This California Man Researched the City Code Before Building a 'Dream' Treehouse. The City Is Screwing Him Anyway.
Not only did Brian Esola make sure he wasn't violating the city code, he also checked with his neighbors beforehand.
Policy
Seattle's Amazon Tax Was Going to Raise $20 Million For Affordable Housing. Now the City is Getting Sued for $40 Million for Stopping a Housing Project.
The city's attempt to save the famed Showbox music venue has predictably resulted in a lawsuit.
The Slants Know What it Takes to Win a Supreme Court Case
The Slants speak with Reason a year after winning the right to use their own name.
Orrin Hatch Wants the FTC to Investigate Google
Hatch's letter to FTC Commissioner Joseph Simons comes amid President Trump's attacks on the search giant.
NYC Housing Authority Embroiled in Boozy, Salacious Orgy Scandal
Apparently, nothing could get in the way of city employees' desire to party.
Some Reluctant Skepticism About the New Law Clerk Hiring Plan
An important post by Professor Aaron Nielson asks whether the new law clerk hiring plan is broken, and worse than no plan at all.
New Jersey's Attacks on Unlicensed Movers Hurt Entrepreneurs and Consumers
Once again, government would best serve the public by just getting out of the way.
San Francisco Man Prevented from Turning His 'Historic Laundromat' Into Apartment Building Is Suing the City for $17 Million
Robert Tillman's attempts to build housing have been frustrated by an increasingly ridiculous set of objections.
Could Violating Federal Housing Laws Finally Bring Facebook Down?
The feds hound Facebook for ads that allegedly violate the Fair Housing Act.
Seattle's Socialist City Council Member Thinks Housing Is a Human Right—Unless it Comes at the Expense of Music Venues
Khsama Sawant is doing everything in her power to kill a 442-unit apartment project because it would replace an iconic concert hall.
Matt Welch Interviews Zach Weissmueller, Libertarian State Rep. Brandon Phinney & More on Sirius XM!
From the alt-right to Twitter deactivation, bands drinking booze to presidents crowing for cronyism, we'll hash it out on Sirius XM Insight channel 121 today from 9-12 ET
Ben Carson Calls Out Zoning Regulations for Driving Up Housing Costs
The HUD Secretary wants to revise Obama-era housing regulations he says do too little to address the real drivers of housing costs.
As Prisoners, They Can Help Fight California's Huge Wildfires. As Free People, They're Banned From Being Firefighters
California's licensing laws make it almost impossible for individuals with criminal records to become professional firefighters.
A New Jersey Family Wanted Local Kids to Read More. Then a Neighbor Called the Cops.
The family set up a mini-library-and got a visit from the police.
Cory Booker Proposes Bill to Curb Exclusionary Zoning
He deserves credit for being one of the very few national politicians to focus on this enormous problem. If enacted, his proposal would be a step in the right direction, though it is likely to have only a modest impact.
District Court Strikes Down Licenses for Tour Guides in Charleston
Prospective tour guides won't have to cough up nearly $100 and study for weeks to talk about their city anymore.
San Francisco Activists Demanded 100 Percent Affordable Housing From a Developer. Now They're Getting None.
Saddled with unaffordable requirements, Axis kills plans for a 117-unit apartment building.
NIMBYs to Developer: Your Proposed Building Blocks Too Much Sun, Reminds Us of Native American Genocide
Hysterical NIMBYism reaches new heights in Berkeley.
N.Y. Fair Vendors Have Nearby 7-Year-Old's Porch Lemonade Stand Shut Down
When life hands you lemons, call the health department to complain.
Jay Austin, Tiny House Innovator, Killed in Attack Claimed by ISIS
Austin was part of a group murdered in Tajikistan.
Houses Passes Private Property Rights Protection Act - But Celebration is Premature
The eminent domain reform bill is the same legislation that has passed the House three previous times since 2005. Each time, it died in the Senate without ever coming to a vote.
Trump's Border Wall Is Destroying Land, Livelihoods, and Butterflies in the Rio Grande
"You may learn about eminent domain, but until you are in the crosshairs of the government, you don't understand how it really works."
Watch Little Pink House, Drama About Eminent Domain Abuse, in Safety of Your Own Home!
Award-winning movie about Susette Kelo's attempt to save house from a local government gone klepto is out on streaming and video-on-demand services.
More and More of What We Do Depends on Government Permission
The granting or withholding of that approval is a powerful lever over our lives.
New Kamala Harris Bill Asks Federal Taxpayers to Subsidize California's High Housing Costs
Expensive tax credits for renters are not the solution to America's housing woes.
E.U. Hits Google With $5 Billion Ginned-Up Protectionist Fines
5 of the 6 largest European antitrust decisions have been slapped on U.S. tech companies
Florida Couple Gets to Keep Home's 'Starry' Paint Job; Mayor Must Publicly Apologize for $10,000 Fine
In a settlement reached Tuesday night, two residents of Mount Dora, Florida, will receive $15,000 and permission to keep their Van Gogh-inspired paint job.
Local NIMBYs Hold Up Medal of Honor Museum Over Height Concerns
Designed by famed architect Moshe Safdie, a planned Medal of Honor Museum is 75 feet too tall for local zoning codes.
How Elected Libertarians Are Making the World More Free
From occupational licensing reform to legalizing beer-drinking on stage, elected Libertarians are doing some pretty interesting things
Abolish Mandatory License for Shampooing Hair? California Lawmakers Will Consider It.
Unfortunately, California's Sunset Review process rarely leads to the sunset of anything.
Labor Department Launches New Licensing Tool for Military Spouses
It's no substitute for abolishing unnecessary licenses, but the effort to ease the burden on military families should call attention to this issue.
Another Justice Like Gorsuch, Please
Contrary to what his critics say, this "narrow-minded elitist" stands up for the little guy.
Trump's Plan To Privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Leaves Taxpayers on the Hook for Future Bailouts
In his sweeping reform proposal, President Trump suggests a privatization scheme for the GSEs behind the 2008 recession, but it doesn't go nearly far enough.
800 Lactation Consultants Could Lose Jobs Under New Georgia Licensing Law
Lactation consultants are the newest victims of burdensome occupational licensing laws in Georgia. Mary Jackson and the Institute for Justice are fighting back.
Trump and Scott Walker's Wisconsin Foxconn Deal Is Cronyism at Its Worst
The dealmaker in chief abuses his power to cripple companies that anger him and reward those that please him-and his fellow Republicans enable it.
San Francisco Delays Building 4 Years in the Making Because New Apartments Will Cast Shadows?!
The owner of a "historic" laundromat has been thwarted at every turn in his bid to build apartments in a city in the midst of a housing crisis.
Do You Have a Right To Repair Your Phone? The Fight Between Big Tech and Consumers
Meet Eric Lundgren, who got 15 months in prison for selling pirated Microsoft software that the tech giant gives away for free.
Will EPA Head Scott Pruitt Be Shown the Door?
A parade of nearly comical ethics scandals is overwhelming his record as a deregulator.
Pennsylvania's Governor Calls for Abolishing 13 Occupational Licenses
Does Pennsylvania need to license barbers? How about "campsite membership salespersons"? Gov. Tom Wolf says no.
A New Report Exaggerates the Problem of Housing Affordability To Push Expensive Federal Interventions
The 2018 "Out of Reach" report ignores the many options available to workers about how they live, work, and spend
Trump, Ryan, and Walker Want to Seize Wisconsin Homes to Build a Foxconn Plant
State and local officials are doling out $4.5 billion and 1,000 acres to lure the Taiwanese manufacturing giant.
Marco Rubio Admits 'I Was Wrong' About Occupational Licensing. Now, He's Pushing Reforms.
Rubio and Elizabeth Warren are teaming up to stop states from restricting occupational licenses for people with unpaid student loan debt.
