4 ms·
He was one block away from Garden Creamery and across the street from Smittens. The article mentions that a competing shop was the first one to object, but that
by pvarangot 6y ago
He was one block away from Garden Creamery and across the street from Smittens. The article mentions that a competing shop was the first one to object, but that didn't work. I wouldn't be surprised if the same people were "motivating" the city to be strict with permits the whole time.
- nickff 6y agoEntrenched market participants often participate in the regulation process, and use it to build a defensive 'moat' around their business.
- antiterra 6y agoSuch a moat is possibly to their own detriment, due to the success business clustering can bring.
- munk-a 6y agoI think it's unimpeachable to say that this sort of anti-competitive behavior is to the public detriment but companies continue to pursue it due to the fact that it is an effective (if slimy) way to protect revenue.
- antiterra 6y agoSuccessful may not mean optimal, business clustering is generally considered to provide mutual benefit. I would guess there is a point of diminishing returns, so maybe there’s rational motivation to gatekeep when the cluster hits a certain size. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121304873 https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121304... https://www.planetizen.com/node/65765 https://www.planetizen.com/node/65765
- HarryHirsch 6y agoYou see that very much anywhere where an outsider wants to disrupt entrenched market participants - they have a friend on the city council while you do not. This sort of corruption isn't at all confined to San Francisco. In my corner of the forest, someone tried to get permits for an apartment complex that would have relieved pressure on the rental market and cut into the profits of the established landowners. No permits for him, and the rent remains too high!
- bombcar 6y agoIt’s exacerbated by the fact that those against it will go and bitch to the city, but those who don’t care will do and say nothing. It’s rare to find rabid fans of a new building to come out in support.
- dwaltrip 6y agoI wonder if there are any ways to modify processes to account mitigate dynamics like the one you describe.
- senkora 6y agoIt seems like it did work end in end, by sapping his funds until he was unable to enter the market.