Vice President of Policy Chuck DeVore sits down with Director of the Center for 10th Amendment Action Karen Lugo to talk about the federal shutdown: what happened, why Texas isn't running into this problem, and what we can learn from the federal government's problems.
Property Rights
Housing Is Too Expensive. Blame Your Local Tree Ordinance.
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,...
August 27, 2026