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September 20, 2016
7PM
“Do you know how HUD (US Dept of Housings and Urban Development) entices towns to take money and then …………..HUD takes over your rights with the Mayor and Council – you nor your Council have say in the decisions of the town in which you live and pay taxes.”
Teaneck NJ, Dr. Al Frech has been following HUD for the last eight years and is making a difference in Ringwood and Wayne by alerting citizens and town councils on the dangers of HUD grants.
Perhaps your town has taken CDBG grants in the past. Everything changed in July 2015 with the affirmative fair housing. They added 377 new pages. In one section they say they won’t change your zoning, but if your zoning happens to conflict with the Fair Housing Act, then that is of concern. They never really spell out for you what the Fair Housing Act now happens to control. Once you sign on the line, you sign a contract that you will do whatever the plan turns out to be for that Fair Housing Assessment.
The wording in the AFFH ruling is accurate, but somewhat deceptive. Actually, HUD wants nothing to do with a community’s zoning laws. However, to affirmatively further fair housing, grantees may be required to ignore or change them themselves. In other words, HUD will CONTROL.
The rule does not impose any land use decisions or zoning laws on any local government. However a paragraph later says, but we will assist recipients to adjust their land use and zoning laws to meet their legal obligation to Affirmative Fair Housing.
You can’t afford to be in the dark – your town, your property value and your community could be in the hands of others – not you nor your town council!
American Legion Hall, 650 American Legion Drive, Teaneck, NJ
Love your article! I directed a HUD housing program for 10 years. Thank you so much for this imperative knowledge. I have to mention one piece of your article and bring up some food for thought: The author states that ‘HUD wants nothing to do with our local zoning’. In actuality, HUD is the creator of all zoning in the US. Which means they have a great deal of interest in our zoning structures. The Fair Housing Act is based on HUD zoning structures, which is evident by HUD’s statement: “We will assist recipients to adjust their land use and zoning laws to meet their legal obligation to Affirmative Fair Housing.” Thanks for your excellent reporting and your keen attention to laws that affect the American public.
HUD is one of the federal agencies that is likely cruising for a bruising under a new Trump administration. As POTUS, Trump will not accept any part of a system that keeps blacks and Hispanics from entering the mainstream of American economic life and instead ensnares them in a life of dependence on government.