Free Cities
America’s future cities: A case for decentralization
America’s future cities: A case for decentralization As the virulence of the COVID pandemic subsided in 2020, a new phrase, “urban doom loop,” became a common way to describe the failure of America’s downtowns to recover economically. The concept is simple enough. As occupancy in downtown buildings declines, businesses that …
Read latest from Free Cities Center
Misusing ‘externality’ theories to bolster government power
In a recent article, economist Timothy D. Terrell pointed out problems in modern economic theory that deal with what economists call externalities, or spillover costs, noting that in a world in which value is subjective, attempts to find objective ways to allay costs are elusive and generally end in failure. …
California’s jitney experience can guide its future
California’s jitney experience can guide its future If other nations can support a modern, private bus industry, so can the Golden State Scott Beyer | August 18, 2023 California mass transit is mostly provided by government transit authorities. The regime has been costly to taxpayers and unsuccessful, if declining ridership …
To protect and reform: How to fix urban police departments
After the death of George Floyd during a police encounter in Minneapolis three years ago on Memorial Day weekend, it sparked protests both salutary and sanguinary. Peaceful protests sometimes turned violent. And a national soul-searching began, including investigations into police procedures – such as the choke hold that killed Floyd …
Watch latest Free Cities video
Watch: Tour a public-private partnership that is transforming Sacramento
Todd Leon, Development Director of the Capital Area Development Authority, takes Steven Greenhut of PRI’s Free Cities Center on a tour of Sacramento’s R Street Corridor. Learn how a public-private partnership is transforming what was once an industrial hotbed for the railroads into a model mixed-use neighborhood.
Truly free market would turn empty offices in new housing
Truly free market would turn empty offices in new housing By Kerry Jackson | August 10, 2023 What if the housing market were truly a free market, liberated of zoning laws, rent control, “tenant-protection” carve-outs, energy mandates, tax policy, unnecessary permitting and will-never-be-approved environmental reviews? One economist reckons that “skyscrapers …
Read latest from Free Cities Center
Why do politicians hate planned communities?
Planned communities simply are centrally planned, residential communities that are built from scratch and filled with amenities designed specifically for residents. They are usually built by private developers – and tend to be less costly to build than multi-family properties within the urban footprint. Many feature significant amounts of infrastructure …
Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away
Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away By Sal Rodriguez | August 3, 2023 Over the last few years, city officials in Los Angeles and San Francisco have flirted with the idea of establishing public banks to ostensibly support or facilitate the cause of the day. San Francisco …
Read latest on California's failing transit systems
Transit systems battle crime to restore fallen ridership
Although I usually drive, sometimes I take the bus in Orange County, the last time a year ago. As you might expect in car-centric Southern California, almost all the other riders were poor people, some no doubt recent immigrants of unknown official status. I know many recent immigrants, and the …
Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities
Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities By Edward Ring | July 27, 2023 It never rains in California But girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours —by Albert Hammond, 1972 “It Never Rains in Southern California“ Anyone who has experienced traffic on the Santa Monica …
America’s future cities: A case for decentralization
America’s future cities: A case for decentralization As the virulence of the COVID pandemic subsided in 2020, a new phrase, “urban doom loop,” became a common way to describe the failure of America’s downtowns to recover economically. The concept is simple enough. As occupancy in downtown buildings declines, businesses that …
Read latest from Free Cities Center
Misusing ‘externality’ theories to bolster government power
In a recent article, economist Timothy D. Terrell pointed out problems in modern economic theory that deal with what economists call externalities, or spillover costs, noting that in a world in which value is subjective, attempts to find objective ways to allay costs are elusive and generally end in failure. …
California’s jitney experience can guide its future
California’s jitney experience can guide its future If other nations can support a modern, private bus industry, so can the Golden State Scott Beyer | August 18, 2023 California mass transit is mostly provided by government transit authorities. The regime has been costly to taxpayers and unsuccessful, if declining ridership …
To protect and reform: How to fix urban police departments
After the death of George Floyd during a police encounter in Minneapolis three years ago on Memorial Day weekend, it sparked protests both salutary and sanguinary. Peaceful protests sometimes turned violent. And a national soul-searching began, including investigations into police procedures – such as the choke hold that killed Floyd …
Watch latest Free Cities video
Watch: Tour a public-private partnership that is transforming Sacramento
Todd Leon, Development Director of the Capital Area Development Authority, takes Steven Greenhut of PRI’s Free Cities Center on a tour of Sacramento’s R Street Corridor. Learn how a public-private partnership is transforming what was once an industrial hotbed for the railroads into a model mixed-use neighborhood.
Truly free market would turn empty offices in new housing
Truly free market would turn empty offices in new housing By Kerry Jackson | August 10, 2023 What if the housing market were truly a free market, liberated of zoning laws, rent control, “tenant-protection” carve-outs, energy mandates, tax policy, unnecessary permitting and will-never-be-approved environmental reviews? One economist reckons that “skyscrapers …
Read latest from Free Cities Center
Why do politicians hate planned communities?
Planned communities simply are centrally planned, residential communities that are built from scratch and filled with amenities designed specifically for residents. They are usually built by private developers – and tend to be less costly to build than multi-family properties within the urban footprint. Many feature significant amounts of infrastructure …
Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away
Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away By Sal Rodriguez | August 3, 2023 Over the last few years, city officials in Los Angeles and San Francisco have flirted with the idea of establishing public banks to ostensibly support or facilitate the cause of the day. San Francisco …
Read latest on California's failing transit systems
Transit systems battle crime to restore fallen ridership
Although I usually drive, sometimes I take the bus in Orange County, the last time a year ago. As you might expect in car-centric Southern California, almost all the other riders were poor people, some no doubt recent immigrants of unknown official status. I know many recent immigrants, and the …
Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities
Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities By Edward Ring | July 27, 2023 It never rains in California But girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours —by Albert Hammond, 1972 “It Never Rains in Southern California“ Anyone who has experienced traffic on the Santa Monica …
