Letter to the Editor SPOTLIGHT: Support Yes to Homes
This LTE was originally published in The Sun This Week on April 17, 2025
To the editor:
I grew up in Rosemount and have worked there for over a decade, so I’ve seen how the southeast suburbs have changed. In my lifetime, Rosemount has done a great job building more homes for people at all income levels, and it’s made the community stronger. But across Minnesota, we haven’t kept up with demand.
That’s why I support the Yes to Homes coalition and their push for smart, practical reforms at the Minnesota Legislature to make homes more affordable and available. Their bills have bipartisan support and would cut unnecessary regulations, lower costs, and give cities more tools to allow a variety of housing options. Yes to Homes includes a broad coalition of organizations — housing advocates, business groups, home builders, labor unions, and local leaders — who all recognize that we need to take action to ensure more Minnesotans can find a home they can afford.
Some local politicians oppose these bills, saying they take away local control. With respect to them, if local solutions were working we wouldn’t have a shortage of more than 100,000 homes, which is driving up costs for everyone. Too many cities have made it difficult or costly to build homes that people can afford, and now families, workers, and seniors are struggling. These bills strike a balance, giving communities flexibility while ensuring we build enough homes for the future.
The shortage of homes isn’t just a Minneapolis or St. Paul problem. State demographic projections show that the counties with a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas — like Dakota, Washington, and Scott — are expected to see the most growth in the coming decades. That means we need to plan ahead to ensure our communities can adapt. If we don’t allow for enough housing options, we’ll only see prices rise and more families pushed out of the places they want to call home.
I encourage readers to contact their legislators and urge them to support the Yes to Homes bills this session. More homes mean stronger communities — let’s make it happen.
Connor Carroll
Minneapolis
