News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Beware of emails that you may get that look like this. This one was sent to us by one of our members. Forward the email to us and we will report it to the registrar and hosting server. Hi [recipient’s name redacted], I’m Sam, I’m representing an ADU builder in NH. I’m looking for people … Read more
The state legislature has passed several laws this year that limit the ability of towns and cities to control zoning — for example, towns must allow multifamily residential development in commercially zoned areas where infrastructure exists. HB 577 (Chapter 197, 2025) Requires towns/cities to allow either an attached or a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) … Read more
If “Taxation is Theft,” then “Koch-Zoning” Is Theft” as well. Regular readers know what we mean by “Koch-zoning,” but for those new to our substack a brief definition. Koch-zoning refers to a gaggle of bills passed into law earlier this year in New Hampshire that replace local control of zoning with a one-size-fits-all State zoning … Read more
With a single heated remark to a developer, a Portsmouth Planning Board member last week showed exactly how the municipal development process is broken. Developer Mark McNabb has proposed converting a property he owns on Congress Street to a 125-unit co-living apartment building. Co-living units, once common, were zoned nearly out of existence in U.S. … Read more
It has become a maxim inside the political cage match. If you want to start a fight, ask about affordable housing. The “housing Crisis,” real or imagined, was injected into the collective consciousness. Some blame boomers, others blame banks (or sinister global evils like Blackrock), as legislators dance around the fire tossing gasoline on it … Read more
Odds are good that thanks to all the “liberty” we got this past session in the wake of a slew of zoning bills, my prediction will come to pass. An increase in housing (notice I did not use the word affordable) will have limited practical improvement for some, but a significant net loss for liberty … Read more
While the uproar amongst many conservatives (all while democrats applaud) centers around many great Republican bills Governor Ayotte has vetoed, we mustn’t overlook a few bills she signed off on that force state mandates onto municipalities regarding zoning. When Kelly Ayotte ran for Governor, her catch slogan was “Let’s not Mass up NH”, a rather … Read more
Claiming that it’s part of an effort to mitigate a (non-existent) housing ‘crisis’, Governor Ayotte has signed every single housing bill that made it to her desk, including the very damaging HB577, which eradicates the right of towns to create single-family zones. We are now no better than California. Despite being sent our petition daily … Read more
It is now VERY important to contact the Governor and tell her that 1,106 people on our petition hope that she will VETO HB 577, as it would eradicate and outlaw single-family neighborhoods just like they did in California. And we all know what a disaster that was! You can call and leave a polite … Read more
In England, if you want to start a fight in a bar (or a Pub), say something nasty about the monarchy or the nearest football team. In New Hampshire, it’s housing and zoning. We’ve offered our pages to both sides with a few takers because it’s a complex issue, and there are a lot of … Read more
No, I’m not talking about the governor of California; my article is about the possibly only tool left in dealing with the madness of so many housing bills. If they materialize, it won’t be the local government, but the state (which could have a blue government at any time in the future) that must be … Read more
After years of making little progress on housing affordability, the Legislature finally is moving forward in large strides. As significant reforms near the finish line, a surge of advocacy has emerged for an old, failed method of addressing the state’s housing shortage: government subsidies. New Hampshire’s primary method of addressing housing affordability has long been … Read more
As Housing bills designed to chisel away at local decision making continue to and through their 2nd chamber of the legislature, my thoughts have returned to the skilled salesman’s mantra. Know your customer. Housing bill madness is a product presented as a solution to an imaginary crisis that’s been sold to its supporters, who range … Read more
Where’s The Liberty In That? If you want to start a fight online in the Granite State, and probably your state too, pick a side on the so-called housing-crisis debate. It might be worse than mentioning abortion at whatever passes for your watercooler. Numerous factors have made housing expensive. Some say there is an inventory … Read more
Julie Smith recently wrote a piece for Granite Grok about my white paper for AIER entitled “Unbundling Zoning.” She badly misinterpreted the paper, made false accusations, and even got the main thesis exactly backwards. Here’s the proof. Smith: “Sorens calls zoning useless, unjust, and irrational and explains why.” FALSE. These are the claims I’m responding … Read more
Hollis Dunkin Donuts is unlike other locations in many ways. It’s in a repurposed building multiple times its age, it doesn’t have the usual bright orange and pink signs and it doesn’t have a drive-thru despite it being a former site of a bank with one. While I can’t speak intelligently to the finer details … Read more
Zoning is an institution often misunderstood by many, myself included, so let’s delve into a 22-page treatise written by the founder of the Free State Project. To use Ray Guarino’s favorite word, ACRIMONIOUS, as many recent discussions, both online and in person, have been just that, so it’s important to say that I mean zero … Read more
If asked about some issue, “Should the Towns decide or should the State decide?” many people would answer that the Towns should decide. But for many issues that is the wrong question. The right question is “Should the Towns decide or should individuals decide for themselves?” Should Towns decide what firearms you might possess? NO! … Read more
Let’s first briefly mention the Underwood book, Stop Lying About ESAs, after which I named this article. I encourage everyone to read it, not only because of the controversy and misunderstandings involved regarding EFAs, but also because the polarization and vitriol present among everyone who’s not a Democrat are very similar. One institution controversy (EFAs) … Read more
On April 16, 2024, the UL published an op-ed by Rep. Len Turcotte of Strafford County. It has never been more applicable than it is today, with dozens of bills proposed by those attempting to remove local control of zoning with ‘death by a thousand cuts’. Turcotte compared this to Chairman Mao Zedong’s attempt to … Read more