public policy Zachary Steinert-Threlkeld pushes back against the assumption that Angelenos broadly oppose new housing developments in their neighborhoods — the so-called “NIMBY” stance (short for “not in my backyard”). His commentary comes in response to Mayor Karen Bass’s decision to scale back her signature fast-track housing policy, Executive Directive 1 (ED1).

Steinert-Threlkeld points to data from UCLA’s annual Quality of Life survey that suggests the backlash may not reflect broader public sentiment. The survey found that 86% of respondents supported building apartments in at least one type of setting (such as commercial corridors or existing apartment zones) while 64% supported apartments even on streets dominated by single-family homes. A majority, 59%, said they were comfortable with apartments in their own neighborhood. This support spans nearly every City Council district and spread across the city.

“These findings overturn the outdated perception that Los Angeles is a city of entrenched NIMBYism,” Steinert-Threlkeld says. “As a professor of public policy, I have to listen to data, and the data say Angelenos do want these developments.”

He argues that leaders should act on this broad consensus by restoring and expanding affordable housing policies. “More broadly, city leaders should develop the habit of evaluating policy options using representative survey data rather than responding to the vocal minority,” he adds.