Randy Shaw - Generation Priced Out: Who Gets to Live in the New Urban America

This book emerged from a phone conversation I had with my longtime University of California Press editor Naomi Schneider on the day following Oaklands Ghost Ship fire. We got to talking about the tragedy of young artists living in dangerous housing due to the high cost of Bay Area rents. She asked if I were interested in writing a book about a generation priced out of big cities. This is the result.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time to be interviewed for this book. I particularly appreciate those who shared their personal stories of how they have been impacted by eviction, displacement, and/or otherwise being priced out. Thanks to the elected officials who took time to talk: Austins Gregorio Casar, Minneapoliss Lisa Bender, New York Citys Margaret Chin, and San Franciscos then-Mayor Ed Lee. Lee died suddenly on December 12, 2017. I spent years talking housing policy with him and regret that he will not get the chance to read this book.

My Tenderloin Housing Clinic colleagues Raquel Fox and Steve Collier offered insights on their cases, and Stephen Booth provided valuable feedback. THC attorney David E. Tchack provided invaluable help with translation for interviews in Austin and Los Angeles. THC paralegal Cynthia Price formatted my text into a manuscript and created the index. My longtime friend and THC co-founder and current board president Chris Tiedemann provided valuable feedback on chapters, as did former THC community organizer Rio Scharf. My wife, Lainey Feingold, reviewed more chapters than anyone and significantly improved the book.

Rick Jacobus was the first person I met with to discuss Generation Priced Out. He offered valuable insights and suggested cities to write about. Jerry Jones lined up tenants for me to talk to in Los Angeles. Heather Baker and Angela Ryan graciously shared their experiences with me about the Oakland artist housing scene. Shoshana Krieger, Victoria Jara, and Stephanie Trinh went the extra mile to get me people to interview in Austin, as did Celia Weaver for Crown Heights and Nick Licata for Seattle. Tyler Anderson connected me to the mariachis facing eviction in Los Angeless Boyle Heights. Sam Moss connected me to Pete Gallegos for my interview on San Franciscos Mission District, and Laura Loe linked me to YIMBYs in other cities. Sam Dodge put me in touch with his family in Seattle, and Erin House connected me to a spokesperson for Seattle for Everyone. AnMarie Rodgers, Tammy Hung, Denise Pinkston, Roland Li, Todd David, and my old pal Joseph Lindstrom provided helpful information. I also benefited hugely from years of bouncing housing ideas off of Mayor Lees top housing advisor and my former co-worker, Jeff Buckley.

Stories by Mike Rosenberg of the Seattle Times and too many other reporters to name were enormously helpful. The contributions of these reporters can be seen throughout the text and endnotes.

As always, this book could not have been written without the support of my wife, Lainey Feingold. She and my children, Anita and Ariel Feingold-Shaw, create the stable foundation that allows a writing life. I also thank my father-in-law, Saul Feingold, for a lifetime of encouragement of my work.