Cato Podcast Nowhere to Live: The Hidden Story of America's Housing Crisis
Dec 19, 2024
Jim Burling, the author of "Nowhere to Live: The Hidden Story of America's Housing Crisis," dives into the intricate history of government control over housing in the U.S. He discusses how restrictive regulations shape land use and erode personal freedoms, often manifesting in absurd rules like prohibiting backyard chickens. Burling also tackles the impact of discriminatory zoning laws on minority communities, the urgent need for reforms in California’s housing crisis, and the ongoing tensions between state and local governments in addressing housing shortages.
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Ideal Housing Regulation
- Government intervention in housing should be limited to preventing direct harm to neighbors.
- Current land use decisions are often capricious and overly restrictive.
Backyard Chickens
- Caleb Brown's town prohibits backyard chickens unless there's a large distance between the coop and property lines.
- This prevents neighborly conversations and accommodations.
Racial Zoning Origins
- In 1910, Baltimore enacted a racially discriminatory zoning ordinance, criminalizing Black people moving into white neighborhoods.
- This ordinance, rooted in racial segregation, marked the origin of zoning in America.