Ben Preis
@benjaminpreis.com
Director, National Housing Crisis Task Force. Senior Research Fellow, Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University. Landlords, urban networks, and wealth inequality. Formerly MIT DUSP and Tufts University. he/him
Hartog or Schragger, you mean? I'll admit that I read Hartog excerpts in Frug's class before reading the book on its own, so I see them as interrelated even if in conversation with each other.
March 28, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Hartog or Schragger, you mean? I'll admit that I read Hartog excerpts in Frug's class before reading the book on its own, so I see them as interrelated even if in conversation with each other.
One more thought — though if you're not into legal history, maybe not — but it pairs well with City Power by Rich Schragger and with City Making by Gerald Frug.
March 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
One more thought — though if you're not into legal history, maybe not — but it pairs well with City Power by Rich Schragger and with City Making by Gerald Frug.
But in my recollection in the book, it's a lot about "what is a city"? What sort of powers can and should it have? What sort of powers should be off limits? Though we tend to view federal/state/local govs as all "the government" there was a time when local govs were treated very differently.
March 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
But in my recollection in the book, it's a lot about "what is a city"? What sort of powers can and should it have? What sort of powers should be off limits? Though we tend to view federal/state/local govs as all "the government" there was a time when local govs were treated very differently.
I think there are also some lessons to be learned vis-a-vis local/state relations. A lot of the state preemption, state constitutional language around "general legislation" all come from cities like NYC and Philadelphia engaging in intense lobbying in the 19th century.
March 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I think there are also some lessons to be learned vis-a-vis local/state relations. A lot of the state preemption, state constitutional language around "general legislation" all come from cities like NYC and Philadelphia engaging in intense lobbying in the 19th century.
For me, the legal history shows how the distinction between "public corporations" and "private corporations" is relatively new, and how much power NYC used to have to compel private citizens towards public improvements.
March 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
For me, the legal history shows how the distinction between "public corporations" and "private corporations" is relatively new, and how much power NYC used to have to compel private citizens towards public improvements.
This is, hands down, one of my favorite academic books of all time. Revelatory for me in so many ways.
March 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
This is, hands down, one of my favorite academic books of all time. Revelatory for me in so many ways.
I'm excited for it! I just want it... Every weekend. All year.
March 13, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I'm excited for it! I just want it... Every weekend. All year.
Feels like Terner Labs Housing Supply Simulator is trying to be the thing that can do that, though I don't think they've expanded east yet.
February 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Feels like Terner Labs Housing Supply Simulator is trying to be the thing that can do that, though I don't think they've expanded east yet.
That's a... fair point and my bad.
January 29, 2025 at 6:58 PM
That's a... fair point and my bad.
Where are you getting the "homes in poor shape" number? (I wouldn't disagree, just curious where you're pulling that number from.)
January 29, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Where are you getting the "homes in poor shape" number? (I wouldn't disagree, just curious where you're pulling that number from.)
I imagine CDBG will definitely fall under the memo. I'm less certain (but pessimistic) about HCVs and PHA operating subsidies.
January 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I imagine CDBG will definitely fall under the memo. I'm less certain (but pessimistic) about HCVs and PHA operating subsidies.
If you're referring to the list that's gone semi-viral on here, it's... A ChatGPT guess of what might be affected. bsky.app/profile/grav...
I wish Alejandra had been more clear in her first post. It's pretty clear from later posts that she used Chat GPT to create a list of programs potentially included in the OMB memo and then verified their existence.
That is *not* the same as a confirmed list of programs being paused.
That is *not* the same as a confirmed list of programs being paused.
January 28, 2025 at 6:10 PM
If you're referring to the list that's gone semi-viral on here, it's... A ChatGPT guess of what might be affected. bsky.app/profile/grav...
I *think* that Atlanta's UDC technically has all of those powers. The bond authority might be contingent on the Housing Authority. And it's conceivable that the city may not use the zoning or eminent domain powers, but I'm pretty sure AUDC has them if it wants them!
November 28, 2024 at 4:40 AM
I *think* that Atlanta's UDC technically has all of those powers. The bond authority might be contingent on the Housing Authority. And it's conceivable that the city may not use the zoning or eminent domain powers, but I'm pretty sure AUDC has them if it wants them!
As its written, I think you're right. But given that we treat "capital A affordable" housing differently than market-rate housing — and "Affordable Housing" is defined elsewhere in the bill, it just seems like a strange approach to me?
November 25, 2024 at 1:22 AM
As its written, I think you're right. But given that we treat "capital A affordable" housing differently than market-rate housing — and "Affordable Housing" is defined elsewhere in the bill, it just seems like a strange approach to me?