The city council in Ithaca, New York is considering a “good cause” (often called “just cause”) eviction ordinance. The bill lists nine “good causes” for landlords to evict a tenant. One is failure to pay rent. However, if the landlord imposes an “unconscionable” rent increase, the tenant will be able to legally withhold the rent….
Residents of Chicago’s South Shore are concerned that the Obama Library will gentrify the neighborhood and lead to their displacement. They have issued a number of demands to the mayor and city council, including giving long-time residents $20,000 each to repair their homes. It’s only fitting that the residents near the library want a handout….
This week, the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, a body established by the World Health Organization, released a paper that argues that “global health has been ‘left hostage’ to Big Pharma.” Such a claim equates the actions of pharmaceutical companies with the actions of kidnappers. This is a grossly unjust accusation. A kidnapper…
A recent article on The Conversation asserts that “building more homes won’t solve the affordable housing problem for the millions of people who need it most.” While the authors acknowledge that we need more housing, they don’t believe that this is a sufficient solution. The authors present numerous facts to bolster their argument, but these…
A recent article on The Conversation asserts that “building more homes won’t solve the affordable housing problem for the millions of people who need it most.” While the authors acknowledge that we need more housing, they don’t believe that this is a sufficient solution. The authors present numerous facts to bolster their argument, but these…
A recent article on The Conversation asserts that “building more homes won’t solve the affordable housing problem for the millions of people who need it most.” While the authors acknowledge that we need more housing, they don’t believe that this is a sufficient solution. The authors present numerous facts to bolster their argument, but these…
Legislators in New York are considering a “just cause” eviction bill that opponents have labeled Lease for Life. The bill would prohibit landlords from evicting a tenant as long as the tenant pays the rent, isn’t intentionally damaging the property, and isn’t subletting or violating the lease. The bill would also subject most rental housing in…
One of the increasingly popular tactics that cities are using to address America’s housing shortage is to relax or eliminate single-family zoning (SFZ), also known as exclusionary zoning. Some of those same cities are also starting to use a different form of zoning—inclusionary zoning—to address the housing shortage. In short, this means shifting from mandatory…
When California legislators were considering two bills to allow for “upzoning” throughout the state, local government officials lobbied to defeat the bills. Though both bills passed, opponents haven’t given up. They have launched an initiative to repeal the laws and return mob rule to California. The primary argument being used by opponents of “upzoning” is…
An essay in the Houston Chronicle argues that the best way to stop displacement while revitalizing impoverished neighborhoods is through cooperative ownership of a community’s assets: All of the programs that now lace through a distressed neighborhood like Third Ward should be controlled by the low-income people who live there, and all the assets should…
Cindy Tucker runs a nonprofit in Calhoun, Georgia, called Tiny House Up. She wants to build tiny houses—about 600 square feet—to help address the city’s housing shortage. But the city won’t let her because its regulations require a minimum lot size of about 11,000 square feet and houses must be at least 1,150 square feet….
City council members in Denver recently became the latest legislative body to demonstrate that a basic knowledge of economics is not necessary to hold an elected office. The council is considering a proposal to require that all new housing developments include below market-rate units in the project. The proposal would also increase the “affordable housing…