The recent glut of luxury development, gentrification, and high rents has been frequently condemned. But what factors affecting affordability might that discussion miss?

In response to stories like this one from the New York Times, Stephen Smith argues that the press is missing the point. High-end developments, pieds-à-terre, and gentrification, Smith argues, are only partially responsible for a deficit of affordable real estate.
The article asserts that middle-income immigrant demand has created a competitive rental market in districts where white gentrifiers have not settled. A fixation with astronomically-priced condos is misplaced: "with three-quarters of the housing units in East New York being rented out, it’s rental rates, not sales prices, that are the real cause of concern when it comes to rising housing costs."
Another of Smith’s problems with gentrification-focused reporting: statistics cited by those articles "lumped together all non-primary residences, whether they were truly empty pieds-à-terre, or merely condos that were rented out—a somewhat interesting phenomenon, but nowhere near as controversial as apartments that actually sit empty." He calls out the press for sensationalizing an influx of "yuppies" and "oligarchs."
FULL STORY: The Media’s Unproductive Obsession With Oligarchs and Gentrifiers

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.

Why Bike Lanes Are Good: An Explainer for the US Transportation Secretary
Sean Duffy says there’s no evidence that bike lanes have benefits. Streetsblog — and federal agencies’ own data — beg to differ.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses
The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund
A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service