03-04-2025
Finding balance in addressing the housing crisis without sacrificing our way of life
Hidden Valley in the McCullough Range south of Henderson and east of I-80. (Photo: Kyle Roerink)
Arguing over how to use the land in Nevada has defined the political conversation for a long time, starting with statehood, running through the Cliven Bundy saga, and up to the present moment with the debate over what role public lands should play in addressing the housing crisis. The availability of thriving natural places is a blessing that we need to manage carefully to make sure Nevada stays a great place to live and work as we also work to expand affordable housing for working families.
It's important to add some context to the current push to liquidate these places for development.
The 'Sagebrush Rebellion' kicked off in Nevada nearly half a century ago by special interests that wanted to gain control over public property for their own commercial gain. It continued on through Mr. Bundy's challenge to public ownership of land he refused to pay to use. And unfortunately, it's rearing its ugly head again in the conversation, this time under the pretext of mass disposal of public lands to create affordable housing.
Modern day sagebrush rebels have seized on the affordability crisis to create a narrow private gain from public resources. One proposal in Congress from Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a longtime opponent of public ownership of public lands, would create the broad liquidation of public lands under the deceptive guise of creating more housing. That legislation doesn't mention the word 'affordable' once, meaning that it could be sold to anyone from politically-connected billionaires to wealthy real estate developers who want to create high end housing for the super-rich.
There are frankly no details available to confirm that the latest Trump administration is much better. As they have done with so many other initiatives, the administration issued a press release before the policy, so there's no telling if the ultimate use of this land will be for Tesla server farms or places Nevadans can afford to rent or buy.
Public lands are supposed to benefit the public. Period. That's why any sales for the purposes of housing should truly create affordable options for working people.
Fortunately, there are already tools in place that accomplish this goal. Regulations currently in place at the Bureau of Land Management require such lands to be sold only when it benefits the 'national interest' – exactly what's at stake in the campaign for affordable housing. A bill recently passed with bipartisan support to make some administrative U.S. Forest Service lands available for lease for the purposes of affordable housing.
These measures are a better path for Nevada and other states with fast-growing communities across the West, and they've already been used to create more affordable housing right in our backyard.
Public lands conservation is an important tool for managing growth. They provide essential services like clean water filtration and and air purification—services that benefit everyone, not just those who live near them. Surging ahead without protecting these important resources will not benefit anyone in the long-run.
As the conversation continues around how to tackle the housing crisis, we urge decision-makers to consider policies that are not just focused on short-term solutions but that also preserve our public lands for the long term. With Lake Mead sitting at only one third of capacity we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater (if you'll pardon the expression) through a wholesale liquidation of public lands that includes no guarantees to protect the public interest.
If public lands are truly to benefit the public, then we must make sure any that are sold or leased are guaranteed to be used for affordable housing. And we must ensure that some other lands are protected for their water resources and the quality of life they create for our families.
The majority of people in Nevada and around the West want a balanced approach to public lands management, not a return to the tired old fights of the past. Our leaders have a chance to chart a new path. Let's hope they hear us.
