Friday Roundup 6-4-21

The Texas General Land Office recently announced that it will be seizing private property along the Gulf Coast. Tropical storms in 2020 moved the tide lines along the coast, and according to the Texas open beach statutes, the state owns land from the average low tide line to the vegetation line. The result is that a number of homes are now on “public property.” The Pacific Legal Foundation has filed suit against the state. Sadly, this land grab is occurring in a state where public officials routinely proclaim their support for property rights.

The Austin city council recently passed a law that increases “density fees” in an effort to fund more affordable housing. The law allows developers to exceed the height and density limits imposed by the city’s zoning code if they include affordable housing in their project or pay a fee. One council member explained that she supports the increased fees because “the city was leaving affordable housing dollars on the table.” The council member implies that the developer’s money really belongs to the city, and this law merely helps the city recover what it rightfully owns. But this is just a rationalization for extortion. Practically speaking, increasing the fees that housing producers must pay will not decrease the cost of housing–it will ultimately increase housing costs and make housing less affordable.

With a flood of evictions likely to happen when eviction moratoriums are eventually lifted, some housing advocates are arguing that past due rent should be cancelled. Some tenants are more than a year behind in their rent. One editorial states that “the expectation that a year and a half of rent can be paid this July is not just unrealistic, but offensive.” One proposal being put forth would compensate landlords for the past due rent if they agree to a five-year freeze on rent. Which means, landlords can limit their income by agreeing to the rent freeze, or they can simply be robbed. And this, housing advocates claim, is an issue of “housing justice.” It’s offensive to expect renters to honor their contractual agreements, but it’s not offensive to extort landlords.