The Texas House recently heard testimony on the regulation of short-term rentals (STRs) by local governments. The City of Austin has targeted STRs that are not occupied by the owner. According to the Austin Monitor: Daniel Armstrong, a code enforcement officer with the city, told the House Urban Affairs Committee that the bill would kneecap…
Civil asset forfeiture allows law enforcement agencies to seize property that they believe was used in illegal activity. But they do not have to charge the property owner with a crime to keep or use the seized property. Instead, the owner is deemed guilty until he proves his innocence. In the vast majority of asset…
“Avarice,” states a recent editorial in the Houston Chronicle, “is just a politer way of describing greed, which seems to be the fuel behind President Trump’s idea to bypass Congress to give yet another tax break to wealthy investors like himself.” And taxation is just a politer way of describing legalized theft. The editorial goes…
A Houston woman is suing her employer, United Airlines, for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The airline, the flight attendant claims, is not accommodating her need to wear clogs because of foot problems. Interestingly, the airline allows employees to wear the shoes of their choice while on a plane, but in an…
During the 2017 Texas legislative session, protecting property rights from violations by local governments was a recurring subject and the source of great controversy. Legislators introduced bills to rescind local ordinances pertaining to plastic bag bans, tree removal, short-term rentals, and more. Gov. Gregg Abbott called a special session largely for the explicit purpose of…