Understanding NYC’s “The City of Yes” Housing Opportunity

Introduction: The Affordable Housing Crisis New York City is the most populous city in the United States by a significant margin. With such a substantial population and continuous growth, the expansion of affordable housing in the city has been a critical policy area for the past few decades. In 2013, NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation […]

New York City’s Congestion Pricing Program: Key Insights and Tradeoffs

For the second year in a row, New York City ranked as the world’s most congested urban area, with at least half a million vehicles entering the central business district of the Manhattan borough on a typical weekday. On January 5th, 2025, a congestion tolling program was enacted to curb these rising traffic issues. On […]

Pros and Cons of the FLY Act: The Debate on Airport Security and Accessibility

Introduction Security systems in U.S. airports changed significantly after the terror attacks on 9/11. Before the attacks, airport security officers were mostly hired from the private sector, and airport security systems used outdated alarm systems and low-quality video monitors. Additionally, non-flyers – or airport visitors who were not ticketed passengers – could go through security […]

Pros and Cons of Highway Expansion

Prior to the completion of the interstate highway system in the United States, the nation’s infrastructure was marred with safety issues that spurred supply chain delays, posed hazards to travelers, and compromised national defense. The US highway system was built in the 1950s to overcome these problems. Highways were dubbed “arteries of commerce” in recognition […]

Transportation Funding Debate: Key Facts and Insights

Introduction Transportation infrastructure is the physical framework that supports the movement of people and goods across a country. This framework includes roads, highways, bridges, airports, public transit systems, and more. Building and maintaining efficient transportation infrastructure is essential for a strong economy, from stocking grocery store shelves to work commutes. However, transportation infrastructure in the […]

Pros and Cons of the New York City Rent Stabilization Act

Background The New York City Rent Stabilization Act, established in 1969, primarily involves two key stakeholder groups: landlords and tenants, with a particular focus on middle and low-income residents of New York City. This act institutes a rent stabilization system, which is a form of rent regulation designed to control the annual increases in rent […]

Pros and Cons of Oregon’s Senate Bill 608 (Statewide Rent Control)

Background Oregon’s Senate Bill 608 passed in 2019 and established statewide rent regulation. The legislation includes a seven percent cap on rent increases (plus inflation) in a given year as well as specific tenant protections, such as limits on no-cause evictions. SB 608 is often described as “statewide rent control,” but the law resembles rent […]

Pros and Cons of Expanding Wildfire-Resistant Housing Initiatives

California Assembly Bill 38, signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2019, addresses the issue of home fire safety by enhancing the resilience of housing communities located in high fire severity zones. AB-38 requires the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to develop and administer […]