Scott James reports on the ironic application of rent control laws in San Francisco, which results in people of relatively modest means subsidizing the housing of the extraordinarily wealthy.
James profiles a group called the Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute, an organization that advocates for small-time landlords, that is trying to introduce means testing into rent control application. According to James, what ends up happening in many rent controlled properties (any property built before June 1979 qualifies) is that "mom-and-pop investors" (30 percent of the city's rental property owners), who James implies may be less well-off then their tenants, suffer with expenses that rise faster than rents.
With the supply of rent controlled properties being depleted by willful vacancy, demolition, and conversion, and rents rising across the city, affordable housing opportunities continue to shrink. It's clear that a tool is required to help preserve affordable housing, while allowing small-time landlords to make money from their investments, but it's unclear if rent control (at least is its present application) should be that tool.
FULL STORY: How Rent Control Subsidizes San Francisco's Super-Rich

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont