Monday, December 30, 2013

Economic restrictions in Minnesota


Excerpt:
Winona implemented the nation's first comprehensive rental cap ordinance in 2006.The so-called 30 percent rule was imposed to rein in "excessive on-street parking, anti-social behavior and deteriorating housing conditions" among students renting houses near the university. 
"The importance of the case is the city's ability to impose appropriate licensing standards for the betterment of the community," said George Hoff, who represented the city before the appellate court. 
Since property owners with rental units were grandfathered in, the number of houses that can be legally rented varies block to block. 
I'm glad somebody is fighting this.  Rent controls like these almost always result in economic inefficiencies, and in this case its clear that big-business (the university) is just trying to capture more economic gains by these restrictions.

I'm not optimistic that the courts will resolve this on the side for freedom, but I'm happy that these individuals are fighting for it.

1 comment:

  1. They tried rent controls in new york city a long time ago they did not work. I sort of agree with a lot of the free market ideas. They sound really good on paper. But in the real world theirs always cronyism and favoritism involved in business goverment relationships. I also believe in some sort of safety net I would like to make a point of where government does good. If you go to a public library in most libraries computers are free to use open to the public usually free of charge. Anyone that cannot afford a computer can use one in a public library whats so bad about that. Anyone thats to poor to afford a computer can go to the library and use one if need be If they have to go online to apply for a job for example. If computers were not available to use at libraries. I would venture to guess a private company woud offer the service at a hefty price tag. How on earth would that benefit the poor.

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