Not In My BackYard: a person who opposes particular construction or
projects in their community. Particularly prominent in New York City.
Good NIMBYism: Jane Jacobs opposing the construction of the Lower Manhattan Expressway, which would have eviscerated the present-
day neighborhoods of SoHo, Greenwich Village, and TriBeCa; Jackie
Kennedy saving Grand Central Terminal from demolition and replacement with an office tower.
Bad NIMBYism: Fighting the development of a nearby
tall building because it might block your view; opposing a new subway line or water tunnel, which would benefit the city for years to come, because of construction noise in your neighborhood; opposing the expansion of the museum across the street because of
minor inconveniences, even though it's the primary reason that your property is so valuable. I.E.: Being selfish
Iffy:
People who fight LULUs, or Locally Unwanted Land Uses: developments or institutions that are needed, but that nobody wants near them,
like homeless shelters or power plants.
Other forms of NIMBY include the NOPE
(Not On Planet Earth), the
BANANA (Build Absolutely
Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone), and the TEDAO (Tear
Everything Down At Once).
