Current Texas law grants state representatives significant power over whether affordable developments receive federal tax credits. Controversially, several representatives have proposed the reduction of their own authority in that regard.

Texas has long been a key stage for debates over fair housing, as in the controversy over "disparate impact" that led to a landmark Supreme Court affirmation of civil rights law in 2015 (and subsequent doubts over the future of Obama-era reforms). This year, Jared Brey writes, housing groups and a number of state representatives want to rework the state assessment process for federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) applications.
"Currently, state representatives have a lot of sway over proposed development via letters submitted during the assessment process," Brey writes. He goes on, "That power has been used to reinforce patterns of residential segregation in Texas that have been the subject of legal battles for years. [...] Even in the most innocent scenarios, state representatives' support has a very loose connection to the merits of a project, housing advocates say." Less innocent allegations include the political entrenchment of racist attitudes and outright bribery.
Several state reps are currently trying to remove the letters from LIHTC scoring criteria, Brey says. "Proponents of the new bills hope that the recent high-profile examples of state representatives blatantly misusing their influence over low-income housing projects will give the legislation a better chance of passing this year."
FULL STORY: Some Texas Lawmakers Are Trying to Deflate Their Housing Power

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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