“Not in My Back Yard”: Democratic rhetorics in spatial gatekeeping

Abstract

ABSTRACT When officials in a community try to site locally unwanted facilities, they often encounter a rhetorical double bind: neighbors call for action, but also respond by saying, “ … but not here.” These “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY) arguments often claim the democratic process and its ideals are being violated. Examining a controversy over housing for homeless people in Boulder, Colorado, I offer an expanded understanding of the forms of NIMBY argument. Additionally, I demonstrate that, while community members may have legitimate claims regarding democratic process, their arguments undermine democratic values by blocking access to material and discursive spaces.