Current Texas law grants state representatives significant power over whether affordable developments receive federal tax credits. Controversially, several representatives have proposed the reduction of their own authority in that regard.
Texas has long been a key stage for debates over fair housing, as in the controversy over "disparate impact" that led to a landmark Supreme Court affirmation of civil rights law in 2015 (and subsequent doubts over the future of Obama-era reforms). This year, Jared Brey writes, housing groups and a number of state representatives want to rework the state assessment process for federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) applications.
"Currently, state representatives have a lot of sway over proposed development via letters submitted during the assessment process," Brey writes. He goes on, "That power has been used to reinforce patterns of residential segregation in Texas that have been the subject of legal battles for years. [...] Even in the most innocent scenarios, state representatives' support has a very loose connection to the merits of a project, housing advocates say." Less innocent allegations include the political entrenchment of racist attitudes and outright bribery.
Several state reps are currently trying to remove the letters from LIHTC scoring criteria, Brey says. "Proponents of the new bills hope that the recent high-profile examples of state representatives blatantly misusing their influence over low-income housing projects will give the legislation a better chance of passing this year."
FULL STORY: Some Texas Lawmakers Are Trying to Deflate Their Housing Power
In Defense of Asian American Neighborhoods
How do you address a history of anti-Asian housing discrimination? Not by destroying Asian American communities.
Low-Income Housing Tax Credits: 'Erecting Pockets of Poverty'
The state of Connecticut deploys almost all of its federal housing funding in impoverished communities, according to this bombshell investigatory report.
Affordable Housing Cap-and-Trade Idea Resurfaces
In New Jersey, a cap-and-trade system existed for two decades and appeared to just perpetuate housing and social inequities. But now legislators and researchers are considering it again.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service