NIMBY stands for “not in my backyard”. When someone is a NIMBY, they are against some type of development in their neighborhoods. In short, people become NIMBYs because new infrastructure or construction can depreciate real estate or harm people’s health.

NIMBYism is a problem. From blocking construction of power plants to NIMBYs protesting against affordable housing, NIMBYs are making others’ lives more difficult. NIMBYs want to enjoy the convenience of facilities while making others bear the burden, so NIMBYism is irresponsible.

NIMBYism hinders development

Many critical points of infrastructure, such as power plants and base stations, are necessities. However, because these facilities might affect health and lower land prices, residents of a neighborhood where a new plant will be built often resist their construction.

One recent example is the controversy of the construction of the Jiu Wei power plant. The Jiu Wei liquified natural gas (LNG) power plant is planned for An Din district, Tainan. However, the construction of the power plant has faced fierce local resistance, with locals holding protests and lawmakers complaining to the central government.

Protestors claim that the power plant will cause noise and air pollution. However, the proposed location of Jiu Wei is in an industrial zone, which allows the construction of power plants. Moreover, while the power plant will cause some pollution, the impact is not severe; no pollutants will exceed permitted levels due to the construction.

One other possible impact of the plant’s construction, however, is that landowners or corporations will lose money. Land prices might fall, and other companies will lose a site for new factories. These reasons, however, do not justify making it harder for Taiwan to provide energy for everyone. Taiwan needs new power plants to feed its rising electricity demands, and NIMBYism hampers Taiwan’s effort to ensure its people and economy have the energy they need.

NIMBYism is classist and racist

Hampering economic development is clearly irresponsible, but even more irresponsible is protesting against social housing. Social housing can provide homes for people on smaller incomes. NIMBYs oppose their construction because real estate values in their neighborhood may fall, or just because they don’t like the poor and disabled.

One example is when McDonald’s tried to set up a temporary shelter for sick kids in Taipei; some locals opposed the plan, saying that they thought the shelter would “make land prices drop”. After the protest, others were outraged at the protestors since the protestors were selfish and unsympathetic towards sick kids. Allowing the underprivileged access to proper housing is important to making our society fair, and NIMBYs are not only dodging this social responsibility, but they are making it harder for everyone to help those who need it.

There are many examples of NIMBYism against affordable housing across the world, many of which are due to classist or even racist sentiments; some NIMBYs are just simply against other races living among them. As for Taiwan, many people are angry about the high cost of real estate. Without enough affordable housing available for those in need, people who can’t afford homes will become angry. Widespread homelessness would lead to increased crime or even riots. Ultimately, NIMBYs who thought they could benefit from boycotting affordable housing, will face the wrath of poor people and get dragged into a class conflict.

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In short, NIMBYs protest against local infrastructure development because they want the benefits of facilities like power generators, but do not want to face the possible consequences like pollution or potentially lower real estate values.

Many NIMBYists are just being selfish or irrationally resisting construction near their homes. If these people had some sense of responsibility, construction of crucial facilities can go smoothly, without anyone delaying or boycotting them.