Policy
California NIMBYs Are Ruining U.C. Berkeley. Stop Them Before They Kill Again.
A California Supreme Court decision freezing enrollment at the state's flagship university is focusing the public's fury on the normally obscure, but incredibly consequential, California Environmental Quality Act.
These Hair Braiders Might Kill an Idaho Licensing Law That State Officials Admit Makes No Sense
They've been practicing African-style hair braiding for a combined 60 years. Now, these three women are suing for the right to make a living using their skills.
How the War on Sprawl Caused High Housing Prices
Since the 1960s, planners have convinced many state and regional governments to limit the physical spread of urban areas.
San Francisco's Efforts to Block Duplexes Could Force It To Allow Skyscrapers Instead
Supervisors have proposed legalizing fourplexes in a way that preserves NIMBYs’ ability to stop new housing. That could trigger the state’s obscure “builder’s remedy.”
L.A. Considers Honoring Civil Rights-Era Housing Activist by Making It Harder To Build Housing
Preservationists hope to make the one-time home of Loren Miller a historic landmark. That it would make it nearly impossible to redevelop the $1.4 million two-bedroom home.
Berkeley NIMBYs Are Taking Advantage of California's Flawed Environmental Regulations
Liberal Berkeley officials might be coming around to the view held by conservative business leaders, who have long argued that California's Environmental Quality Act needs an overhaul.
Cities Force Businesses to Oversupply Parking Spaces. A Lawsuit Says That's Unconstitutional.
Azael Sepulveda is suing the city of Pasadena, Texas over its requirement that his autobody shop add 23 parking spaces he insists he doesn't need and can't afford.
Missouri Lawmakers Propose Ban on Eviction Bans
A series of bills introduced in the state Legislature would prohibit city councils and county courts from adopting their own eviction moratoriums.
Audit: L.A. Spending as Much as $837,000 per Unit of Housing for Homeless
Despite apportioning over $1 billion for homeless housing, cost overruns and sluggish pacing threaten to jeopardize the city project.
By Forcing U.C. Berkeley To Cut Enrollment, Have California's NIMBYs Finally Gone Too Far?
Lawmakers are proposing to strip neighborhood activists of the legal tools they've used to freeze the university's student population.
Texas Town Shuts Down Her Home Day Care After Nearby Golfers Complain the Kids Were Making Too Much Noise
Bianca King argues in a new lawsuit that Lakeway, Texas, zoning officials illegally deprived her of her right to earn a living by denying her a permit for her home day care business.
An Austin Zoning Technicality Made His Landscaping Business Illegal Overnight
Brandon Krause has spent $30,000 trying to legalize a business that the city said for years was all up to code.
Dave Chappelle Is a NIMBY
The comedian doesn’t want a new subdivision behind his house. Fortunately, he can’t stop it.
The Destruction of Detroit's Black Bottom
How the zeal for government project housing killed a prosperous black community in Detroit.
California City Says It Can't Allow Duplexes Because It's Already Overrun by Mountain Lions
"Every house that's built is one more acre taken away from (mountain lions') habitat. Where are they going to go?" asks Woodside Mayor Dick Brown.
New York Restricts Free Legal Advice. Now It Faces a First Amendment Lawsuit
A pastor and a nonprofit challenge occupational licensing rules.
Lawsuit: Crackdown on Church Soup Kitchens Violates the First Amendment
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church says that a Brookings, Oregon, law limiting its "benevolent meal service" to two days a week unconstitutionally restricts its religious mission to feed the hungry.
It's Time for New York City To Scrap Its Cap on Street-Food Permits
Despite shifting enforcement away from cops, NYC is still ticketing the dickens out of New York's street-food sellers.
Congress' Latest Attempt To Rein In Big Tech Will Hurt Consumers
Those who demand a revival of antitrust regulation to "promote competition" may not realize that they're inciting a revival of cronyism to suppress competition.
The Tennessee Supreme Court Could Decide the Fate of Nashville's Home Recording Studios
The city's restrictions threaten one of the world's most vibrant music scenes.
What Homeschoolers Knew Before Everyone Else
Long before the pandemic, millions of students were completing their education at home. I was one of them.
Biden Blames Government's Economic Failures on Big Business
Plus: A free speech win for Florida professors, why Dutch museums are becoming hair salons, and more...
Leave Goat Yoga Alone!
"We can't even do the things we want to on our own property that aren't even hurting anyone."
If You Want To Fight Monopolies, Fight Occupational Licensing
Legislators on a crusade against monopolies should tackle occupational licensing boards before they target Big Tech.
Remy: You Need to Calm Down (Taylor Swift Parody)
Remy can’t shake off his distaste for San Francisco NIMBYs
Anti-Tech Antitrust Bill Draws Criticism From All Sides
Plus: CBD could prevent COVID-19, gun owner privacy is at risk in California, and more...
Bipartisan 'Innovation and Choice Online Act' Would Harm Innovation and Choice
In the name of fostering innovation and choice, the bill would accomplish neither.
AOC Is a Fake YIMBY
The New York congresswoman has endorsed much-needed zoning reform, but also raised typical NIMBY complaints about projects in her own backyard.
"The Law Has Already Sawed That Claim in Half"
The latest from Paul Alan Levy (Public Citizen), pushing back against threats of trademark litigation over parody.
Zoning Officials Stop Church From Opening 40-Bed Shelter in Sub-Zero Temperatures
Gloversville's Free Methodist Church has 40 beds ready and waiting at its downtown shelter. City officials say the zoning code doesn't allow people to sleep in them.
Michael Shellenberger: How Progressives Ruined American Cities
The San Fransicko author on fighting homelessness and mental illnesses without shredding civil liberties.
The New York Times Posts Pro-Rent-Control Cringe
The traditional case for rent control isn't made any more convincing by a Democratic Socialists of America dance number.
Lawsuit From Former Students Alleges Financial Aid Price Fixing at Elite Universities
Federal subsidies for higher education lead to market distortions that affect financially needy students.
Facebook Faces Federal Monopoly Lawsuit Again
Plus: Warren versus grocery stores, Cruz versus the FBI, DOJ's new domestic terror unit, why so many people are quitting their jobs, and more...
Will New York Copy California's Most Successful Housing Reform?
The Golden State's legalization of accessory dwelling units has produced a glut of new housing. New York area policymakers are trying to replicate the success.
The Eviction "Tsunami" that Wasn't
Defenders of the CDC eviction moratorium predicted a "tsunami" of evictions would happen if the policy were rescinded. That hasn't happened.
Will Bitcoin Be Done In By Terrible Zoning Laws?
Local ordinances threaten upstart crypto-mining operations.
A Drive-Thru Window Saved His Business, but Now He's Being Forced To Shut It Down
Zoning officials concede Robert Balitierrez's drive-thru window isn't causing any problems. But they say it's a code violation and has to close anyway.
The Trojan Doctrine: Trademarks and the Law of the Horse
I was just reminded of this short article of mine (published at 8 Tex. Rev. L. & Pol. 259 (2003)), and I thought I’d repost it here.
Biden's Antitrust Enforcement Won't Fix Inflation
Politicians point to corporate concentration they created to divert us from inflation they caused.
California Distillers Get a New Year's Eve Reprieve From Ban on Shipping Booze Direct to Customers
Distillers have been granted emergency regulatory relief—for now.
In 2022, Pay Attention to Right-Wing Authoritarianism
For decades, libertarians have focused on illiberalism coming from the political left. But authoritarianism has taken root among many conservatives across the world.
2021 Was a Great Year for Zoning Reform
Jurisdictions around the world are trying to address high housing costs by eliminating regulations on new housing construction.
Who's Voting with their Feet for Texas and Why
Recent articles in the Texas Monthy and the New York Times provide some useful insight on why Texas has been gaining migrants at such a high rate.
Low-Income Condo Residents Say D.C.'s Demand That They Pay for Restoring Historic Balconies Will Force Them Out of Their Homes
The $1.5 million that it would cost to fully replace balconies at the historic Kenesaw apartment building could end up tripling the condo fees of some low-income residents.
