Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced legislation that would tie federal funding to pro-development policies at the local level.

Richard Kahlenberg reports that Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has a "big idea" about reining in exclusionary zoning.
According to Kahlenberg, Senator Booker "says bad zoning laws are making housing more segregated and less affordable, and he has just introduced legislation to do something about it."
Toward that end, Senator Booker recently introduced the Housing, Opportunity, Mobility and Equity (HOME) Act, "to address this key piece of the Fair Housing Act’s unfinished business."
"The bill would promote more inclusive zoning policies in order to make housing more affordable and less segregated," explains Kahlenberg.
Under Booker’s proposal, states, cities and counties receiving funding under the $3.3 billion federal Community Development Block Grant program for public infrastructure and housing would be required to develop strategies to reduce barriers to housing development and increase the supply of housing. Plans could include authorizing more high density and multifamily zoning and relaxing lot size restrictions. The goal is for affordable housing units to comprise not less than 20 percent of new housing stock.
The article includes a lot more context for the legislative proposal, including anecdotes from Senator Booker's personal history. The legislation is the latest attempt by congressional Democrats to tackle the national crisis caused by the high cost of housing. Recently, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced legislation that would offer a tax break to qualified renters.
FULL STORY: Taking on Class and Racial Discrimination in Housing

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)