Jessica Garrison and Angel Jennings report on a new lawsuit filed this week by the City of Los Angeles that is part of "an aggressive attempt to deal with the urban decay caused by the housing crash."
Marking the second time the City of Los Angeles has gone after a major bank for being a slumlord, officials announced civil allegations this week that, "found problems in the way US Bank handled 1,500
home foreclosures and cited more than 150 homes that had fallen into
disrepair. The city is demanding that the bank clean up vacant
properties and improve conditions for families living in others."
According to Garrison and Jennings, "City officials say they want to hold banks that helped fuel the housing
boom responsible for the blight that rippled through the city after
those loans went bad."
"[S]eeking an injunction and potentially millions of dollars in
penalties and restitution from the Minneapolis-based financial
institution," the approach being pursued by Los Angeles is novel, but may set a precedent for cities seeking creative ways to deal with problems resulting from foreclosures.
"Deutsche Bank and US Bank have argued that the blame for neglected,
foreclosed homes lies not with them but with loan servicers, who are
contracted to manage the properties."
FULL STORY: L.A. sues US Bank over blighted, abandoned homes

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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