The New York State Legislature has made a deal paving the way for local governments to approve rent regulations—a degree of local control that was previously impossible in the state.

Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Jesse McKinley, and Vivian Wang report: "Newly empowered Democratic leaders in Albany announced a landmark agreement on Tuesday to strengthen New York’s rent laws and tenant protections, seeking to address concern about housing costs that is helping drive the debate over inequality across the nation."
"The changes would abolish rules that let building owners deregulate apartments, close a series of loopholes that permit them to raise rents and allow some tenant protections to expand statewide," according to the article, and can be considered a "significant blow" to the real estate industry. Lobbyists for the industry have less pull in the state capital after Democrats took control of the State Senate in the November 2018 elections.
The deal has yet to be fully approved however, but the legislative package is expected for a vote later this week. Earlier coverage from May, picked up by Planetizen, dug into the effect that the statewide legislation could be expected to manifest at the local level.
FULL STORY: Landmark Deal Reached on Rent Protections for Tenants in N.Y.

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.

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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.
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