Obama presents ‘social engineering’ in revise Fair Housing Rule
Updating the Fair Housing Act passed in 1968, the Obama administration is attempting to deeper and wider in restructing the face of America under the guise of “dismantling segregation” and “fostering integration.”
The new rules will require cities and towns all over the country to scrutinize their housing patterns for racial bias and to publicly report, every three to five years, the results. Communities will also have to set goals, which will be tracked over time, for how they will further reduce “segregation.”
“This is the most serious effort that HUD has ever undertaken to do that,” says Julian Castro, the secretary of the department of Housing and Urban Development. “I believe that it’s historic.”
The new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule (AFFHR) gives the federal government the power “re-engineer” every American neighborhood. Federal standards of racial and ethnic composition, densifying housing, transportation, and business development can be imposed casting aside the authority of local governments over core responsibilities, from zoning to transportation to education.
photo Alina Ku-Ku via Shutterstock
“As a former mayor, I know firsthand that strong communities are vital to the well-being and prosperity of families,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro in a statement. “Unfortunately, too many Americans find their dreams limited by where they come from, and a ZIP code should never determine a child’s future. This important step will give local leaders the tools they need to provide all Americans with access to safe, affordable housing in communities that are rich with opportunity.”
Stanley Kurtz at National Review writes: “Fundamentally, AFFH is an attempt to achieve economic integration. Race and ethnicity are being used as proxies for class, since these are the only hooks for social engineering provided by the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Like AFFH itself, today’s Washington Post piece blurs the distinction between race and class, conflating the persistence of “concentrated poverty” with housing discrimination by race. Not being able to afford a freestanding house in a bedroom suburb is no proof of racial discrimination. Erstwhile urbanites have been moving to rustic and spacious suburbs since Cicero built his villa outside Rome. Even in a monoracial and mono-ethnic world, suburbanites would zone to set limits on dense development.”
Republicans argues the action goes against the will and economic capacity of prospective residents.
“This overreaching new regulation is an attempt to extort communities into giving up control of local zoning decisions and reengineer the makeup of our neighborhoods,” said Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), who has introduced several pieces of legislation that would prohibit HUD from implementing the rule, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Racist poster from 1866 – Library of Congress
I’m a height challenged american. I’m 5’4 and I can’t get the breaks taller people get in life. When will King Baracus Obamicus going to help a guy like me?