The Exactions Problem

November 21, 2007 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

The Wall Street Journal has an important, in-depth look at the "exactions" that are increasing housing costs and standing in the way of the American Dream. It focuses on many of the cases that the Pacific Legal Foundation has litigated, including the case of the Banzons, who were told by city bureaucrats that they had to pay $142,715 for a permit allowing them to build a home, and the Griswold family, who were told that if they wanted a building permit, they had to sign an agreement giving up their constitutionally protected right to vote on property assessments. (The Griswold case is now on appeal before the Ninth Circuit.)