Free Republic

The Senate on Wednesday has devolved into chaos as lawmakers cannot pass legislation that handles the border crisis, aid to Ukraine, or both as a package. Senate Republicans blocked a supplemental spending package that included aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and attempts to increase border security. The bill failed to advance after it did not receive 60 ayes during a procedural vote.

Rising interest rates, the remote work trend, and the dominance of e-commerce sellers have combined to hammer the commercial real estate market over the past few years. Sky-high office and retail space vacancies are plaguing owners in this new environment, rents are plummeting, and borrowing costs have soared. As a result, U.S. commercial real estate prices have fallen 11% since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in March 2022, the IMF reported last week, the worst decline in over 50 years. The outlook for the sector is now so bleak that Cantor Fitzgerald’s billionaire chairman and CEO Howard Lutnick...

A San Francisco city official who organized a walking tour meant to showcase the “squalor” of downtown is resigning, Mayor London Breed’s office confirmed to SFGATE. Earlier this month, a posting appeared on Eventbrite that promoted a “Downtown Doom Loop Walking Tour,” angering local residents and raising questions about the event’s seriousness and the identity of its anonymous organizer, who described themself as a city commissioner. The tour was scheduled for Saturday but was canceled by the organizer Friday, which prompted some Eventbrite ticket holders to seek a refund. Alex Ludlum, who served as the vice chair on the city’s...

We’ve covered the idea of an urban doom loop in places like San Francisco and New York. Today the Washington Post has a story up which argues that it’s actually midsized cities which are in the most danger of falling into a doom loop.In Indianapolis, the technology giant Salesforce is paring back a quarter of its office space in the tallest building in Indiana, where it has been a key tenant for the past six years. In Atlanta, the private investment giant Starwood Capital defaulted on a $212 million mortgage on a 29-story office tower. And in Baltimore, a landmark...

Free walking tours are a common sight in San Francisco. Whether by Coit Tower, Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf, the City by the Bay draws plenty of tourists angling for a firsthand look at San Francisco’s iconic views and landmarks. Later this month, however, a walking tour aims to bring attention to the “squalor” on San Francisco streets. Set to take place on Aug. 26, the tour plans to lead participants from City Hall to SoMa, the organizer, SF Anonymous Insider, said on Eventbrite. There is a charge of $30 for general admission to the tour. San Francisco Doom Loop...