NAAPAC Update and Grassroots Update: July 2023
Check out NAAPAC’s progress so far in 2023 and see what’s new with NAA Advocacy!
Grassroots Update: Yes In My Backyard Goes for Advocacy
The bipartisan Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act (S. 1688/H.R. 3507) has been reintroduced in Congress. Bill cosponsors are needed to convince key Members of Congress that the legislation enjoys broad bipartisan support sufficient to advance the YIMBY Act to the next step in the legislative process.
YIMBY cosponsors is the perfect opportunity for NAA advocates to engage their policymakers from their own backyards. NAA’s grassroots advocacy team has rebooted its At Home Program to empower and support NAA advocates’ efforts to engage their Members of Congress while they are back home this summer and fall. Register and NAA will follow up with more information and resources.
Questions? Contact Seth Turner, NAA’s Senior Manager of Grassroots Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement
Free Webinar Will Highlight Research-Proven Tactics for Influencing Lawmakers
The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a non-partisan organization that researches effective communication with Congress, is hosting a webinar about proven-effective tactics for building relationships with policymakers. This webinar is a benefit exclusively for CMF’s “partners,” including NAA, and is FREE for you to attend.
Participants will learn who Members of Congress and state legislators listen to; and what congressional staffers believe are the most effective communications tactics for influencing undecided Members of Congress.
Title: Building Relationships with Congressional & State Legislative Staff
When: July 18, 2023 at 3 p.m. (EDT); however, the webinar will be recorded for you to watch up to one week later if you cannot participate at that time.
How: Go to Webinar Registration - Zoom to register. (Be sure to indicate that the National Apartment Association invited you to attend)
NAA Sponsors Adaptive Reuse Forum
On June 4, the National Apartment Association (NAA) partnered with mayors across the country to sponsor a forum focused on adaptive reuse at the 91st annual meeting of the US Conference of Mayors (USCM). The panel moderated by Wade Kapszukiewicz, Mayor of Toledo and Chair of the USCM, Community Development and Housing Standing Committee centered on the struggle of communities across the country to provide high-quality housing at all price points.
Panelists included Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford, Conn., Corey Woods, Mayor of Tempe, Ariz., Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis, Minn. and Emily Grandstaff-Rice, President the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The mayors discussed the national need to build 266,000 apartments each year to keep up with demand. Ms. Grandstaff-Rice shared a presentation to assist municipal officials in identifying commercial properties in their communities that are good candidates for adaptive reuse.
In addition, the Mayor of Albuquerque, N.Mex., Tim Keller shared information on the city’s Housing Forward initiative and discussed the combination of adaptive reuse of commercial space and motels, accessory dwelling units and new construction as part of the solution to meeting the need for 30 thousand additional units. A new package of zoning ordinances to support this initiative was voted on favorably by the city council on June 21, 2023.
The panel discussed the challenges associated with NIMBYism that can prevent a favorable vote on zoning changes and increased production or spur litigation after changes are passed.
The panel was well attended, and informal discussions lasted after the session ended. The discussions will inform the work of the USCM Community Development and Housing Standing Committee. This is part of NAA’s ongoing engagement of external groups of elected officials and municipal CEOs across the country. The partnerships serve as the basis to build relationships and policy collaboration between local policymakers and NAA affiliates and the industry at large.
NAAPAC Update: Heating Up for Summer
As of July 3, NAAPAC has raised over $656,000 and is well positioned to meet its 2023 goal of $1.2 million.
Join the NAAPAC’s Summer Sweepstakes Fun: NAAPAC recently unveiled its Summer Sweepstakes, which is a choice between a magnificent spa retreat in Scottsdale, Ariz.; an incredible tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a multi-day luxury hotel stay and a visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum; or a $2,500 gift card. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased through Sept. 30! You do not want to miss out!
Supplier Update: Suppliers continue to play a huge part in our fundraising success, as they have contributed over $283,000 to NAAPAC so far, well on their way to the National Suppliers Council goal of $415,000. Thank you, suppliers!
Affiliate Update: NAA affiliate partners continue to make steady progress in meeting their Fund Our Future goal for 2023. Presently, 29 affiliates have met their fundraising goal for the year. To track your own affiliate’s progress, click here. We are grateful to all of our affiliates who are working hard to help strengthen the impact of NAAPAC.
Platinum Donors: A special thank you to our 58 Platinum Donors below who have gone above and beyond in their support of NAAPAC:
- Bill Armfield
- Dan Berger
- Edward Biskind
- Jeff Blevins
- Chris Burns
- Carolyn Busker
- Chris Carter
- Diane Caton
- Sarit Catz
- Brian Chase
- Leah Christian
- Cindy Clare
- Steve Colella
- David Couch
- Terry Danner
- Kirk Downey
- Chris Dunbar
- Chris Evans
- Jacob Garza
- Mike Gorman
- Billy Griffin
- Bobby Griffith
- Mike Holmes
- Mark Hurley
- Demetrio Jimenez
- Rick Jones
- Chris Karsaz
- Alan King
- Curt Knabe
- David Legow
- Steve Lightner
- Pam Lovell
- Pinson Neal
- Judy Olive
- Eric Overhage
- Jay Parmelee, CPM
- Susan Passmore
- Bob Pinnegar
- Norm Praet
- Ronda Puryear
- Steve Rappin
- Laura Reese-Williams
- Jackie Rhone
- Warren Rose
- Marc Ross
- Andrew Schor
- Bonnie Smetzer
- Matthew Smith
- Rick Snyder
- Susan Stroud
- Charles Stroud
- Suan Tinsley
- David Vasquez
- Dean Weidner
- Todd Whitlow
- Wayne Williams
- Amy Wise
- Chandler Wonderly
- Joel Worcester
Questions: Contact Rob Johnson, NAA’s Senior Manager of NAAPAC Fundraising and Development.