by Autumn Billings, Reason, March 12, 2025.
Excerpt:
Transforming a tree house into compliance with city regulations proved to be anything but straightforward. Polizzi recounted to Reason that he had successfully acquired a zoning permit for the tree house—a commendable achievement in its own right—but had encountered roadblocks when attempting to secure a building permit from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). One might imagine that classifying the structure as a tree house or play structure would be sensible; however, the LADBS took a stringent approach, insisting that the approximately 120-square-foot tree house must adhere to the rigorous standards set for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
Los Angeles defines an ADU as “an attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities,” which must include “permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.” The requirements for obtaining these building permits involve “soil reports, structural designs, compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, and a plethora of other stipulations that seem ludicrous” for a tree house that has existed without incident for 25 years, noted Paige Gosney, Polizzi’s attorney, in comments to The Los Angeles Times. According to Polizzi, fulfilling the ADU requirements would necessitate an additional expense of $50,000 to $80,000 beyond his previous investments. “It feels like an attempt to coerce me into submission,” he expressed.
Despite his earnest efforts to align with the city’s regulations, Polizzi faced criminal charges consisting of four misdemeanors brought forth by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office in 2020 due to the tree house’s noncompliance. Stalled on renovations, he submitted a request for a permit waiver in April 2024 but received no response from the city.
by John Hinderaker, Power Line, March 12, 2025.
Excerpt:
During our time in court for the Michael Mann v. Mark Steyn and Rand Simberg trial in Washington, D.C., my wife and I witnessed a pivotal moment: Mann’s legal team presented a document, dramatically enlarged for the jury, detailing grants Mann allegedly lost due to the defendants’ alleged defamation. One of these grants was purportedly worth $9 million.
However, under cross-examination by Simberg’s attorney, Victoria Weatherford*, it was revealed that the referenced exhibit stemmed from sworn interrogatory responses provided by Mann, later revised through additional sworn statements. What had initially been a staggering $9 million was slashed to a mere $112,000. To characterize Weatherford’s cross-examination as effective would be an understatement. Ultimately, Mann’s misrepresentation didn’t go unnoticed, as the jury determined only nominal damages of $1.
by Peter Guo and Yixuan Tan, NBC News, March 11, 2025.
Excerpt:
Six of the ten cities globally recognized for their pollution levels are located in India. Meanwhile, California has been tagged with the dubious distinction of having the worst air quality in North America, according to a recent report.
New Delhi tops the list as the most polluted capital city in the world, followed closely by N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, which suffers from the worst air pollution globally, as highlighted in the 2024 World Air Quality Report released by IQAir, a Swiss air monitoring entity.
The report also noted that ten out of the fifteen most polluted cities in North America, including locations like Ontario and Bloomington, are in California, as the United States reclaimed its title as the most polluted country in the region in 2024.
Despite a 7% reduction in PM2.5 concentrations last year, India, the world’s most populous nation with over 1.4 billion residents, continues to grapple with severe air pollution, which is deemed a “significant health burden,” reportedly shortening life expectancy by an average of 5.2 years. Major contributors to this dilemma include industrial emissions, construction dust, and the burning of agricultural residues.
HT2 Tyler Cowen. Note the reference to California in the opening sentence.
by Michael F. Cannon, Cato at Liberty, March 14, 2025.
Excerpt:
Medicare Advantage plans are in a fierce competition to seize a portion of the $84 billion market by offering “nonmedical supplemental benefits” that particularly attract healthier enrollees, whom insurers recognize will incur lower costs than the government’s payouts. These benefits include “non-emergency transportation services, assistance with over-the-counter items, meals, and gym memberships.” Your tax dollars are essentially funding private health insurance companies to provide groceries, hair care, pet care, complementary therapies, and structural home improvements.
March 14, 2025.
Highlights (approximate times):
18:25: When Palestinians engage in non-violent action in line with international law, we must either support that or refrain from suppressing it.
27:00: States should ensure equal treatment of individuals, regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
34:00: I (DRH) am not entirely convinced he’s correct regarding Trump.
47:00: Distinguishing between anti-Zionism or anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism.
Watching this has inspired me to read Beinart’s book.
