Pouring Gasoline on the Affordability Fire
What to know: Austin city officials recently approved a $13.4 million purchase of “50 acres of parkland” that are outside the city limits. The acquisition costs taxpayers today, spikes maintenance costs in the future, and likely takes affordable property off the market forever.
The TPPF take: City governments are making the affordability crisis worse, not better.
“When city governments use Other People’s Money to buy affordable property outside of its corporate boundaries, low- and middle-class Texans lose. They are not only forced to fund the city’s spending splurge and the long-term costs that come with it, but many are forced to move even further out from the city center. That means a longer commute, more money spent on gas and travel, and less time at home.” says TPPF’s James Quintero.
For more on affordability, click here.
Second Chances
What to know: April is Second Chance Month, which focuses on helping former inmates successfully re-enter society.
The TPPF take: Second chances can mean fewer crime victims.
“If we are serious about public safety, we cannot afford to treat second chances as an afterthought,” says TPPF’s Britt Allen. “They are one of the most practical and effective tools we have to reduce crime and protect our communities. Every successful reentry story represents more than just personal redemption. It represents an additional crime that didn’t happen, a new victim that wasn’t created, and a community that is stronger because of it.”
For more on Second Chance Month, click here.
No Driver?
What to know: Tesla’s driverless taxis are now operating in both Dallas and Houston.
The TPPF take: Just as with all other technology, self-driving vehicles are a tool that can induce positive and negative outcomes.
“As a first principle, and for the sake of innovation broadly, it is crucial that Texas continues to hold the line on the regulation-heavy instincts of states like California and Illinois,” says TPPF’s David Dunmoyer. “With responsible guardrails in place and the ingredients for an innovative hotspot, Texas will continue to lead the nation as the exemplar of responsible technology that seeks to serve humanity, and not the other way around.”
For more on self-driving cars, click here.