Miami’s city government hopes to get some financial compensation from banks for the hardship the city endured during the foreclosure crisis.

During the great recession, Miami was hit hard by declining property values. "It was the epicenter of the foreclosure problem," Robert Barnes says in an article for the Washington Post. In an effort to recoup some of the losses (they argue) they suffered at the hands of financial institutions that used predatory and discriminatory lending practices to extract value from Miami communities, "Miami sued Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup under the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which bars discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing," Barnes reports.
This strategy has not previously been attempted. "Banks have been sued by individuals and taken to task by the federal government for lending practices, but these new cases are the first in which cities are the plaintiffs and are demanding that banks be held accountable for harming their communities," Barnes tells us. Bank representatives say opening the door to let communities sue banks would expand liability beyond the intentions of the Fair Housing Act. But city officials are confident that if their case is allowed to go to trial they will win.
FULL STORY: To recoup losses from the housing collapse, Miami pursues a novel suit

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

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

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.

New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.

Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
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