Housing

A water drop and ripples

Are there any homeless caves in Rhode Island?

By Justin Katz | February 7, 2024 |

Yeah, officials will complain about the danger of uninspected residences, but as somebody who grew up in an era when fiction was filled with secret communities in society’s hidden corners, I have to admit these homeless caves are cool:* I wonder if there’s anything comparable around here. * I should specify that the coolness of…

A water drop and ripples

We’re in desperate need of basic economic lessons around here.

By Justin Katz | February 5, 2024 |

Economically illiterate activists are laying the groundwork to make housing harder to find, and make life worse, in Rhode Island: This is how economics works.  The rent goes up to reflect the real value of the property.  Other property owners see the value of their space and reconsider their usage. For example, instead of renovating…

A dense conformist neighborhood on the water

A word on housing.

By Justin Katz | January 24, 2024 |

Amidst all the other happenings in Rhode Islanders’ lives, it’s worth a moment to consider that we’ve reached the point that the General Assembly is delving into such levels of micromanagement as housing setbacks and in-law apartments in local zoning.  That’s a sign that we’re doing things wrong. In the mania of the day (or…

Sketch of Disaster Dan Sitcom

Politics This Week: RI’s Undeclared Disaster

By Justin Katz | January 15, 2024 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz go over the slow-rolling perpetual disaster of RI politics and government.

A water drop and ripples

Any analysis that forgets housing is a store of value is worse than useless.

By Justin Katz | December 11, 2023 |

Progressive state representative Enrique Sanchez is entirely wrong, here: Housing is a store of value.  People will put up their own money for their own homes and for investment properties.  If they’re not doing so — especially as the demonstrable value climbs and climbs — then government is doing something wrong to prevent it.  This…

A homeless man sleeping on a park bench at night

Ahlquist’s Armrest Revelations

By Justin Katz | September 27, 2023 |

One hesitates to make too much of an activist article like Steve Ahlquist’s August 9 report and transcription of a conversation with a Woonsocket city worker.  However, two observations are worth making, considering Progressives’ ascendance in Rhode Island and beyond. The first relates to the underlying issue.  The city has installed armrests in the middle…

A girl making a mess with paint

Politics This Week: Strategy All Over the Place

By Justin Katz | August 14, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz kick off the week with political talk.

Homeless man "seeking human kindness"

To reduce homelessness, Rhode Island should reduce the minimum wage.

By Justin Katz | July 25, 2023 |

Homelessness may be the most striking issue on the table in the degree to which proposed solutions conspicuously ignore causes.  The attitude of the advocates and journalists seems to be that homelessness falls like an original cause on a metro area and can only be addressed through direct government reduction.  That’s a careless approach; an…

Providence and Newport featured on a cartoon map of Rhode Island.

Politics This Week: Pols Pandering to “Rhode Island Values”

By Justin Katz | July 5, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the latest political news of the state.

Norman Rockwell Freedom of Speech

Politics This Week: Failures of Representation

By Justin Katz | June 7, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz review ways in which the RI elite fail to represent the people.