Topic: Moratorium

Hawaii Governor Josh Green is considering a moratorium on land transactions in Lahaina to prevent opportunistic real estate investors from buying property from fire victims. Residents and elders have expressed outrage over predatory offers, asserting that "Maui is not for sale." With average home prices at $1.2 million, there is significant fear that the historic capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom will be permanently lost to developers.

Los Angeles faces a potential wave of evictions as the deadline for paying back rent missed during the pandemic has passed. Thousands of tenants owe significant sums, with the city's typical rent rising 75% since the pandemic began. Officials estimate that 75,000 people in LA County currently have no permanent housing, a figure comparable to the population of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

A producer from Kentucky shares the struggle of her parents, who are small-scale landlords in San Diego. They have been unable to collect back rent or evict non-paying tenants due to the moratorium, despite tenants purchasing new cars and boats. The hosts use this to illustrate the unintended consequences of government interference in the rental market.

The Biden administration issued a new 60-day eviction moratorium following a protest by Congresswoman Cori Bush on the Capitol steps. The hosts discuss the legal controversy surrounding the CDC's authority and the failure of states to distribute $40 billion in federal rental assistance. Cori Bush is criticized for spending $70,000 on private security while advocating for the "defund the police" movement.

The CDC issued a new 60-day eviction moratorium despite the U.S. Supreme Court previously signaling that such an extension would be unconstitutional without congressional action. President Joe Biden admitted the move might not pass constitutional muster but allowed the CDC to proceed. Landlords are facing financial ruin as billions in federal aid remain stuck at the state level, with only 2% of funds reportedly reaching property owners.

Congresswoman Cori Bush led a protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol as the federal eviction moratorium was set to expire. While the White House claimed its hands were tied by a Supreme Court decision, billions of dollars in previously allocated rental assistance remain undistributed by state and local governments.

The CDC's power to halt evictions is based on the theory that homelessness facilitates the spread of disease. However, less than 2% of the $47 billion set aside for landlord relief has been distributed. Analysts suggest the funds are being held up by complex bureaucracy, privacy concerns for landlords, or potential local-level corruption and theft.

The $20 billion escrow fund promised by BP for Gulf Coast damages is reportedly being funded through letters of credit from non-American banks like HSBC rather than direct cash transfers. Additionally, Congress voted to end the moratorium on offshore drilling, a move the hosts claim benefits BP by squeezing out smaller competitors who could not afford the 90-day delay. They also note that the original moratorium was based on allegedly falsified scientific testimony.

The hosts analyze the federal moratorium on offshore drilling in Alaska and the Gulf, suggesting it may inadvertently create a monopoly for BP. Increased insurance costs are expected to drive smaller competitors out of the market, leaving only major players capable of operating.

A federal judge overturns the administration's moratorium on deepwater drilling, ruling that the government misrepresented the consensus of scientists. The hosts defend the judge's decision while criticizing media reports that focused on his financial investments in oil companies. They reiterate that the Department of the Interior failed in its regulatory duties prior to the spill.

The Deepwater Horizon disaster and the subsequent federal moratorium on offshore drilling are viewed as a catalyst for a massive spike in oil prices. Speculation suggests the crisis will be used to push through cap-and-trade legislation and potentially liquidate BP, benefiting larger financial entities like JP Morgan. The economic fallout is expected to devastate the Gulf Coast region, potentially leading to a "Haiti-style" redevelopment of the area.

Representative Charlie Melancon and other Louisiana officials express concern over the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling following the BP oil spill. While the seafood industry is impacted, officials argue the drilling ban will have a more devastating and permanent effect on the local economy. They claim thousands of jobs in catering, fabrication, and rig operation are at risk as equipment moves to other countries.