There's a book called Abundance written by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein which argues that in US cities, particularly those run by Democrats, both the private and public sectors are burdened by onerous regulations that don't allow businesses or goverment to properly deliver on fundamental goods like housing and infrastructure. In many cases these regulations are hindering what should be progressive goals like expanding our green energy output, making housing more affordable, and investing in public goods line transit. The solution,according to them, is to slash this kind of red tape so that, for example, developers can more easily get their developments approved and local government can more efficiently build things like transit.
The argument has been embraced by some on the left, usually center-left, and rejected by others, usually progressives and socialists, though they're are exceptions like Mamdani who has hinted at incorporating some of these ideas into his admin. I'm generally in agreement with the core argument, that we need to make it easier for both the private and public sector to build things like housing, public transit, and renewable energy.
