Jeremy Hoffman

I'm not aware of a single instance where IZ mandates ushered in broad improvements in housing affordability, but I'm aware of loads of instances in which they crushed housing production. Blue cities/states need to take the evidence seriously and scrap these failed programs.

Austin, Texas, where rents dropped by a full 6 percent over the past year, more than in any other large metro area in the US. The Austin area’s median rent, at $1,274, is back to roughly where it was right before the pandemic — which means that, in 2026 dollars, it’s significantly cheaper than it was in 2019.

Congestion pricing has been a huge success. Traffic is down. Business is up. The cameras are staying on.

Center City District has released their report on Open Streets, it is a remarkable success. 27% increase in pedestrian activity 62% increase in in-store traffic 38% sales growth These are remarkable numbers, the city should make Open Streets a regularly scheduled event.

It's actually never been cheaper to rent in Austin, TX. The Rent/Income ratio across the metro has dropped to 18.3% - the lowest on record (going back at least 20 years). Landlords are aggressively cutting rents at a time when incomes in Austin keep rising. The typical rent is down to $1,565/month. While the median income is up to $100k. Making Austin the cheapest city to rent relative to income.