Jose Garcia’s Post

Racial segregation characterizes every metropolitan area in the U.S. and bears responsibility for our most serious social and economic problems. We’ve taken no serious steps to desegregate neighborhoods, however, because we are hobbled by a national myth that residential segregation is de facto—the result of private discrimination or personal choices that do not violate constitutional rights. On Tuesday, April 23rd, at 9:30 A.M. join Leah Rothstein, author of "JUST ACTION: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law" via Zoom where she will discuss how residential segregation was created by racially explicit and unconstitutional government policy and describes how we can begin to address this, providing dozens of strategies local groups can pursue to redress segregation in their own communities. By starting with achievable local victories, we can build a national movement that can remedy our unconstitutional racial landscape. Leah Rothstein’s expertise in the full range of housing policies stems from more than two decades of experience as a consultant to affordable housing developers and local governments and as a community and union organizer. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To register for this event visit: https://lnkd.in/d7g9NDJa This event is hosted by Tenfold’s Housing Rights and Resources Center, a team that is committed to empowering you with tools, knowledge, and resources you can use to open doors to equitable housing. Every day, they connect with landlords, tenants, and service providers so they can understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities and encourage rental stability. To browse all upcoming opportunities, visit: https://lnkd.in/gWnCqdvw

Racial segregation characterizes every metropolitan area in the U.S. and bears responsibility for our most serious social and economic problems. We’ve taken no serious steps to desegregate neighborhoods, however, because we are hobbled by a national myth that residential segregation is de facto—the result of private discrimination or personal choices that do not violate constitutional rights. On Tuesday, April 23rd, at 9:30 A.M. join Leah Rothstein, author of "JUST ACTION: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law" via Zoom where she will discuss how residential segregation was created by racially explicit and unconstitutional government policy and describes how we can begin to address this, providing dozens of strategies local groups can pursue to redress segregation in their own communities. By starting with achievable local victories, we can build a national movement that can remedy our unconstitutional racial landscape. Leah Rothstein’s expertise in the full range of housing policies stems from more than two decades of experience as a consultant to affordable housing developers and local governments and as a community and union organizer. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To register for this event visit: https://lnkd.in/d7g9NDJa This event is hosted by Tenfold’s Housing Rights and Resources Center, a team that is committed to empowering you with tools, knowledge, and resources you can use to open doors to equitable housing. Every day, they connect with landlords, tenants, and service providers so they can understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities and encourage rental stability. To browse all upcoming opportunities, visit: https://lnkd.in/gWnCqdvw

Racial segregation characterizes every metropolitan area in the U.S. and bears responsibility for our most serious social and economic problems. We’ve taken no serious steps to desegregate neighborhoods, however, because we are hobbled by a national myth that residential segregation is de facto—the result of private discrimination or personal choices that do not violate constitutional rights. On Tuesday, April 23rd, at 9:30 A.M. join Leah Rothstein, author of "JUST ACTION: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law" via Zoom where she will discuss how residential segregation was created by racially explicit and unconstitutional government policy and describes how we can begin to address this, providing dozens of strategies local groups can pursue to redress segregation in their own communities. By starting with achievable local victories, we can build a national movement that can remedy our unconstitutional racial landscape. Leah Rothstein’s expertise in the full range of housing policies stems from more than two decades of experience as a consultant to affordable housing developers and local governments and as a community and union organizer. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. To register for this event visit: https://lnkd.in/d7g9NDJa This event is hosted by Tenfold’s Housing Rights and Resources Center, a team that is committed to empowering you with tools, knowledge, and resources you can use to open doors to equitable housing. Every day, they connect with landlords, tenants, and service providers so they can understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities and encourage rental stability. To browse all upcoming opportunities, visit: https://lnkd.in/gWnCqdvw

Housing insecurity feeds the cycle of the justice system—it's called the "homelessness-carceral cycle." Criminalizing people trying to sleep and shelter in public is not the answer, but we can leverage this moment of intersection to create positive change. Through collaboration and partnership, that same system connection can address the root issue and solve problems on both ends. Our recent joint report with the Housing Solutions Lab at New York University's Furman Center explores opportunities for cooperation between system actors and housing agencies to bridge gaps and reduce justice system involvement for the disadvantaged. Find its insights here: https://lnkd.in/e8Ukb5aG

When councilmatic courtesy has a disparate impact on underrepresented communities, people with disabilities and other communities are left behind - The Tale of Baltimore County, Maryland. “No jurisdiction in the metropolitan area rezones property as often, or as liberally, as Baltimore County does. It lasts a few months, and can change the fabric of a neighborhood forever.” - Baltimore Banner In particular, single-family zoning originated as a tool to exclude members of many underrepresented communities from inhabiting the same spaces as white homeowners. It became a way to make neighborhoods more exclusive and economically unfeasible for members of underrepresented communities to afford to live near white people. Well guess what was approved for Lutherville Station? - Single Family Zoning (which caps the number of apartments that can be built at 16 units per acre and bars buildings higher than 60 feet.) Lutherville Station could still move forward if the state Department of Transportation designates it a transit-oriented development, which would allow it to pass through under the state law that takes effect in January. At least, Secretary Jake Day remains on the right side of history. Jake Day, the state Secretary for Housing and Community Development, sent a letter of support Tuesday to Olszewski. “I would be hard-pressed to invent a TOD from whole cloth that checks as many boxes for economic development, employment, and community benefit as this project does,” Day wrote. ***The Color of Law and Just Action are free to read in the library and possibly on Audible.*** Just Action https://lnkd.in/easTAvmX Color of Law https://lnkd.in/e-hjFdFJ

The "studies" that show San Francisco in a bad light are like comparing gradeschoolers to college kids. Nampa, ID is the best? They have 110K people and a budget of $279M. It's basically a suburb of Boise. SF has 808K people - the 4th largest city in the US - with vastly more complex issues like public transit, homelessness (you can't freeze to death here, unlike Idaho). SF is also a county. It's overall budget is $14B. Comparing metrics between these two is disingenuous at best. We have to start calling this kind of reporting out. Facts matter. None of the cities in this lists top 20 are major metros. SF has government problems, but this kind of hyperbole is just slamming on SF. I wonder why? https://lnkd.in/e8qnGeg7

Today I spoke at Philadelphia City Council in favor of a resolution introduced by Councilmember Rue Landau urging the Biden administration to release the final version of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing" Rule (AFFH). For those that don't know, The Fair Housing Act requires HUD and its grantees to take meaningful action to affirmatively further fair housing throughout the United States. In 2015, the Obama administration took an incredibly meaningful step in promulgating a federal rule to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. The 2015 rule required HUD and its grantees to complete an Assessment of Fair Housing that was required to lay out issues around equitable housing and concrete steps to ensure that all families were given equal access to housing giving those families the opportunity to thrive. In 2023, the Biden administration published a proposed update to the AFFH, which further built upon the promise the Obama administration had begun to deliver. However, despite receiving hundreds of comments in support of the proposed rule, the Biden admin has failed to release the final rule. In enacting Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, Congress recognized that "where a family lives, where it is allowed to live, is inextricably bound up with better education, better jobs, economic motivation, and good living conditions." Failure to release this rule ensures that many families, most of them Black and brown, will never be able to access the well resourced communities of their white peers. Decreasing segregation benefits every one of us. Evidence has long shown that educational outcomes, health outcomes, and criminal justice outcomes improve across every demographic the more that communities are successfully integrated with one another. Release of this rule is a move closer to realizing the dream of the Fair Housing Act to "provide fair housing throughout the United States."

As fair a housing professional and black woman living in America, I know firsthand the importance of living in a place where opportunity and dignity are not denied based on race, background, or identity. Yet, housing discrimination remains a harsh reality, with 34,150 fair housing complaints filed in 2023—the highest ever reported. Fair housing enforcement programs are vital lifelines for "all" communities, yet they face the threat of underfunding. We cannot allow this to happen. Where we live shapes access to clean air, quality schools, healthcare, transportation, and economic stability. Cutting funds for these programs cuts the promise of housing choice. Let’s demand action from Congress to: ✅ Allocate $125M to the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). ✅ Invest $36.6M in the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP). ✅ Fund HUD to hire 1,125 FTE staff for critical enforcement. 📢 Speak up to protect fair housing enforcement funding in FY '25! Click Here: https://lnkd.in/eWyV_hmV

The work of the NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU) plays a crucial role in addressing housing insecurity in NYC, which affects thousands of families across the city. "The impact of housing stability ripples outward. It’s not just about giving a family a roof over their heads—it’s about creating opportunities." This insightful article by Zyneisha Green delves into the transformative power of stable housing and highlights the critical work being done by teams like the NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit. Stable, affordable housing is the foundation for better health, education, and opportunities. Programs like the Home Support Unit (HSU) connect families with housing vouchers to landlords. I am so proud to be part of this team and help connect New Yorkers to these important services! If you're a landlord, consider how you can help change a life today. Learn more about HSU and Zyniesha's story: https://lnkd.in/eZav5d87 #HousingInsecurity #HousingForAll #NYCHousing #PublicEngagement

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in his third State of the City address at Hostos Community College in the Bronx, presented a forward-looking vision for working-class New Yorkers. He highlighted his administration's achievements in reducing crime, boosting job growth, and managing the asylum seeker crisis. Adams emphasized plans to make NYC even safer, develop a progressive economy, and enhance city livability. Key achievements include a drop in major crimes, removal of illegal guns, creation of over 270,000 private-sector jobs, and major investments in affordable housing and public education. The Mayor also announced initiatives for traffic safety, a new Department of Sustainable Delivery, and strategies against illegal smoke shops and social media's public health risks. Plans to further economic growth include a focus on the green economy and women's empowerment. Adams also addressed the need for mayoral accountability in public schools and public space enhancements, emphasizing climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure development. #NYCStateOfTheCity #EricAdams #PublicSafety #EconomicGrowth #HousingInitiatives #ClimateResilience #EducationReform #GreenEconomy #WomenEmpowerment #PublicHealth #SocialMediaAwareness #SustainableDelivery #TrafficSafety #NYCPublicSpaces #CommunityDevelopment #ClimateActionPlan #MayorAdamsVision #NewYorkCityProgress #WorkingClassFocus #UrbanSustainability #StateOfTheCity2024 https://lnkd.in/ePNMN27b