From my experience living in the Bay Area, it was definitely not just landlords lobbying against construction. Normal residents often expressed NIMBY concerns like &quot;changing neighborhood character.&quot; Many of the people I spoke to were not convinced that increased housing supply could reduce costs, and that &quot;all new housing would just be for rich people.&quot;<p>I think if more residents supported construction, the landlord lobby would have no hope, but unfortunately they have many allies.