Political figures are increasing regulations and taxes on less popular business sectors, such as cable-TV franchises and short-term housing rentals that have disrupted the hospitality industry, like Airbnb and Vrbo. New York has restricted availability and a Colorado governor proposed quadrupling property tax on frequent renters, causing significant controversy.
Category Archives: Newsfeed
One Hamptonite’s Solar Is Another’s Battery Fire
Clean-energy proponents endorse electrification plans reliant on battery-storage, despite controversies in residential communities over potential fire risks and ensuing repair costs. Protests in Hampton Bays halted a planned lithium-battery site. This underscores that achieving “net zero” carbon-energy targets is neither cheap nor straightforward.
Ambitious Riverhead Is Back to Square One
Riverhead, a town on New York’s Long Island where development is possible amidst many restrictions, faces challenges to grow meaningfully and redefine its identity. A proposal for a technology park in Calverton, called Epcal, met with strong community disapproval, leading officials to abandon the plan. The town now needs an alternative that aligns with affluent tastes and the local aversion to change.
NY Breakup Plan: Shades of ‘Peconic’
In states dominated by one party, especially when that dominance emanates from a giant metropolitan area, you get periodic efforts to break up the state so as to allow the dissident regions to have their own way. Often this is about ideology, although it can also reflect urban vs. rural concerns. California sees this. AndContinue reading “NY Breakup Plan: Shades of ‘Peconic’”
‘Moonbeam’ as an American Master
My adult life coincided with Jerry Brown’s political career, so I was interested in the PBS American Masters documentary that aired last night. Some reactions: 1) A politician is an unusual inclusion in Masters, as opposed to the American Experience show. I wonder what explains this.* 2) This documentary, at 90 minutes, has less dragContinue reading “‘Moonbeam’ as an American Master”
16 Lucky Homeowners Coming to East Hampton
The trickle of new “affordable” or workforce housing on the South Fork of Long Island continues–16 units (with a name!) being built in East Hampton, as this article from the local Star explains. This project predates the imposition of a new transfer tax on million-dollar–meaning nearly all–home purchases. That levy will raise maybe $50 millionContinue reading “16 Lucky Homeowners Coming to East Hampton”
The Local Columnist as Media Signal
Back when the newsrooms of daily papers were shy about advancing a political agenda, one good clue about the outlook of ranking editors could be read from their primary local columnist. As those winds blew, so sailed the top news brass. At the New York Times, little such divining has been needed for quite aContinue reading “The Local Columnist as Media Signal”
DeSantis and the Shareholder Torts
Stock investors are familiar with the tort lawyers who seek them out for class-action suits whenever there’s a big disappointment or drop in share prices. Usually the pests go away, sometimes because they are paid by the target companies to do so. Ron DeSantis’s latest tilt at “woke” business practices reminded me of them. AsContinue reading “DeSantis and the Shareholder Torts”
All Sports, All the Time?
As the U.S. grows and diversifies, we can expect a wider range of diversions, including sports. Now cricket has caught on, at least in parts of the country, as this New York Times article discusses. (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/15/us/texas-cricket.html) Soccer, of course, has become established here after many decades of American absence from the “beautiful game.” And women’sContinue reading “All Sports, All the Time?”
Ken Fisher Got Another Call Right
As the bullish U.S. stock market of 2023–surprising to most of us–continues through mid-July, it’s appropriate to express kudos (so far!) to those who went against the grain and have made investors money. One is a prominent and controversial figure in financial circles, Ken Fisher. I knew Ken from his many years as a columnistContinue reading “Ken Fisher Got Another Call Right”
Tim W. Ferguson 