Nick Zaiac
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In Praise of the Washington Metro’s Merchandise Experiment
At a minimum, this demonstrated that there was valuable space that could be rented to retail tenants on station mezzanines. These intermediate structures that connect train platforms and station entrances get the foot traffic retailers crave.
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A Bright Spot on the Horizon for Massachusetts Housing Affordability
Simple majority voting would make it easier to allow concessions to bring desirable housing and businesses to towns. Anti-development homeowners, bothersome local NIMBYs, and incumbent local businesses hold less sway when they need to convince more than half a town council to say “no” to new housing or businesses.
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Amtrak’s Lethal Start to 2018 Compels New Route
Ending the railroad’s long-distance routes would take trains off segments of rural railroad, saving lives. An Amtrak that behaves like a truly private railroad could focus on getting service in major corridors right, investing in improvements to do its job better, and improving overall maintenance to prevent close calls like the Maryland separation. Getting its…
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A Bill to Ease California’s Housing Shortage
Citizens care about rents, and legislators will continue to bring bills to alleviate them until the pressure is gone. This bill would ease a variety of restrictions on properties near transit stations and bus stops with frequent service.
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Teacher Pensions Divert Resources from School Maintenance
Politicians who ignore pension reform, sapping funds from facilities maintenance, should be replaced. These are real choices for school boards and for taxpayers, between accountability for maintenance and deterioration through thousands of little instances of neglect — choices that could avert situations like the one we see in Baltimore.
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In Praise of Fewer Free Days at National Parks
This is a classic case of a common-pool resource problem. The decrease in free admission days means less traffic in the parks today, lowering the wear and tear on park facilities that future visitors will use. These visitors will have to cope with the damage from overuse by the current generation without the ability to…
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Foreigners Show Airport Privatization Works
Citizens around the world value airports that minimize the many frustrations of traveling. The world has figured out that private and P3 airport ownership makes for more investment, more capacity, and a better flyer experience.
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All I Want for Christmas Is Privatized Airports
Privatization of small airports and allowing low-cost foreign carriers to enter could mean lower prices and more availability during the holidays.
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The Way to Pay for Snow Removal
Keeping snow removal costs low is a real political issue in America’s snowy regions. A bad winter can mean fiscal disaster and last-minute cuts to city services. Contracting snow removal to businesses already serving existing private companies could be the answer.
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The Answer to Holiday-Parking Hassles: Let Prices Rise
Scarce parking is a sign that prices need to rise or more parking needs to be created, since the laws of supply and demand apply to parking too.
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•
In Praise of the Washington Metro’s Merchandise Experiment
At a minimum, this demonstrated that there was valuable space that could be rented to retail tenants on station mezzanines. These intermediate structures that connect train platforms and station entrances get the foot traffic retailers crave.
-
•
A Bright Spot on the Horizon for Massachusetts Housing Affordability
Simple majority voting would make it easier to allow concessions to bring desirable housing and businesses to towns. Anti-development homeowners, bothersome local NIMBYs, and incumbent local businesses hold less sway when they need to convince more than half a town council to say “no” to new housing or businesses.
-
•
Amtrak’s Lethal Start to 2018 Compels New Route
Ending the railroad’s long-distance routes would take trains off segments of rural railroad, saving lives. An Amtrak that behaves like a truly private railroad could focus on getting service in major corridors right, investing in improvements to do its job better, and improving overall maintenance to prevent close calls like the Maryland separation. Getting its…
-
•
A Bill to Ease California’s Housing Shortage
Citizens care about rents, and legislators will continue to bring bills to alleviate them until the pressure is gone. This bill would ease a variety of restrictions on properties near transit stations and bus stops with frequent service.
-
•
Teacher Pensions Divert Resources from School Maintenance
Politicians who ignore pension reform, sapping funds from facilities maintenance, should be replaced. These are real choices for school boards and for taxpayers, between accountability for maintenance and deterioration through thousands of little instances of neglect — choices that could avert situations like the one we see in Baltimore.
-
•
In Praise of Fewer Free Days at National Parks
This is a classic case of a common-pool resource problem. The decrease in free admission days means less traffic in the parks today, lowering the wear and tear on park facilities that future visitors will use. These visitors will have to cope with the damage from overuse by the current generation without the ability to…
-
•
Foreigners Show Airport Privatization Works
Citizens around the world value airports that minimize the many frustrations of traveling. The world has figured out that private and P3 airport ownership makes for more investment, more capacity, and a better flyer experience.
-
•
All I Want for Christmas Is Privatized Airports
Privatization of small airports and allowing low-cost foreign carriers to enter could mean lower prices and more availability during the holidays.
-
•
The Way to Pay for Snow Removal
Keeping snow removal costs low is a real political issue in America’s snowy regions. A bad winter can mean fiscal disaster and last-minute cuts to city services. Contracting snow removal to businesses already serving existing private companies could be the answer.
-
•
The Answer to Holiday-Parking Hassles: Let Prices Rise
Scarce parking is a sign that prices need to rise or more parking needs to be created, since the laws of supply and demand apply to parking too.