Two reading highlights and one viewing highlight.
The 2 Reasons California’s YIMBY Reforms Are Failing
by Christian Britschgi, Reason, January 30, 2024.
Excerpt:
So, what’s going on? Why haven’t other YIMBY housing laws kicked off a boom in new duplexes and transit-adjacent apartments as they have with ADUs?
I’d boil it down to two basic problems. Firstly, many YIMBY reforms have focused on handing down better bureaucratic mandates to local governments who have no interest in reforming their own housing laws. Secondly, the Legislature lards down what could be productive housing laws with endless interest group carveouts and handouts.
This is so typical government. Start out with a good idea and then marble it with all kinds of legislators’ preferences for how other people should be living their lives.
ACLU Sues Ronald McDonald House for Refusing To House People Convicted of Assault
by Christian Britschgi, Reason, January 31, 2024.
Excerpt:
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), and the Legal Action Center (LAC) are suing Ronald McDonald House Charities and its Hudson Valley chapter, for not providing discounted housing to people with felony assault convictions, a policy they say is a violation of the Fair Housing Act and New York human rights law.
“Government agencies have long warned housing providers that unjustified and unnecessary blanket bans from housing based on criminal history disproportionately harm Black and Latine people and are unlawful,” said Amanda Meyer, an ACLU attorney in a press release.
Ancient Civilizations Expert CANCELLED over “Forbidden Discovery” | Elizabeth Weiss • 182
Julian Dorey, February 1, 2024.
This interview is almost 3 hours long. I’m about halfway through, playing it at 1.5 speed. The way the San Jose State University bureaucracy and many in the anthropology profession went after her for doing her work is just disgusting. HT to my Hoover colleague John Cochrane.
Elizabeth tells her story well, and with some genuine humor: that, in itself, is impressive, given how they put her through the ringer.
The pic above is of Elizabeth in the interview.
