For nearly two years, Los Angeles County Superior Court, which has jurisdiction over the city of Los Angeles, has been operating under a zero-bail policy. Despite Trump's claims, releasing people without cash bail has not flooded LA’s streets with violent criminals. Instead, the policy has coincided with declining violent and nonviolent crime rates in the county.

The court announced its zero-bail policy in October 2023. Under the bail guidelines, most people arrested for nonviolent minor offenses are either released after arrest or booked at a jail and then released with $0 bail. Those who commit nonviolent crimes that pose a greater threat to the community are released with $0 bail and some nonmonetary conditions, such as requirements to show up to all court dates or avoid substance use. Monetary bail remains in use for people charged with domestic violence or other violent crimes.

Although the county’s zero-bail policy is not the only factor in LA’s crime rate, its implementation has coincided with a period of historic declines in crime. In 2024, homicides in LA were down 14% compared to 2023, with the number of shooting victims down 19%. Other violent and property crimes also saw significant decreases. This trend continued in the first half of 2025, with homicides decreasing by 20%. In June, LA had the fewest number of homicides since 1966.

According to the Real-Time Crime Index, crime rates in LA County as a whole are also falling, with violent crime down nearly 7% and nonviolent crime down almost 12%.

Why do people keep paying for increasingly expensive houses in obviously risky coastal areas? A recent piece in the Tampa Bay Times ("Investors snapped up Tampa Bay homes damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton") by Rebecca Liebson and Teghan Simonton sticks with me. It's a cycle: Despairing owners of damaged houses, overwhelmed and underinsured, sell out; speculators buy, then quickly transfer to house-flippers; flippers quickly renovate (or don't), then rent or sell at higher prices to the next set of people who can't wait to get into the market.

The whole thing is driven by buyers' desires to live in precarious coastal locations. That desire appears unconstrained, and it seems that nothing will diminish it other than perhaps a series of disasters in short order that make life acutely uncomfortable. And even that might not be enough. Until there is no land left under a house for it to stand on, someone will buy it—and someone else stands ready to make money from the sale. Laws and policies systematically planning for decommissioning of public infrastructure (sewer, water, roads) over several years, together with well-resourced buyout offers accompanied by wraparound relocation services, could change this picture. Until then, the cycle will grind on.

Distressed properties all over Florida and up and down the East Coast can be a goldmine for investors. Along the Jersey Shore, essentially unconstrained speculation and development since 2012's Hurricane Sandy has led to explosive growth in very expensive homes.

Look, making money is what developers and speculators do. It makes sense that, left to their own devices, they buy cheap and sell for much more. But why do buyers keep showing up? There's a telling quote from Florida economist Brad O'Connor in the Tampa Bay article:

"We always worry that there's going to be a stigma put on Florida every time we have a bad hurricane, and it just doesn't seem to materialize. People still want to move here. People still want to live in paradise."

A livestream shared by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition shows at least half a dozen Israeli soldiers have boarded the aid vessel.

The activists aboard are sitting together, wearing life jackets and with their arms raised.

We have obtained a video clip of Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian American activist and lawyer who was aboard the Handala, shortly before the boat was intercepted by Israeli forces.

Here is what she told the Israeli Navy:

“Israeli Navy, this is a civilian vessel, Handala. Let me give you a lesson in international law.

“Any blockade that deliberately starves a civilian population is a violation of international law. It is not only that – it is a war crime. You have no legal authority to enforce an unlawful blockade. And as such, you have no authority to use force to enforce an unlawful blockade.

“Therefore, we demand that you stand down. You are responsible for the well-being of every civilian onboard this vessel. As an occupying power in Gaza, you are responsible for the health and well-being of the civilian population there.

“Not only have you disregarded that obligation, but you are actively exterminating the people. You have engineered a famine. You are deliberately starving civilians and children before the eyes of the world.

“Our vessel does not constitute any threat to you. We carry only humanitarian aid, and therefore you have no authority to intercept or otherwise attack our vessel. We demand again that you stand down.”

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told USA Today, which first reported on the executive order, that the president was “delivering on his commitment to Make America Safe Again” and end homelessness.

“By removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance abuse programs, the Trump administration will ensure that Americans feel safe in their own communities and that individuals suffering from addiction or mental health struggles are able to get the help they need,” she said.

I fucking hate this framing. Homelessness causes or exacerbates mental health issues.

The National Homelessness Law Center condemned the order, which it said “deprives people of their basic rights” and would ultimately worsen the problem.

“Today’s executive orders, combined with Maga’s budget cuts for housing and healthcare, will increase the number of people forced to live in tents, in their cars, and on the streets. This order does nothing to lower the cost of housing or help people make ends meet,” said Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center.