April Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

Last week, the Trump administration continued its effort to dismantle key federal initiatives, including the federal housing voucher program and the Public Lands Rule. Experts warn that Maui’s attempt to alleviate the housing crisis by banning short-term rentals could devastate the county’s economy, and a history lesson from San Francisco offers insights for today’s housing crisis. In Texas, churches rally behind zoning reform legislation while state lawmakers seek to ban cities from building new bike lanes. And an argument for why we should fund public transit.

The full list of April’s most-read stories:

1. Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

The historic settlement mandated improvements to wastewater systems in poor communities that have experienced severe impacts from pollution.

2. Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss 

Maui’s plan to eliminate short-term rentals to create more housing for locals could backfire with catastrophic effects for the tourism-dependent economy.

3. Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program 

The administration is considering massive cuts to the Section 8 housing voucher program and other federal housing assistance programs, claiming they can be more effectively replaced with state-run programs.

4. The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees 

Over a century ago, San Francisco deployed a quick-build solution to provide housing for thousands during one of the city’s worst crises. Could it be a blueprint for the future?

5. Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation? 

Todd Litman offers eight reasons why subsidizing public transit is an economically, ethically, and environmentally sound decision.

6. Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation 

Faith-based organizations are calling for zoning reform that could unlock thousands of new housing units and let churches make underutilized properties more productive.

7. BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule 

The Trump administration has taken aggressive steps to roll back conservation efforts and open up public lands to mining, lumber, and other industries.

8. Virginia Law Allows Judges to Mandate Speed Limiters 

Judges will be allowed to require speed limiting technology for drivers convicted of driving over 100 miles per hour.

9. Texas Bill Would Ban Road Diets, Congestion Pricing 

If passed, the bill would prohibit any new bike lanes or other infrastructure that requires narrowing traffic lanes.

10. ‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live 

A Minnesota state program offers housing assistance to Indigenous people, who, despite making up only 2 percent of the state’s population, make up 20 percent of the unhoused population.