Astral Codex Ten Podcast

Model City Monday 2/3/25

Feb 10, 2025

A major ruling by the Honduras Supreme Court has declared charter cities, including Prospera, unconstitutional, highlighting a shift in political power from conservatives to socialists. The podcast delves into the implications for existing urban developments and investor sentiments in biotech and tourism. Additionally, it explores innovative ideas for creating new cities on federal lands, such as potential sites in San Francisco and Guantanamo Bay. Local opposition to housing projects in California contrasts sharply with bold international initiatives, like Bhutan's charter city proposal.

16:48

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Quick takeaways

The Honduras Supreme Court's ruling declaring charter cities unconstitutional has forced Prospera to adjust by complying with regular laws while awaiting potential political changes.

Despite legal setbacks, Prospera continues to attract significant investments, aiming to establish itself as a biotech research and medical tourism hub amid ongoing uncertainty.

Deep dives

Prospera's Legal Battle

The Honduras Supreme Court's recent ruling has declared charter cities, including Prospera, unconstitutional, marking a significant legal setback for the city. Originally established under the Conservative Party, Prospera's status was retroactively revoked by a newly appointed Socialist court. In response, Prospera's strategy involves complying with regular Honduran laws while awaiting the outcome of an upcoming election, hoping for a return of conservative leadership that may overturn the decision. Additionally, Prospera is pursuing international arbitration for $10 billion in damages, relying on international agreements made by the previous government to support their case.

Intro

7min

Contemplating Urban Development on Federal Lands

3min

Navigating Local Opposition and International Ambitions

7min

Prospera Declared Unconstitutional

The Honduras Supreme Court has declared charter cities, including Prospera, unconstitutional.

The background: in the mid-2010s, the ruling conservative party wanted charter cities. They had already packed the Supreme Court for other reasons, so they had their captive court declare charter cities to be constitutional.

In 2022, the socialists took power from the conservatives and got the chance to fill the Supreme Court with their supporters. In September, this new Supreme Court said whoops, actually charter cities aren’t constitutional at all. They added that this decision applied retroactively, ie even existing charter cities that had been approved under the old government were, ex post facto, illegal.

Prospera’s lawyers objected, saying that the court is not allowed to make ex post facto rulings. But arguing that the Supreme Court is misinterpreting the Constitution seems like a losing battle - even if you’re right, who do you appeal to?

So the city is pursuing a two-pronged strategy. The first prong is waiting. Prospera is a collection of buildings and people. The buildings can stay standing, the people can still live there - they just have to follow regular Honduran law, rather than the investment-friendly charter they previously used. There’s another election in November, which the socialists are expected to lose. Prospera hopes the conservatives will come in, take control of the Supreme Court again, and then they’ll say whoops, messed it up again, charter cities are constitutional after all.

https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/model-city-monday-2325

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Astral Codex Ten Podcast

Model City Monday 2/3/25

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Prospera's Legal Battle

Investment Despite Uncertainty

New Developments in Global Charter Cities

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts