IJ (Institute for Justice) client Azael Sepulveda can finally open his mechanic's shop in Pasadena, Texas. That's because of a rare temporary injunction we secured yesterday against the city's demand that he build dozens of useless and expensive parking spots.
Azael has been a car guy all his life; he even has a popular YouTube channel on car repair. After almost a decade running a top-rated repair shop in a rented building, and with his first child on the way, he decided it was time to put his dreams in drive. Last summer, Azael spent his life savings and took out a loan to buy his own garage. With five parking places, the new property is more than large enough for his one-man operation.
But rather than welcome Azael’s small business, Pasadena refuses to let his shop open unless he builds 23 additional parking spaces at a cost of $40,000—nearly half the value of the entire property. Azael can’t afford to build an empty parking lot, and he shouldn't have to, so he teamed up with IJ to fight back. Yesterday, a judge ruled that Azael can open his shop as we litigate to strike down Pasadena’s senseless parking minimum for good. You can learn more about this case on IJ’s own popular YouTube channel.
This case builds on IJ’s years of work reinvigorating economic liberty and property rights in Texas and across America. In our historic 2015 victory, Patel v. TX Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state’s constitution prohibits irrational and unduly burdensome economic regulations. That victory helped make yesterday’s win possible.
On behalf of our clients and staff, thank you for standing by IJ’s side. I’ll leave you with this photo of a happy Azael, at center, surrounded by his IJ legal team after the judge’s ruling.