In their apartments and homes, the Soviet citizens of Leningrad huddled in fear, wincing at every slam of the door, every step on stairs, every spoken word outside. Stalin’s Great Terror was upon them, and the relentless machine of his NKVD churned on, arresting and grinding up dissidents, disfavored minorities, and people that were just...
After years of watching home prices skyrocket out of reach for first responders, nurses, and young families, in December 2023, Austin city council voted to rewrite its zoning code. The first phase of its HOME Initiative—known as HOME-1—effectively allowed up to three homes on most lots that previously could host only one. A year later,...
Matthew Bernard wanted to build a home. He bought a small lot in Oakland, California, and began clearing several diseased and fallen trees that the local fire department had identified as hazards. The result was a $915,000 “mitigation fee” from the city of Oakland—nearly five times the value of the lot itself. Under Oakland’s tree ordinance,...