News For Reasonable People

Picture this - San Francisco, a city bracing itself against an unrelenting financial storm. A predicted two-year deficit of $720 million, and a real estate market spiraling towards a 'doom loop', the likes of which we haven't seen for a decade. The remote work revolution has not been kind to San Francisco's commercial real estate, the plummeting home sales and declining transfe...

Who said affordable housing in big cities was a breeze? Join us as we bust this myth wide open. With Montreal in focus, we expose the city's questionable bylaw that hands developers a heavy bill for not including affordable housing in their projects, but has yet to produce a single unit of affordable housing since its inception in April 2021. We prod and probe into the hefty sums paid by deve...

Buckle up and prepare to navigate a turbulent storm of a lawsuit with NFL legend Joe Montana at the helm. In a bold display of sports star power turned legal heavyweight, Montana and his wife Jennifer, along with several other families, are courageously challenging the city of San Francisco over a shocking health hazard: toxic fecal matter flooding their homes. As the episode unfolds, we'll u...

Ever wondered who bears the responsibility for homeless encampments on private property? Discover the untold story of homeowners in Tacoma, Washington, who face a $32,000 lawsuit from Pierce County for failing to clean up a homeless camp on their lands. Our guests share enlightening insights on the ongoing debacle, the accountability vacuum created by the absence of a homeowners association, and t...

Can tax abatement really stem the tide of businesses fleeing from Portland? Brace yourself as we unmask the controversial concept of Prosper Portland, a proposed enterprise zone right in the heart of the city. We tackle the tough realities of operating a business in a city plagued with crime, illicit drug use, and a booming homeless population. We also ponder the appeal of a potential tax break fo...

What if the livelihood of an entire city could be disrupted by a simple can of spray paint? Welcome to the pressing issue of graffiti in Portland, Oregon. Today, we examine the plight of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), who, despite a one-time allocation of a million dollars in the 2021-2023 biennium, is struggling with the funding to keep the city graffiti-free. The implications of...

Imagine reporting on crime and suddenly, you become the crime scene! That's what happened to a Chicago TV news crew who were robbed at gunpoint while covering local robberies. As your hosts, we open up a riveting discussion on this alarming trend, particularly on the West Side, under the leadership of Mayor Brandon Johnson. This audacious act raises pressing issues, from privacy concerns of t...

As your hosts, we're taking you on a heartfelt journey to the heart of Haight-Ashbury, where Café International—a cherished local fixture—is teetering on the brink of closure. Along this journey, we'll unravel the complicated reality of a small business owner grappling with rampant shoplifting, extortion, and threats of violence, symptomatic of wider societal issues. Listen as we dive in...

Seattle, once a rental market paradise, is now a nightmare for landlords. Are you ready to find out why? We're pulling back the curtain and revealing the harsh realities landlords are facing due to stricter laws and unyielding tenants. As the exodus of landlords escalates, the city's rental supply is dwindling, causing rents to surge. We're also shining the spotlight on Seattle Gras...

What happens when a city defunds its police force? Portland, Oregon is about to find out. Amidst escalating violence, random stabbings, and a surge in crime, the city's Mayor Ted Wheeler is calling on 96 Oregon State Troopers to bolster the city's security. The same mayor, ironically, who once supported the Defund the Police movement, now grapples with its real-world repercussions. Liste...

Ready to navigate the murky waters of a scandal that shook San Francisco? A city official had to step down after proposing what he called the "Doom Loop Tour", a controversial concept that was meant to highlight the city's issues with crime and homelessness. Despite the outcry, the tour turned out to be a sell-out. But was it a grave misjudgment or a tool for accountability and tran...

What if relocating your business could drastically shift your tax implications and foster overall business growth? This week, we dive into the intriguing decision made by Thermomix, the renowned kitchen appliance maker, to shift its headquarters from the Golden State to the Lone Star State. We uncover why Texas, with its undeniable pro-business stance, has become the go-to for many companies and h...

Fancy a glimpse into the reality of the American small business landscape? Prepare for an unfiltered look at the struggles and triumphs of Hippo Hardware, a once-thriving Portland establishment. In our compelling discussion, we pull back the curtain on the hardware store's journey from its 1976 opening, through its MTV-featured heyday, to its current predicament – a desperate plea for surviva...

Could the future of our cities lie in the hands of Silicon Valley billionaires? Picture this: a modern utopia, abundant with green initiatives and cutting-edge tech, all sprouting up around an old air force base. In this episode, we peel back the curtain on a major move made by the enigmatic Flannery Associates, who with the backing of Silicon Valley elites, have splashed out over $800 million to...

Ever wondered about the intersection of protest actions, freedom of movement, and law enforcement efficiency? Dive right in as we examine an intense scenario of anti-capitalism activists obstructing the main highway leading to Burning Man in Nevada. We dissect a video showing police officers dismantling the blockade, the ensuing traffic chaos and the frustrations of the burners. We also highlight...

Could you imagine the classic jazz scene without its late-night ambiance? This week, we're grappling with this very thought as we explore the changes at San Francisco's illustrious Black Cat Jazz Supper Club. With street crime shaking up the Tenderloin District, the club is shifting its business hours to protect its patrons - a decision that has the jazz community buzzing. Operations dir...

Do you think you know the true impact of homeless encampments in your city? Brace yourself for a deep-dive into the shocking issue of Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood as we uncover the harrowing reality of an encampment fire caused by a repeat offender, affecting tens of thousands of daily commuters. This episode peels back the layers of the city's strategies to combat such crises...

Homelessness in San Francisco is a multifaceted issue with no easy solutions. The city's homeless encampment sweeps have been met with a wave of opposition, and we'll be exploring this controversial practice, the reasons behind it, and its impact on the city. It's not just about cleaning the streets, but about addressing the deeper issues of addiction, mental health, and housing. We...

Are Democratic-run cities truly flourishing as Madison, Wisconsin's mayor claims? Buckle up as we critically dissect this argument in our latest podcast episode. Crime rates in Milwaukee and Chicago tell a sobering story that seems to contradict the narrative of success. Struggling local businesses and an exodus of citizens from these blue cities paint a nuanced picture that demands further e...

Imagine navigating a chaotic city, encased in the eerie safety of a million-dollar secure parking garage. That's the reality in downtown Portland, where the city is pumping millions into security for parking garages, leaving the root cause of lawlessness and disorder all but forgotten. With a touch of humor and a healthy dose of realism, we dissect Portland's puzzling approach to city sa...

Is Seattle's new pilot program a step forward or a dangerous experiment that risks public safety? As your hosts, we question the wisdom of dispatching unarmed social workers to 911 calls for mental disturbance, casting a skeptical eye on whether this move will truly lighten the police workload or merely complicate the situation further. We don't shy away from discussing the potential ram...

Is it possible that the fall of San Francisco, a city once known for its allure and charm, was actually orchestrated by a select group of billionaires? Tune in to our latest episode as we entertain this eerie conspiracy, fueled by engaging discussions, Joe Rogan's insights, and a thought-provoking tweet. We dissect San Francisco's transformation into what many perceive as a failed state,...

Ever wonder why a stunning San Francisco condo complex, designed by the renowned Stanley Settowitz, ended up back in the lender's hands? Get ready to navigate the twists and turns of this saga as we unpack the city's slow permitting processes, the pandemic's unforeseen effects on remote work culture, and the drop in the downtown real estate market. We're taking a hard look at t...

Can you imagine losing an entire industry and seeing nearly a trillion dollars walk out of your state? That's the unfathomable reality for New York and California. Through the lens of our in-depth analysis, we'll expose how companies like Elliott Management, Alliance Bernstein, and Charles Schwab have uprooted from these states, taking with them valuable jobs and tax revenue. We've...

In a stirring twist of irony, a city council candidate, Denise Ewn, known for her stance on crime prevention, finds herself in the hot seat, accused of shoplifting. You won't believe the details, as we unpack the surveillance footage presented by store owner, Nick Rose. This footage seems to show Ewn pocketing a hammer, but she sticks by her story - claiming it was only to prevent an imprompt...