Venezuelan gangs, affordable housing and bad policies

For years I have cited Venezuela in my economics classes as an example of bad government policy. Now it appears that the consequences of that policy have led to more crime being exported towns about the US. It is perhaps not surprising that San Antonio, due to its proximity to the border, is one of those cities.

SAPD, along with “multiple state and federal agencies,” several people arrested last weekend in an apartment complex on the north side on suspicion of human trafficking, among other things. Four of these were members of the infamous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). This came just after the president of the SA Professional Firefighters Association warned firefighters stay carefully in the area. This is a cautionary tale for San Antonians.

Since the late Hugo Chavez took over in Venezuela and was succeeded by current President Nicolas Maduro, their admittedly socialist policies have pushed what was once one of the wealthier countries in South America into an economic black hole. Such programs lead to predictable outcomes: shortages, bare shelves, inflation, etc. When citizens start to feel the full effect, they can try to change things through the ballot box. If that doesn’t work, they flee. Apparently, members of TdA have ridden that wave completely beyond our borders.

Although this harmful type of governance may be called would be “progressive” in local jurisdictions, the results would be the same. It turns out that some of it has demonstrably led to these problems. Just like the mainstream media may claim that our Migrant Resource Center is not an attraction for immigrants, but offers a more attractive alternative to ‘languishing on the streets’. It’s not the only reason they come; maybe not even the biggest reason. But it does make their arrival more likely. In general, immigrants have always helped make this country great and prosperous, but that should not rob us of a basic sense of logic here.

These gang members have also reportedly moved into areas with government-subsidized housing. There aren’t many issues that reflect the city’s policies at its worst more than so-called ‘affordable’ housing. A few years ago, through a bond election, officials came misled citizens to think that they could solve the problem of rising housing costs by borrowing more. A cruel irony is that property taxes pay for subsequent debt.

Rather than sticking with these homeowner repossessions, the votes to increase them, along with annual budget increases, were nearly unanimous. Now us to have terrorists take advantage of this political naivety/opportunism. This is just one reason why several communities across the country are protesting against these housing projects.

We applaud law enforcement’s action against TdA last weekend, but they and the city have known about their presence for at least a year. Hopefully we see a change in tactics. However, in the event that a TdA member slips through this layer of public safety, he might encounter a San Antonian who could not be bribed by his city’s leaders.buyback of weapons.” The gangster will then discover it one reason The Venezuelan “progressive” policy has not yet fully taken hold here.

Christopher E. Baecker teaches economics at BASIS Charter School and Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, and is editor and policy director at InfuseSA. He can be reached by email, Facebook or Tweet.