Tag: politicians

Politicians Think More Zoning Laws Will Fix Housing Prices, But The Data Says Otherwise 

he U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan bill, titled “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” aiming to make housing more affordable. However, similar to other misleading pieces of legislation — such as the infamous Inflation Reduction Act, which is actually a massive climate-change bill that worsened inflation — this new housing bill may have the opposite effect on housing affordability than what its title suggests.

The newly introduced bill is co-led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Tim Scott, R-S.C. A key assumption of the bill is that restrictive single-family zoning is a primary cause of limited housing supply and high housing costs. The legislation includes key policy proposals that Warren has previously championed, such as offering grants to state and local governments that reform exclusionary zoning rules and permit more high-density housing in areas previously designated for single-family homes.

However, the bill’s sponsors overlook empirical evidence from left-wing cities and states, such as Minneapolis, Oregon, and California, where Democrat legislatures have already effectively eliminated exclusive single-family zoning in favor of higher-density housing — the kind of reform for which Warren advocates.

A 2023 study found that upzoning resulted in an insignificant housing supply increase of less than one percent within three to nine years, offering no real improvements for low- to moderate-income renters. 

Research about Minneapolis’ zoning reform shows upzoning fueled speculation, driving single-family home prices 3-5 percent higher than in comparable border areas. Similarly, post-single-family home zoning ban analyses show median home values in Oregon continued rising sharply, reaching $509,539 in May 2022, representing an increase of 19.7 percent from a year prior.

Upzoning reforms for which Warren and other Democrats advocate have clearly proven to be ineffective in achieving their goals. Instead of making housing more affordable, these policies have centralized zoning authority, eroding local control and undermining property rights.

Yet despite upzoning reform’s track record, Democrats persist in implementing these same misguided strategies across the nation. In Colorado, the Democrat legislature and Gov. Jared Polis pushed through significant new laws in 2024 aimed at increasing high-density housing and overriding local zoning decisions. HB 24-1313 forces minimum housing densities near transit in select communities, while HB 24-1304 eliminates parking requirements for multifamily developments in urban areas. Additionally, an executive order ties discretionary grants to adherence to these state housing mandates, further diminishing local autonomy.

These new state laws sparked immediate backlash. Cities including Greenwood Village, Aurora, Arvada, Westminster, Glendale, and Lafayette sued, arguing the laws violate home-rule protections in the Colorado Constitution.

In other Colorado municipalities such as Littleton, Telluride, Estes Park, and Greeley, voters overwhelmingly rejected their leftist city councils’ attempt to revise their zoning codes to permit more “middle housing” options — such as duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes — within previously single-family zones. Similarly, in California, residents of San Francisco ousted a local politician from office in a 2025 recall election for his support of upzoning reform.

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Delta Yanks Away Special Privilege for Members of Congress Due to TSA Shutdown

The Democrat-induced nightmare at American airports could be hitting home for members of Congress.

Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, is suspending a specialty service desk for federal lawmakers — until the Transportation Security Administration is fully funded.

The airline, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Patricia Murphy wrote, is apparently “just as fed up as the rest of us.”

“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” Delta said in a statement Murphy quoted.

“Next to safety, Delta’s No. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”

American air travelers have been under increasing strain since congressional Democrats refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security — which includes the TSA.

TSA agents missed their first full paycheck March 13, according to The Hill.

They won’t be receiving another until the impasse is resolved, which has led to agents quitting or calling out of work — which has in turn led to nightmarish security lines at airports.

Members of Congress can be immune to those headaches, thanks to perks like Delta’s service desk.

News that the airline is suspending the service drew cheers on social media.

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Democrat Congressman Gets Caught Staring at Very Naughty Images During Flight – Then Is Savagely Mocked After Offering a Silly Excuse for Why He Did 

A Democratic congressman was caught red-handed looking at inappropriate pictures while on a flight this week, forcing him to do damage control.

On Friday, footage emerged of Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) looking at scantily clad women on his iPad while on a plane. The images were first leaked by the account Dear White Staffers.

The account alleged that the images were pornographic.

“Why did California Congressman Brad Sherman feel it was appropriate to look at porn on his iPad during a flight today?” the account asks. “His district deserves better representation than this!!”

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Woke Portland Politician Who Demanded “Unhoused Neighbors” Be Given a Place to Sleep Has Home Torched by Homeless Person

A Portland Democrat who once called for homeless individuals to be given housing suffered an ironic and cruel twist of fate last week.

As The Oregonian reported, 51-year-old homeless man Vashon Locust was arrested on Tuesday after starting a fire that torched Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos’ townhome and car.

He faces charges of reckless burning, second-degree mischief, and trespassing. These are all misdemeanors.

According to a police affidavit obtained by the paper, Locust snuck into a shed near Avalos’ home on October 26 and attempted to use an electric outlet.

When that failed, he set a fire to stay warm, but he later claimed that it got out of control and tried to put it out.

“He shared that it was very cold that night and his clothing was wet,” the affidavit reads. “Locust attempted to extinguish the fire with his foot.”

Locust then fled to a nearby church.

On October 28, Locust allegedly returned to the scene of the crime to inspect the remains.

Avalos and her cat managed to escape the incident unharmed. She claimed afterward that she was targeted for her political beliefs.

Whatever the cause, this didn’t happen in a vacuum,” she wrote. “In our current national context, it’s hard not to connect this moment to everything happening around us — the threats, the division, the way public service sometimes puts a target on your back.”

The Daily Mail notes that Avalos has long been an apologist for Portland’s homeless population.

She even wrote a column in 2021 titled: “Our unhoused neighbors deserve a safe and clean place to sleep.”

Locust has been arrested more than 50 times for various felony and misdemeanor charges since 2006, according to court records obtained by The Oregonian.

His most recent arrest occurred in February. In this incident, a woman in North Portland reported that Locust would not leave her property and chased her while waving around a stick.

The Oregonian notes that Locust has not been arraigned on the reckless burning charge at this point, and no attorney has been assigned to his case.

He remains in jail until his first court appearance.

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Gov’t departments riddled with criminal misconduct, from immigration fraud to child porn

The rot inside Canada’s federal bureaucracy runs deep. A sprawling order paper question (Q-315) has exposed an alarming pattern of criminal and unethical behaviour among public servants — spanning everything from immigration fraud and sexual misconduct to child pornography and theft.

The revelations came through responses tabled by multiple departments, each quietly admitting to cases that would get private-sector employees fired or even jailed.

Instead, in many cases, the government handed out little more than wrist slaps or simple reassignments.

At Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, one employee was caught aiding immigration fraud, while another was implicated in illegal activity abroad; their “discipline” was a reassignment.

At Crown-Indigenous Relations, several serious allegations — including fraud and theft — remain “under investigation” or have yet to be examined at all.

The National Research Council, which is supposed to house some of Canada’s top scientists, reported incidents of child pornography and break and enter that were referred to police.

The Canada Border Services Agency handed out a five-day suspension to an employee who paid for sexual services, while another staffer with known criminal associates was given a written reprimand.

Shared Services Canada admitted that “fewer than 10” employees were working under fake names, all of whom somehow received security clearance.

Even the Privy Council Office, which serves as the prime minister’s own department, confirmed an employee was caught leaking classified information.

And at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, two employees were caught using illegal drugs in the very office responsible for enforcing federal law.

Perhaps most troubling: across multiple departments, the most common outcome for thieves and fraudsters wasn’t termination or prosecution, it was simply that they “left the department.”

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88-Year-Old Congresswoman Is Exposed For Having 7 No-Show Jobs

Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington D.C.’s 88-year-old congressional delegate, claims to sit on multiple boards at prestigious institutions, but investigations reveal she hasn’t been active with them in years. Some of these positions no longer even exist according to a report by Luke Goldstein and Dan Boguslaw. 

According to her latest financial disclosure, Norton lists positions on roughly half a dozen boards. However, when contacted, three organizations reported no recent contact with her, while two confirmed their boards had been dissolved years ago.

These revelations follow a troubling NBC4 report that obtained a police document detailing how scammers posing as HVAC repairmen defrauded Norton of $4,400 for services never performed. The report also noted that Norton has a caretaker with power of attorney who reported the fraud.

Norton, once a prominent civil rights leader who participated in the 1963 March on Washington, now appears to have outdated information on her ethics forms, suggesting her staff may be resubmitting portions automatically without updates.

Goldstein and Boguslaw observed that the boards Norton lists include the executive committee of the Yale Law School Association, the board of trustees for Antioch College, the lawyers committee for civil rights, and advisory boards at Georgetown’s Women’s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program, American University’s Women and Politics Institute, and the Sewall Belmont House.

Repeated inquiries to these organizations yielded concerning responses. Norton was a founding member of Georgetown’s Women’s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program and regularly hosted fellows for Capitol Hill lunches. However, according to a spokesperson, she hasn’t done so since 2019.

American University’s response was even more revealing: “The Women & Politics Institute no longer has an advisory board,” they wrote, per Goldstein and Boguslaw’s report. 

Similarly, representatives for the Sewall-Belmont House explained that ownership transferred to the National Park Service in 2016, and the Park Service has no record of an advisory board or Norton’s current involvement with the site.

Two congressional sources confirmed Norton is largely absent from committee meetings and planning sessions. During the Trump administration’s deployment of trfcioops to Washington D.C., Norton was nearly invisible except for a generic condemnation statement.

Republican-led hearings on D.C. crime and public safety should have been Norton’s opportunity to defend her constituents, but she struggled through a prepared statement. Sources close to city council reported her “halting” performance immediately sparked discussions about organizing efforts to push her toward retirement.

Two city council members have since announced primary challenges: Robert White, the current at-large council member, and Brooke Pinto, the Ward 2 council member.

Despite these challenges, Norton has told reporters she intends to run for re-election at age 90, though her staff maintains she hasn’t decided.

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Sanctuary State Illinois: Illegal Alien Accused of Killing GOP Elected Official and His Wife in Fatal Crash

In the sanctuary state of Illinois, where Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has attempted to impede federal immigration enforcement, an illegal alien is accused of killing a Republican elected official and his wife in Coles County.

Police say that 34-year-old illegal alien Edwin Pacheco-Meza of Honduras was driving a van on Oct. 24 when he crossed the center lane and struck 71-year-old Michael Clayton and his wife, 66-year-old Gail Clayton — killing them instantly.

Michael Clayton was a Republican elected official who served on the Coles County Board.

“Mike and Gail were a team in every sense. Together, they lived their lives with strong values, unwavering love for family, and a deep dedication to their hometown,” the couple’s obituary reads:

They believed in supporting the Charleston community and keeping their business local whenever possible. Whether it was groceries, gifts, or meals, they always chose local shops and markets, proudly supporting small businesses and encouraging others to do the same. They were familiar faces at the Charleston Farmer’s Market, always taking time to visit with neighbors and friends.
[Emphasis added]

Pacheco-Meza, who crossed the southern border as an unknown got-away, was in his vehicle with 18-year-old illegal alien Juan Morales-Martinez of Guatemala, who crossed the border in December 2023 and was released into the United States interior by the Biden administration.

The illegal aliens were found with an extended magazine, firearm ammunition, drugs, and an open container of alcohol in their vehicle, police say.

Pacheco-Meza was charged with reckless homicide and drunk driving, while Morales-Martinez was charged with drug possession and weapons violations.

After they were arrested, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged detainers against the illegal aliens, seeking custody of them, but the detainers were ignored by the Clark County Jail thanks to Pritzker’s sanctuary state policy.

Still, ICE agents waited for Morales-Martinez to be released from jail and arrested him outside of the jail. Pacheco-Meza remains in Clark County Jail.

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Top Trump Officials Are Moving Into Military Bases Over Assassination Fears

Top Trump officials are moving into military bases near Washington DC over escalating assassination fears.

The move comes amid heightened security fears after the September assassination of Charlie Kirk.

In September TPUSA founder and top conservative Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah at a public event.

Rather than distancing themselves from this gruesome act of violence against a top MAGA mind, many on the left CHEERED and LAUGHED at this brutal murder.

The threats against Trump supporters from the radical left continue to this day. In fact, Democrats are running a candidate in Virginia for Attorney General who fantasized about the  murder of Republican children is running for office in Virginia.

Democrats refused to condemn this deadly threat against children! The party was silent.

Democrats refuse to tamp down on the death threats.

In response to the growing threats of violence, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others also now live in military housing in the DC area.

There’s more…
The New York Times reported:

Daniel P. Driscoll, the Army secretary, has also moved into military housing, as has the Navy secretary, John Phelan, whose home in Washington was damaged in a fire in May, according to a congressional staff member who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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Disgraced ex-Kiama MP Gareth Ward sentenced for sexually abusing two young men

Former New South Wales Liberal minister and independent Kiama MP Gareth Ward has been sentenced to five years and nine months in jail for sexually abusing two young men.

In July Ward was found guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault.

The 44-year-old appeared via audiovisual link from a Hunter correctional facility as Judge Kara Shead handed down the sentence in the Parramatta District Court.

Ward’s offending was against a 24-year-old political staffer in 2015 and an 18-year-old man in 2013.

Both men watched the proceedings via audiovisual link.

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Ted Cruz EXPLODES on Rogue Activist Judge Boasberg — Demands Immediate IMPEACHMENT After Secret Subpoena of Senators’ Private Phone Records and Barring AT&T from Notifying Them

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, erupted Wednesday in a fiery press conference, calling for the immediate impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, after revelations that the activist judge signed an order secretly authorizing the seizure of his private phone records and other GOP records while blocking AT&T from notifying them.

Cruz revealed during the press conference that the Biden DOJ, under the direction of former special counsel Jack Smith, had targeted him and eight other Republican senators in a blatant fishing expedition.

The subpoenas, issued as part of the sham “Arctic Frost” investigation tied to President Trump’s rightful challenge of the 2020 election fraud, sought cellphone data that Cruz insists is protected under the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution.

Ted Cruz:
“The Biden Justice Department signed off on issuing subpoenas for the phone records of at least nine U.S. senators. Twenty percent of the Republicans in the United States Senate were the target of this fishing expedition. They did so in complete contravention of the Constitution—of separation of powers, of the Speech and Debate Clause, of free speech, of basic rights of privacy.

This is an executive who believes it is justified in spying on their opponents in the legislature because they’ve convinced themselves the ends justify the means.

I want to talk to you about one of those subpoenas. One of those subpoenas went from Jack Smith to AT&T, seeking my cell phone communications. It went to AT&T, and I actually want to commend AT&T for doing the right thing. AT&T is based in Texas. AT&T looked at that subpoena, and they went to their legal counsel and said, “What should we do with this subpoena?” And their legal counsel said, “You cannot comply because this is protected by the Speech and Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution.”

And so AT&T declined to comply—did not hand over my cell phone records. Now, one might ask: ordinarily, a phone company being asked to hand over the phone records of a sitting senator would notify that senator.”

Judge Boasberg, notorious for his leftist activism and nationwide injunctions against President Trump’s America First agenda, slapped a gag order on AT&T, barring the company from alerting Cruz and others to the subpoena for at least a year.

In his order, Boasberg ludicrously claimed there were “reasonable grounds” to believe disclosure would lead to “destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and serious jeopardy to the investigation.

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