Housing Advocates have filed a lawsuit to press the Department of Housing and Urban Development to enforce requirements of the Fair Housing Act.
"Fair-housing advocates planned to file a lawsuit early Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and HUD Secretary Ben Carson for suspending an Obama-era rule requiring communities to examine and address barriers to racial integration," reports Tracy Jan.
"The lawsuit alleges Carson unlawfully suspended the 2015 rule by not providing advance public notice or opportunity for comment," according to Jan, who reports that the Washington Post obtained a draft of the lawsuit.
The Obama Administration approved the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing in July 2015 as a way to better enforce the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which was intended to protect Americans from discrimination in the housing market. The Trump Administration suspended a key part of the rule in January 2018.
Under the Trump Administration, HUD has changed mission away from racial discrimination and fair housing, proposing rent increases for people receiving federal support (more on that proposal in Carson's own words here) and generating political support on EnVision Centers, which provide job training and workforce development.
Read the full story: HUD Secretary Ben Carson to be sued for suspending Obama-era fair-housing rule
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority