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.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie