Articles

A new city ordinance would have evicted “The Golden Girls”

June 19, 2023 | By SAM SPIEGELMAN

Zoom in on The Golden Girls’ living room in their Miami home Dorothy rushes into the kitchen carrying a letter Dorothy: Girls, girls! You won’t believe the letter I just got! It’s from the city; they say we can’t live together under one roof anymore. Rose: Oh no! How are we going to afford a … ...

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Anchorage Daily News : Alaska should ensure its ‘blight tax’ won’t give local officials too much power

May 09, 2023 | By SAM SPIEGELMAN

Last month, Alaska’s Senate approved a bill that would, if left in its original form, allow local jurisdictions to impose “blight taxes” on properties that are — at government officials’ discretion — deemed “blighted.” Adopting the Senate’s version of the bill would be a serious mistake. Thankfully, how ...

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The Hill : Seattle pays the price for CHAZ

March 20, 2023 | By SAM SPIEGELMAN

Seattle just learned a valuable civics lesson: No matter how important the cause, government cannot deprive owners of the right to access their property without first paying for it. And if it does, it shouldn’t cover up evidence by deleting thousands of text messages. The city found this out the hard way when it paid … ...

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Orange County Register : Anaheim violates property rights to keep a women’s shelter out of the city

September 07, 2022 | By SAM SPIEGELMAN

Grandma’s House of Hope, a charitable foundation in Orange County, operates several small shelters for people struggling with homelessness, addiction, domestic violence, or mental health issues. From modest beginnings in 2004, it has grown immensely, helping thousands of struggling clients get back on their feet. The charity’s plans to ...