In the late nineteenth century, self-taught geologist Patillo Higgins concluded that a salt dome in Beaumont contained oil. Geological experts scoffed at Higgins’ claim and publicly urged investors to avoid him. When Spindletop erupted as the world’s first “gusher” in January 1901, Higgins proved the experts wrong. In helping to launch the Texas oil industry,…
A North Carolina senator has introduced a bill that would eliminate single-family zoning throughout the state. The bill would require local governments to allow duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in all areas zoned for residential. Not surprisingly, local governments are objecting. Local government officials argue that the bill interferes with their power to dictate land use….
A growing trend in housing is building more missing middle housing. In most cities, new housing consists of single-family homes, mid-rise or high-rise apartments, and large apartment complexes. In between these “extremes” is the missing middle—duplexes, fourplexes, small apartment buildings, and cottages. Prior to the 1920s, this assortment of housing options was available in most…
When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he was rescinding the state’s face mask mandate and business occupancy limits effective on March 10, he was widely criticized. President Biden said the decision was “Neanderthal thinking.” Anthony Fauci, the top COVID-19 advisor to both Trump and Biden, called the move “really quite risky.” The chairman of…
Housing advocates frequently claim that the rent is too damn high. (From 2005 to 2015, there was even a political party in New York that focused on this single issue.) While it can be easy to empathize with that sentiment, housing advocates share much of the blame. Under the guise of “tenants’ rights” advocates propose…
In the early twentieth century, cities across the nation began enacting zoning ordinances that prohibited blacks from buying a home in a predominantly white neighborhood and vice versa. Beginning in the 1930s, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) refused to insure mortgages for black homeowners. For decades, at both the federal and local level, government essentially…
“Housing justice” activists often claim that landlords rake in the “big bucks.” Such claims usually drop the context, citing a few impressive statistics and ignoring other relevant information. As an example, a recent article on City Watch details the amount of rent collected in several California cities: In 2019, Zillow recently reported, Los Angeles renters paid…
A recent article by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) correctly noted that those who subscribe to the idea of “not in my backyard” (NIMBYs) often use zoning to stop or impede the construction of affordable housing. Unfortunately, the article accepts the basic premise of the NIMBYs. The author doesn’t question the moral validity…
One of the latest trends in the “tenants’ rights” movement is to provide free legal representation for tenants facing eviction. Washington state has passed such a law and other states are considering doing so. As with nearly everything associated with “housing justice,” these laws will ultimately create a host of new problems. As one example,…
When government moves beyond its proper purpose of protecting individual rights, the law often becomes a morass of confusion and contradiction. A law recently passed in Montgomery County, Maryland illustrates this point. The Housing Justice Act was unanimously approved by the county council in an effort to reduce homelessness in the county. The law prohibits…
Politicians are often exhorted to follow the “will of the people”—to take those actions that are supported by a majority of citizens. This is a very dangerous idea because it can justify virtually any kind of injustice. To illustrate this, consider a recent article in the Summit Daily in Colorado. The article states that “most…
Like many cities in America, St. Paul, Minnesota, is suffering from a severe shortage of affordable housing. And, as happens in many cities across the nation, some neighborhood groups in St. Paul are opposing a project that would provide homes for 144 low-income families. Opponents to the project would prefer a vacant lot rather than…