In the twelve years that I have owned rental property, I have evicted eight tenants. All eight—100 percent—of those I evicted were black. This fact might lead one to conclude that I am a racist. But reaching a conclusion on the basis of out of context statistics can easily lead one to incorrect conclusions. Yet,…
New York City is considering a law that will require “racial equity studies”—akin to environmental impact statements—for zoning changes. The law would require “a study that would analyze the area’s demographic conditions, quality of life, housing security and displacement risk index.” One supporter of the law acknowledges that rezoning has provided great benefits, but only…
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…
In her epic novel, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand dramatizes a world in which producers go on strike. Rand once commented that part of her motivation for writing the novel was so that it wouldn’t come true. Sadly, it is coming true and often in ways that few will notice. In the novel, government enacted a…
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…
Throughout the pandemic, government officials have made policy decisions founded on short-term thinking. They have made decisions to solve an immediate problem while failing to consider the full context. It was inevitable that eventually the chickens would come home to roost. For example, when government forced businesses to close, tens of millions lost their jobs…
Like many cities across the nation, Olympia, Washington is facing a shortage of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families. The city council is currently trying to figure out how much money it can extort from developers before it kills the golden goose. Of course, the city council isn’t wording it quite that way. In…
In mid-June, New Jersey joined the ranks of jurisdictions making it illegal for landlords to discriminate against convicted criminals. Because of the large percentage of convicted criminals who are “people of color,” the law is being hailed as a reform of the criminal justice system and a step toward racial equity. The law prohibits landlords…
Cities across the country are relaxing their zoning regulations, and particularly single-family zoning, to address the affordable housing crisis. Some cities, such as Minneapolis, have completely done away with single-family zoning. And the Biden Administration has suggested that local governments will be required to relax their zoning regulations if they want to receive certain federal…
Progressives in Washington State are applauding recently passed laws giving tenants expanded “rights.” The laws include greater restrictions on the ability of landlords to evict tenants, the right to counsel during evictions, and a requirement that landlords offer a “reasonable” payment plan for tenants who are behind on their rent. Despite the rhetoric of Progressives,…
Legislators across the country are scrambling to develop policies that will lead to more affordable housing. (Affordable housing means that a family is paying 30 percent or less of its income on housing.) One of the most popular schemes is to provide tax credits for developers who agree to set aside a percentage of their…