Mean Streets
Intentionally or not, the NYPD perpetuates a system in which the most vulnerable street users are blamed for their own deaths.
Main Street in the Twenty-First Century
Supporting Main Street is a penny-foolish but pound-wise way of structuring local economies.
What’s a Market to Do? Looking at Fifth Avenue
When large national and international businesses are willing to pay such high rents that they lose money on particular locations, local businesses are unable to compete. What should we do about that?
What White Flight Tells Us About School Choice
When families of means remove themselves from a community, they cause big negative externalities. We subsidized these actions in the twentieth century – let’s not make the same mistake again.
Housing for the Homeless
What neighborhoods should be responsible for housing the homeless? Should the neighborhoods that these folks are from be more responsible that others for bearing the weight of shelters?
The Folly of Home Ownership as an Investment
Home ownership can have value – but it doesn’t make sense as an investment strategy. In most areas of life we’re willing to pay more for value, but when it comes to housing, we think we can make a good financial decision and get what we want at the same time.
Historic Preservation: Good or Bad For Communities?
Historic preservation privileges buildings over people. While it might sometimes make sense to protect a historic building at the expense of the local community, no one is served when we pretend the trade-off doesn’t exist.