They don't want to address the real cost: the building codes being ridiculous. That would require reducing the amount of regulation. These codes have real cost and they don't necessarily add a lot of quality-of-life for the occupants.
Edit - it was pointed out in another thread that affordable housing has to go through the same ridiculous permitting and environmental bureaucracy as other housing. That also costs a ton, probably more than the crazy building codes.
Edit - it was pointed out in another thread that affordable housing has to go through the same ridiculous permitting and environmental bureaucracy as other housing. That also costs a ton, probably more than the crazy building codes.