“Stop,” or I’ll Yell “Stop” Again
A version of this commentary appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When elected officials intentionally ignore the law, we often...
August Ballot Issue Rundown
Next week is primary election day in Missouri. You may have seen some ads for candidates on television, radio, or...
Broken Approval Process Slows Development
Several disjointed developments in the Cortex and Grove areas of St. Louis nicely encapsulate the confusing involvement of elected officials,...
Health Care Price Transparency in Missouri: Part Two
In my last post, I discussed the push for increased price transparency in health care, and why transparency is good...
The Scooter Ban Revisited (Or Not)
When I wrote about the downtown Saint Louis ban on scooters a few weeks ago, city officials were planning to...
Hazelwood, Bankruptcy, and Special Laws
The City of Hazelwood has announced that it is cutting back on the services it provides its residents. In related...
SCOTUS, Scooters, and a Gas Tax Holiday
David Stokes, Susan Pendergrass and Abigail Wagner join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the recent SCOTUS decision upholding a parent’s right...
Even with an Updated Route, MetroLink Expansion is a Waste
Plenty of federal funds are available after President Biden signed a 1 trillion-dollar infrastructure bill into law last November, and...
Is a Scooter Ban the Answer in Saint Louis?
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a piece on Tuesday morning titled “With scooters gone, St. Louis police say weekend was...
Corruption Allegations: Disappointing but Hardly Surprising
A version of this commentary appeared in the St. Louis Business Journal. In 1977, the Chicago Sun Times newspaper bought...
Part 5: Does Kansas City Have an Affordable Housing Problem?
(You can read part one, part two, part three, and part four in this series here.) How affordable is housing in Kansas...
Podcast: St. Louis BOA Indictments And The Future Of Tax Subsidies With Patrick Tuohey And David Stokes
Susan Pendergrass is joined by David Stokes and Patrick Tuohey. Patrick Tuohey is co-founder and policy director of the Better...
Asking Developers to Make “Voluntary Donations” is Troubling
According to the Post-Dispatch, a New Jersey developer—Aptitude Development—will make a $250,000 donation to affordable housing in St. Louis City,...
Once More unto the Loop Trolley Breach
Much like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Loop Trolley still clings to life despite...
End of the Legislative Session, Fines for Home Renovations, and The Loop Trolley Returns
David Stokes, Patrick Ishmael, and Susan Pendergrass join Zach Lawhorn to recap the 2022 legislative session, discuss newly introduced legislation...
The Price of Starting a Business in St. Louis
Would you want to open a restaurant in a city that requires 35 steps, multiple licenses, and $3,750 in fees...
Pittsburgh, Poster Child for Sloppy Housing Policy
In the weeks and months ahead, researchers at the Show-Me Institute will be taking a closer look at housing policies...
Death on the Vine in Jeff City
Every legislative session, there is plenty of bad legislation introduced. But each year, there often seems to be a few...
Lower Taxes, More Revenue?
When a tax cut is proposed, critics often question how the government can function with the loss of revenue. But...
Building Height Limitations Are Unwise
There is a controversy in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza. A developer would like to build a nine-story building on...
