In his viewpoint article in the July 5th TGI Forum Randy Weir proclaims with a certain amount of justification that Kauai’s housing problems arise from governmental interference. This is a relatively safe assertion given his claim that our County government
In his viewpoint article in the July 5th TGI Forum Randy Weir proclaims with a certain amount of justification that Kauai’s housing problems arise from governmental interference. This is a relatively safe assertion given his claim that our County government consists of economically illiterate politicians and bureaucrats. Doubtless he could elaborate on this theme.
He then chooses to offer a tutorial that economic laws of supply and demand would rectify Kaua‘i’s housing conditions if governmental barriers were ended.
His faith in economic laws of supply and demand is touching, but misplaced.
It is true that in general commodity prices in a market will respond to changes in supply or demand. However, land is not a commodity and its supply is not flexible. It is highly unlikely that in the short run the amount of land available for housing can be significantly altered, and in consequence the continuing flow of demand fueled largely by nonresident buying exerts an irresistible upward force of market prices.
Mr. Weir moves on to attack the use of zoning. This is in keeping with his view that property ownership rights should be absolute and elsewhere he has cited his opinion that Houston, Texas is an idyllic illustration of a site without meaningful zoning. Apparently he is of the view that uses such as noxious chemical facilities, junk yards, dumps, livestock and poultry yards and piggeries should be allowed adjacent to our residences which our comprehensive zoning ordinance prohibits. While some zoning determinations are dubious, the mentioned restrictions are valid and beneficial exercises of governmental powers.
The housing problems of our County are immense and they are not served by pontifications about economic laws of supply and demand and railing against reasonable limitations on property use.
Instead, we should pursue the examination that Barbara Elmore and others have suggested and consider the steps that might be taken to address and remedy our housing shortages and to provide adequate affordable housing.
<1>Walter Lewis is a resident of Princeville
