Monthly Archives: November 2023

A vote by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the use eminent domain to take the land of the former Fairfield Lake State Park with the intent of returning it to public use. The former Fairfield Lake State Park land is currently in the hands of a private developer. The eminent domain process began with a […]

Voters in Spokane, Washington approved a ballot initiative that requires homeless camps to be more than 1,000 feet from schools, parks, playgrounds and licensed child care facilities. The proposition passed with 75.4%. Spokesman Review | Spokane voters criminalize homeless camps near places children gather

Boulder, Colorado voters approved restrictions on homeless camps that require homeless camps to not be within 500 feet of schools nor within 50 feet of sidewalks and bike paths.  Daily Camera | UPDATED: Boulder ballot items: Safe Zone 4 Kids leads in early results; tax extension, petition proposal on track to win

Besides land use conversions so that office buildings become residences, what else helps downtown areas recover their vitality? Diversity. Land use diversification includes not only residential dwellers, but also a mix of education, health care, residential, hotel and retail establishments. Route fifty |  What’s driving post-pandemic downtown recoveries?

Drinking out in the open on downtown sidewalks, carrying your wine to go into shops… that’s happening in North Carolina with its social zones , in Virginia with their new Private Outdoor Designated Areas, and in Ohio with its Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas. Legislatures in Kansas and Ohio want to jump on board too for […]

New Jersey Governor this week signed a bill, S588 (2023 | NJ) that requires media literacy courses in K-12 to combat misinformation. New Jersey is the 1st state to require media literacy. Is it just me who was taught to question the veracity of what one reads in the press? Governing | New Jersey Becomes […]

Florida and California handle their home insurance markets differently. Florida leans toward limited regulation and California leans toward regulation. But, they are both in the same boat when it comes to a home insurance crisis. The common denominator: natural disasters. Florida has long subsidized home insurance via its Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, which has a $10 […]

State land trusts are unlocking affordable housing projects in western states like Colorado, New Mexico & Utah. In 11 western states, state land trust managers collectively oversee more than 40 million acres. Route Fifty | Western states look to these lands for new affordable housing

Both the Texas House and Senate have approved funding for a border wall without the use of eminent domain. The Texas Facilities Commission which is overseeing the border wall construction says it has obtained land use rights for about 60 miles of wall and 50 more miles of easements are expected. The state has built […]