Public Policy and the Workforce Housing Crisis, Part 2, with Kyle Wingfield, Georgia Public Policy Foundation (North Fulton Voices, Episode 7)
This episode of North Fulton Voices is part two of an interview with Kyle Wingfield of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. Led by Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond of the North Fulton Improvement Network, the discussion focuses on the challenges and impact of government regulations on housing costs, Governor Kemp’s rural housing initiative, the need for community decisions conducive to growth, and innovative housing solutions. The episode explores the interconnected issues of zoning, infrastructure, and economic development and highlights the need for local governments to make progressive changes to accommodate housing demands. Wingfield emphasizes the significance of understanding and addressing the urgent housing shortfall in Georgia and encourages community involvement in local planning.
North Fulton Voices is presented by the North Fulton Improvement Network. The show series is proudly sponsored by John Ray Co. and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Kyle Wingfield, President and CEO, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Kyle Wingfield is a native of Dalton and graduate of the University of Georgia. He joined the Foundation as president and CEO in April 2018 after spending nine years as an opinion columnist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has also worked for the Wall Street Journal, based in Brussels, Belgium, from 2004 to 2009, and for the Associated Press, based in Atlanta and Montgomery, Ala., from 2001 to 2004.
At the AJC, Kyle wrote often about state politics and policy, focusing especially on education and school choice, transportation, health care, and state and local taxation. He is a frequent guest on GPB’s “Political Rewind” show and was a finalist for the Reason Foundation’s Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2013. Kyle’s weekly column continues to appear in 10 newspapers around the state.
Kyle received the UGA Grady College’s John E. Drewry Young Alumnus Award in 2006, was named to the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2012 and is a member of UGA’s Board of Visitors. He is a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2018 and, as an Eagle Scout, remains an active volunteer in Scouting.
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
The Georgia Public Policy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan research institute with a mission to improve the lives of Georgians through public policies that enhance economic opportunity and freedom.
The Foundation believes that sound public policy is grounded in facts, an understanding of economic principles, and core values of the free enterprise system—economic freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, individual initiative, respect for private property, and the rule of law.
Since 1991, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation has conducted rigorous research and analysis of state public policy issues, striving to educate citizens, policymakers, and the media. The Foundation remains state-focused, independent, non-partisan, and market-oriented in its approach.
Each year, the Foundation hosts over a dozen events across Georgia, providing opportunities for members to discuss pressing issues with leaders in politics, education, media, and business. Past speakers include Presidents of the United States, U.S. Speakers of the House, Supreme Court Justices, U.S. senators, representatives, presidential candidates, ambassadors, state officials, governors, members of the national media, and local business leaders.
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Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Recap of Part One
01:15 Governor Kemp’s Rural Housing Initiative
05:09 Challenges in Housing Development
11:57 Economic Development and Housing Affordability
23:13 Innovative Housing Solutions
30:24 Call to Action and Conclusion
North Fulton Improvement Network
The North Fulton Improvement Network (NFIN) is a think tank made up of community leaders from a variety of sectors, focused on missing middle housing and the livability challenges confronting North Fulton. We come from the six cities making up the northern half of Fulton County, Georgia — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs — and are working to address the widespread yet little-known financial vulnerability across the region. With stakeholders from sectors including business, nonprofit, faith, government, and citizens, we center our work on five areas of impact, seek to educate the public about these issues, build a network of individuals and organizations with innovative private and public solutions, and connect resources to those in need.
The leadership team of NFIN is Jack Murphy, Nancy Diamond, and Kathy Swahn.
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Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack is currently the national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.
Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife, Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Nancy Diamond
Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.
Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.
In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.
A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service and later as a mortgage loan originator.
Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to 8-year-old Owen.
