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Should Have Seen This Coming
Prodded by students, last September legislators in Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed a law that prohibits landlords from showing properties or entering new lease agreements more than 150 days before an existing lease expires. Now the students are complaining that landlords are finding loopholes to get around the ordinance. They should have seen this coming. One…
A Bill of Wrongs: Ban the Box
Atlanta has joined a growing list of cities and states considering a “Tenant’s Bill of Rights.” Contrary to the claims of the proponents of such laws, the proposed law is more accurately a bill of wrongs. Among the provisions in Atlanta’s bill of wrongs are: A right to counsel in eviction hearings Rent “stabilization,” also…
A Collision on the Left
A political controversy between housing advocates and construction labor unions has been brewing in California. These two groups generally agree on many political principles, and their disagreement over a proposed bill might confuse some. But the fact is, the very nature of those political principles makes such disagreements inevitable. Both housing advocates and labor unions…
Friday Roundup 7-2-21
Progressives can easily find themselves facing a conflict of values. On the one hand, they support efforts to build affordable housing for low-income families. On the other hand, they don’t want that housing near their own home. It’s a classic example of NIMBYism (Not in My Back Yard). This conflict results from altruism. Altruism holds…
Intentions Matter more than Results
Progressives are particularly adept at presenting proposals with lofty goals. And those proposals almost never work out as promised. To Progressives, good intentions are more important than good results. A recent article on CNN’s website illustrates this point. The article notes that the nation has a severe shortage of housing for low-income families. This, the…
A Property Tax Freeze
The City Council of Knoxville, Tennessee is considering a property tax freeze for some apartment owners. Property owners who choose to participate in the program will be encouraged to keep rents affordable for low- and moderate-income households. Given that property taxes can be one of a landlord’s biggest expenses, this proposal could provide significant relief…