Dear Editor:
As Oakland continues to debate major housing proposals, residents deserve to understand not only the projects themselves but also the organizations advocating for them.
Many people assume groups like East Bay YIMBY and SF YIMBY are simply independent local advocacy organizations. In reality, East Bay YIMBY is affiliated with the national organization YIMBY Action, while SF YIMBY operates within a broader YIMBY network that extends well beyond the Bay Area.
That network has received financial support from some of Silicon Valley's wealthiest figures and institutions, including Dustin Moskovitz, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Ron Conway, Robert McGrew, and other major donors. These connections do not invalidate the policy positions these organizations advance, but they do provide important context for the public as debates over housing and neighborhood planning continue.
Reasonable people can disagree about how Oakland should grow. However, transparency should not be controversial. These organizations, which present themselves as local advocacy groups, have a list of financial backers whose interests extend beyond just affordable housing. Residents deserve to know who is funding those efforts and how they fit into a larger statewide and national advocacy network.
An informed public debate requires more than slogans. We must understand who is participating in the conversation and the interests behind their participation. Whatever one's views on housing policy, greater transparency only strengthens public trust.
Dollar & Sense:
https://www.dollarsandsense.org/californias-yimbys/
ZChan Zuckerberg Initiative:
https://chanzuckerberg.com/grants-ventures/grants/?
California Yimby Victory Fund:
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ca/committee/california-yimby-victory-fund-1401346-rcp/contributors?cycle=2017-to-now
Alex Gough
Alexander Gough is an intern with Rockridge Neighbors for Sensible Housing and a student at Georgetown University.
