Not in Anybody’s Backyard

Oakland, CA—Once a champion of growth, California has become the face of anti-development obstruction. The housing crisis in the once-Golden State has been exacerbated by regulatory abuse by NIMBYs (“not in my backyard”) utilizing specific tactics to prevent housing development.

Because of their persistent interference with much-needed housing projects, the Independent Institute is awarding the California Golden Fleece® Award to the many NIMBY groups and individuals that have contributed to the state’s housing crisis. The list of recipients includes environmental organizations, such as the Sierra Club, and anti-density neighborhood groups, such as Livable California.

California is in a severe housing crisis and has been unable to produce the requisite number of units needed to match market demand. NIMBYs block housing and other building projects through both the political and legal systems, exploiting the courts to challenge construction. Activists then prevent, delay, and reduce the scope of planned development, creating an artificial scarcity of homes.

“To solve its housing crisis, California needs a property-rights revolution. Embracing free-market principles and private property rights will increase the housing supply and reduce prices. Housing entrepreneurs will solve the problem if they are allowed to,” said Christopher Calton, author of the report.

Read the full report here.

The California Golden® Fleece Awards are a series of in-depth reports from the Independent Institute that expose waste, fraud, and abuse in California on the state or local level.

Author Biography: Christopher Calton, Ph.D. is the Research Fellow in Housing and Homelessness at the Independent Institute. He is a contributor to the upcoming book Beyond Homeless: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes, Transformative Solutions. (Independent Institute, October 2025)

For more information, contact Robert Ade, [email protected], or (510) 635-3690.

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The Independent Institute is a non-profit, public policy, research and educational organization that promotes the power of independent thinking to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity.
For more information, visit Independent.org.