Orik Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I don't remember it being a part of the declaration of human rights that people can charge what they want, so I guess it's just a religious thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LiquidNY Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 If you're not free to charge what the market will bear for your property, then you don't really own it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 As pointed out before, you're obviously not free to do any such thing. What you "own" can change at the whim of zoning and landmark committees, tax authorities, and other regulators. There's no reason to think capping your income directly is different from disallowing adding floors, using apartments to house restaurants, etc. p.s. I wonder what y'all would own if the government / fed hadn't stepped in when the market was bearing zero. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oakapple Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Overwhelmingly, the rule in free societies is that owners can charge whatever the heck they want for the product they are trying to sell, subject only to their ability to find a willing buyer. There are numerous exceptions. The right of a beloved restaurant to remain in business, if the landlord feels he can make more from some other business, is not one of those exceptions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Overwhelmingly, when someone overdoes it or is being a dick, freedom suddenly takes a back seat. http://www.ag.ny.gov/price-gouging (being a dick) http://nypost.com/2015/05/22/vendor-fired-for-selling-tourists-30-hot-dogs/ (being a dick) http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/rome-restaurantshut-down-after-charging-japanese-tourists-695-euros (being too Italian) http://statelaws.findlaw.com/new-york-law/new-york-interest-rates-laws.html (being the mob) http://www.nycrgb.org/html/resources/faq/rentstab.html (sins of the father) But I'm still not sure I understand the problem - a landlord can do as they please with their property and charge what they want within the confines of the law. If you change the law that continues to be true. Where's the issue? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 In the mid 1800s the U.S. was a model laissez faire capitalist state. Monopolies existed for railroads, steel, and oil. At a certain point people like Teddy Roosevelt reduced their power because it was obvious that they weren't good for society as a whole. (It's possible to nitpick my overly simple explanation but it's indisputable that steps were taken to break up the monopolies.) That legacy is still active today. A few years ago AT&T tried to buy T-Mobile. The acquisition wasn't approved on the grounds that the merged company would have too big a slice of the market. That turned out to be great decision. T-Mobile began to market themselves as the anti-carrier and cut prices while increasing customer choices. The whole mobile market became much more customer friendly. Right now, with the exception of rent control (currently expired, at least in the short term) the commercial real estate market in NY is wide open. Landlords are free to increase rents to whatever the market can bear. It turns out that banks and chain drugstores can pay those rents. A lot of other businesses can't, especially when their long term leases expire. The effects are obvious and are not good. I don't have a pat solution to this problem but I think a consensus is forming that a problem exists. I wouldn't be surprised if government takes steps to deal with it within the next 5 years. (A move like that would be right up di Blasio's alley.) Those steps may be flawed but the alternative is worse. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taion Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Though to be fair, it all goes back to that horrible 1961 zoning code. Repeal the 1961 zoning code! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Orik Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 You can never have enough public plazas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 With tall buildings in the middle of them, set off from the street line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted June 19, 2015 Author Share Posted June 19, 2015 (See, it's possible that taion and I can agree on a public policy matter.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lex Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 With tall buildings in the middle of them, set off from the street line. What could possibly be wrong with this? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SobaAddict70 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Though to be fair, it all goes back to that horrible 1961 zoning code. Repeal the 1961 zoning code! I don't think you want to go back to the 1916 version. Do you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taion Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 I do. I think the rules regarding setbacks probably prevent certain kinds of market failures. I think zoning otherwise has been a disaster. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 I don't remember it being a part of the declaration of human rights that people can charge what they want, so I guess it's just a religious thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 See, I think I agree with Orik, if I understand him correctly. If you want to put the brakes on certain kinds of change in the city, whether it be restaurants closing because of rent hikes, or a Starbucks Reade on every corner, you have to support certain policies, and ultimately changes in the law. I always have the feeling that a lot of people (not necessarily anyone here) stand for the freedom of owners to do whatever they want with their property, and the right to complain about Mars Bar and Max Fish closing. That's a tough combo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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