It’s been a tough slog for a bill designed to force landlords to remove lead from all buildings before they can charge tenants for rent.
"A law designed to strengthen the city’s safeguards against lead poisoning should soon finally get the vote backers have waited for after almost two years," reports Catalina Jaramillo.
Jaramillo details the surprisingly difficult path the law has taken to get to the finish line, encountering stiff opposition from landlords in the city. "The bill, which would require all rental units built before 1978 to be free of lead hazards, was set for a vote in June before council let out for the summer. Advocates expected a win. The bill had been in discussion for 18 months."
Landlords oppose the bill because they believe the city's efforts are already working, and the additional regulation is unnecessary. "According to city data [pdf], the number of children with blood lead levels above the city’s threshold for danger fell from 1,413 in 2006 to 369 in 2015," reports Jaramillo.
Now the vote is expected to face a vote in fall of this year, after final details on enforcement are hammered out. "The new lead bill requires landlords to certify all housing built before 1978 is free of lead hazards before obtaining or renewing the rental license required to collect rent," according to the article.
FULL STORY: City Hall is uniting around a lead poisoning law hated by landlords
Philadelphia 'Diversion Program' Prevents Evictions Through Mediation
A program that provides mediation between landlords and tenants has helped a majority of applicants avoid eviction, signaling a promising avenue for renter assistance as landlords seek to recoup COVID-era losses.
Houston Council Will Consider Stricter Apartment Inspection Process
The proposal would reform the inspection process to improve coordination between departments and institute a fine for landlords who don't make requested repairs.
More Insight Into the Effects of the Pandemic for Rental Property Landlords
A pair of recent surveys attempt to shed light on the changing business and property management practices of landlords during the pandemic.
Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.
Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?
Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing
A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.
Tempe Historic Preservation Proposal Could Make it Harder to Build New Homes
Proposed changes to the city’s preservation ordinance would make two-thirds of the city’s housing stock eligible for preservation.
How to Measure Transit Equity
A new report highlights the need to go beyond traditional equity metrics to assess how public transit systems are serving the lowest-income and most disadvantaged riders.
Why Brand New Cities Won’t Solve Our Urban Problems
Building cities takes time and resources. Why not spend them on fixing the ones we have?
Urban3
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
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.
