Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

The Washington Post: D.C. Gov’t Loans Create “Million-Dollar Wasteland”

January 18, 2012, 12:00am

Harris Kenny

The Washington Post recently published an investigative report entitled “Million-Dollar Wasteland,” which finds Washington, D.C.’s Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) for low-income residents is scourged with foreclosures, liens, and financial hardships. The full investigative report recants unfortunate stories of people who were drawn into mortgages to buy homes they simply cannot afford.

When It Rains It Pours (Denver Failed Gov't Loan Edition)

January 16, 2012, 7:42pm

Harris Kenny

I recently had an op-ed published in The Denver Post entitled, "Government Loans Bring Trouble" that explores failed urban renewal initiatives in Denver, Colorado. Last week The Denver Post's Jeremy P. Meyer wrote a piece entitled, "91 housing groups, businesses in arrears on loans from city of Denver" that sheds more light on the city's burgeoning failed loan portfolio.

[Op-Ed] Government Loans Bring Trouble (in Denver)

January 10, 2012, 5:44pm

Harris Kenny

On Friday January 6 I had an op-ed published in The Denver Post entitled "Government loans bring trouble," which explores a failed economic development project known as the Lowenstein Project in Denver, Colorado. The Lowenstein Project is enabled by special tax increment financing loans and demonstrates the folly of having bureaucrats take risks with taxpayer money that private banks aren't willing to.

Government Loans Bring Trouble

Denver officials gambling with taxpayer money on dubious urban renewal initiatives.

January 6, 2012

Harris Kenny

Last month, The Denver Post reported that roughly 15 percent, or around $20 million, of the loans in the Denver Office of Economic Development's $127 million portfolio are currently in arrears or in default. One of these loans, known as the Lowenstein Project, illustrates how local officials have been gambling with taxpayer money on dubious urban renewal initiatives.

 

Sports Subsidies, Crony Capitalism and the Fleecing of Taxpayers

September 16, 2011, 8:58am

Samuel Staley

Columbus, Ohio officials have figured out a way to end run five defeats at the ballot box to funnel public dollars into a professional sports arena in a bid to keep the NHL franchise in the city.

The Perils and Promise of Public Private Partnerships for Redevelopment

July 31, 2011, 7:58am

Samuel Staley

Quincy, Massachusetts has embarked on an innovative public-private partnership to redevelop its downtown, but it hasn't resolved the thorny issues of protecting private property rights and avoiding eminent domain abuse.

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