The opposite of NIMBY: ‘Yes in God’s Backyard’ push for affordable housing clears Legislature, and it started in St. Pete

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and Rep. Lindsay Cross, along with other local leaders and the city’s lobbyist, The Southern Group, worked exhaustively this Legislative Session on a measure to provide local governments a new tool to drive affordability.

At issue is a sweeping package out of the Senate (SB 1730) driving affordable housing solutions. Welch worked with Cross, who worked with Rep. Vicki Lopez to include language adopting the “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) policy.

It’s the YIGBY to some people’s NIMBY (Not in My Backyard), and it allows churches to use their property for affordable housing regardless of zoning.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics