As housing prices reach hit "crisis" levels, many cities are launching innovative initiatives to provide affordable housing.
"The problem of finding affordable homes extends across the country. In the greater Chicago area for instance, town mayors have banded together to encourage employers to help lower- and middle-income workers with down payments by offering matching grants.The City of St. Charles, Ill., an affluent suburb with about 30,000 people, has also decided to act as model for other employers. Starting in January, it will offer up to $5,000 to help with closing costs and the down payments for clerks, police officers, and firefighters who fall below the area's median income of $57,000."
Thanks to Laura Kranz
FULL STORY: Cities take on housing crunch, creatively

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

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.

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.
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