In 2009, President Obama created the Partnership for Sustainable Communities (PSC) and brought together three federal powerhouses—EPA, DOT, and HUD—all regulatory agencies that were tasked to coordinate their goals of implementing Sustainable Development in America; the United Nations prescribed whole life plan for the 21^st century.

Financially strapped US cities and counties searching for funds to pay for regulatory mandates can opt for PSC’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants. However, these grants come with mandatory sustainability criteria like affordable and equitable high-density housing, transit oriented development, and mixed-use zoning.

HUD’s latest rule and amendment to the 1968 Fair Housing Act, seeks to “foster the diversity and strength of communities and regions by improving integrated living patterns.” To achieve this, HUD proposes to put cities through an examination that measures six indices—poverty, school proficiency, labor market segment, job access, health hazards exposure, and transit. According to HUD, “program participants will submit assessments on a regular schedule and HUD will review them.”

In other words, HUD wants to force social and economic integration. Presently, regional MPOs like SANDAG and SCAG are mandated by Sacramento to survey affordable housing inventories in the county—city by city—and require that each city set aside adequate zoned lots for this type of housing. If approved, HUD’s new rules would clearly move us ‘further’ toward central planning. In the future, HUD will have the authority to coerce cities to build low-income housing in high-income neighborhoods to “overcome historic patterns of segregation.”

California MPOs like SANDAG, SCAG, and ABAG are regional boards that have governing power. When the appointed members of these boards enter into Joint Powers of Authority with other public agencies like transportation and environmental NGOs for example, the people lose. Why? Because these boards, agencies, and NGOs are not elected and therefore are not subject to elections and oaths of office.

President Obama considers his vision of a centrally-planned never-never land, a life-time achievement of social, economic, and environmental justice. We know better. This is just the latest in a series of initiatives by Obama’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities to socially engineer our neighborhoods.

Ed Pinto, of the American Enterprise Institute states: “It started with public housing and urban renewal, which failed spectacularly back in the 50’s and 60’s. They tried it again in the 90’s when they wanted to transform house finance, do away with down payments, and the result was millions of foreclosures and financial collapse.” (Source)

The public comment period for this proposal ends on September 19, 2013. Please submit your comments here.

Read Stanley Kurtz’ article in National Review for more in-depth analysis.