Having charged low rates during years of bumper development, the National Flood Insurance Program worked at cross-purposes with itself while development continued on.

Drawing from a segment of Vox's "The Weeds," Kelly Swanson writes, "The national flood insurance program was created in the 1960s to deter people from building in flood prone areas. But, says Sarah [Kliff], it has actually done the opposite."
"[Matthew Yglesias] offers an explanation as to why representatives from flood-prone areas support the federal flood insurance program — the cheap land has promoted economic growth." Charging low premiums in what were actually high-risk areas did little to curtail development there. And when the floods came, money was available to bail the most risky homes out.
Eager for development, local politicians supported the program. Says Yglesias, "It was the politicians in these areas that did not really want to accept the market verdict, that it may seem like the city of Houston is surrounded by cheap land, but that land has enormous hidden flooding risk."
FULL STORY: The Weeds: the problem with the national flood insurance program

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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