Pittsburgh will continue its pursuit of a "source of income" law to protect against housing discrimination.
Pittsburgh created an ordinance in 2015 that forced landlords to accept federal housing vouchers—a so-called "source of income" rule. Last month, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Joseph James struck that law down, calling the law "invalid and unenforceable." Now the city plans to appeal that ruling.
Katie Giammarise reports:
At issue is a law that prevents property owners from discriminating against a tenant based on the person's “source of income.” City council passed the ordinance to address discrimination facing low-income tenants seeking to utilize subsidies, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, commonly called Section 8. The program gives low-income people a voucher to find a home in the private rental market; tenants must pay a portion of their income in rent with the difference made up via a federal subsidy.
The judge ruled in a lawsuit brought by the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh shortly after the city approved the law.
The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty recently released a report that recommends source of income laws as a key strategy for reducing the "eviction epidemic" around the country. A similar law failed in Baltimore in 2016. Meanwhile, in Texas, the state and the city of Dallas squared off in court in 2017 over the state's preemption of source of income laws.
FULL STORY: City will appeal ruling on source of income bill
Los Angeles Clarifies and Strengthens Protections Against Source of Income Discrimination
Los Angeles officials hope a new law will cut off one of the city's pipelines to homelessness.
San Jose Approves Tenant Protections, Studying a Ban on Voucher Discrimination
The city of San Jose, California is crafting regulations to give renters and low-income residents more rights and access to fair housing.
Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies
A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association