June 21, 1946 -- Bill Veeck buys MLB baseball team Cleveland Indians for $2.2 million. Veeck used an unorthodox financing mechanism. He devised what he called a debenture-stock group, which allowed his backers to leverage their investment by paying only a small amount for stock and putting the majority of their money in the form of a loan to the team (the debenture), then leverage it again by borrowing most of the purchase price. He put up just $268,000 in cash for a 30 percent share of the club. His audacity continued. The Indians finished sixth in 1946 and rose only to fourth the next year, although attendance jumped to 1.5 million, second best in the league. Veeck signed the AL’s first black player, Larry Doby, in July 1946. The next year he signed Negro Leagues legend Satchel Paige, played up the mystery surrounding Paige’s age, and had a new drawing card as well as a useful pitcher. Then in 1948, Cleveland's Baseball team won the World Series. Didja know? The whirlwind schemes couldn't last. In 1949, Veeck's first wife, Eleanor, filed for divorce. Because most of Veeck's money was tied up in the team, he was forced to sell out to fund the divorce settlement.
Small ball 2025: While national advocates focus of tweaking change, locals are forging ahead.
December 23, 2024. ProPublica. Trump’s Pick to Lead Federal Housing Agency Has Opposed Efforts to Aid the Poor "As HUD secretary, Scott Turner would oversee billions in housing aid, but as a Texas state legislator he voted against protections for poor tenants and has called government assistance 'one of the most destructive things for the family.' ” NSS.
Mighta, coulda, woulda. December 26, 2024. Gothamist What could Trump 2.0 mean for NYC public housing? Here’s what experts say. Lets see: privatization, higher rents, work requirements and occupancy restrictions on non-citizens. How's that different than now?
January 10, 2025. Ohio Capital Journal. A slew of new housing laws take effect this month to streamline building, protect tenants. read more details here.
RHINO's Six Steps Project on hiatus til 2027...
In the meantime watch for A Deeper Dive where RHINOs can help connect the dots between private sector housing initiatives and future national housing policies.
Watch for a Deeper Dive on the last Saturday of the month.