Ocasio-Cortez introduces amendment to block Trump’s ‘racist’ housing rule
The New York representative believes the 'Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice' amendment would increase discrimination against people of color and the poor
Democratic congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced an amendment to block President Donald Trump from making changes to the Affirmatively Further Fair Housing Act.
Ocasio-Cortez announced the amendment in a tweet replying to the president.
READ MORE: AOC calls out Republican who called her ‘f–king b-tch’ on House floor
“I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream,” Trump tweeted, “that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood…”
“…Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH Rule. Enjoy!”
Ocasio-Cortez replied in a tweet saying, “I am happy to inform you that I’ve already introduced an amendment to block your latest racist, classist nonsense.”
The AFFH rule was designed to eliminate racial disparities in housing.
The disparities emerged as suburbs expanded after the Second World War. Black people were largely prohibited from buying suburban homes, while white Americans who could afford to buy houses fled from rapidly integrating inner cities.
AOC joined with 16 other Democratic co-sponsors to attempt to block HUD’s recent decision to change with an amendment to the fiscal 2021 House Transportation-HUD spending bill. According to Roll Call, “the amendment, which would scrap the new Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice rule, is scheduled for House floor debate this week. It is among hundreds of proposed amendments to the spending package.”
The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, (AFFH) was designed to eliminate racial disparities in housing by telling jurisdictions that receive housing funds they must assess patterns of housing discrimination and come up with a plan to diminish them.
The president has stated that he will protect the “suburban lifestyle dream.”
Trump has tried to make fair housing part of his 2020 platform.
In a tele-rally earlier this week, Trump told Iowa voters, “People have gone to the suburbs, they want the beautiful homes, they don’t have to have low-income housing development built in their community, which is going to reduce — which has reduced — the prices of their homes and also increased crime substantially.”
READ MORE: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez berated by GOP colleague who calls her a ‘f–king bitch’ at Capitol
A spokesperson for Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, called Trump’s tweets divisive.
“Turning Americans against each other with total lies is unacceptable for a commander-in-chief at any time,” the spokesperson said to The Independent, ”but it’s especially heinous to do so in a moment of worsening crisis.”
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