Dem voters say housing is top issue in mayoral race
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Rising home costs and rents have people nationwide talking about housing policies more than ever before, and Pittsburgh is joining the chorus.
Why it matters: The direction of the city's housing policies could be determined by the outcome of the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary between incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey and challenger Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor.
The big picture: Lew Irwin, a political science professor at Duquesne University, said housing issues are resonating with voters because they capture many different voting groups:
- Low-income voters and progressives worried about people getting priced out of neighborhoods
- Middle-class voters and young professionals who can't afford to buy new homes
- Homeowners concerned about the increased property taxes
- Voters who are concerned about visible homelessness
Driving the news: Housing is the top issue among Democratic voters in Pittsburgh, according to a poll from Upswing, a Democratic-aligned firm that supports progressive causes.
- 45% of voters surveyed think affordable housing, homelessness and zoning laws are the most important issues for the mayor and City Council to tackle, followed by public safety/reducing crime (12%) and economic development, jobs and costs (12%).
- 401 Democratic voters were polled from Nov. 20-26. The margin of error is +/- 4.9% at the 95% confidence interval.
What they're saying: "I think the major thing is it touches everyone, whether you are a renter [or] a homeowner or whether you are trying to become a homeowner," said Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group policy director Chris Rosselot.
State of play: Rosselot said Gainey and O'Connor share many of the same housing priorities — like building more affordable housing and a desire to adjust city zoning rules — but they differ on one issue: inclusionary zoning.
- Gainey wants to expand inclusionary zoning citywide, requiring developments of 20 units or more to set aside 10% of units for residents making about $17 an hour working full time.
- O'Connor supports inclusionary zoning where it currently exists in Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Polish Hill and parts of Oakland but doesn't approve of a citywide mandate and has advocated to increase both market-rate and affordable housing production.
Yes, but: It's unclear which direction voters want to take.
- Canvassers from advocacy groups allied with the mayor say housing is voters' top issue, and they respond well to rhetoric about developers and Airbnb rentals pushing people out of the city, said Alex Wallach Hanson of Pittsburgh United.
- One of Pittsburgh's YIMBY groups said its membership rates have skyrocketed over the years as new members are opposed to Gainey's inclusionary zoning stance, believing zoning code reform without an inclusionary mandate would be more effective, said David Vatz of Pro-Housing Pittsburgh.
Context: O'Connor is leading the mayoral contest by 12 percentage points, according to an internal poll from February acquired by Axios.
What's next: At least two mayoral forums focused on housing are coming up this month.
- Pro-Housing Pittsburgh and Pitt Dems are hosting a forum on April 17 at Pitt.
- Pittsburgh United is holding an event April 28 at the Kingsley Association in Larimer.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Pittsburgh United (not Pennsylvania United) is holding an event April 28.