As a longtime renter and now homeowner, I believe we must encourage all types of housing to reduce costs, along with policies that support local decision making. The affordability crunch is about more than housing; the cost of groceries and other necessities are also hurting families. 

• Policies that tell communities exactly how to hit statewide or regional goals should be a last resort, and need a solid reason for why a statewide approach is the best way to go.

• We need to continue to ensure that communities have a say in how policies to increase housing stock are implemented; each community faces its own unique set of challenges and opportunities.

• Statewide rules that end up costing cities and counties to implement should be funded by the state, not local taxpayers.