WSJ editorial on HUD's attack on Westchester County

This is of interest to me because A) I live in Westchester and B) I know Rob Astorino, the County Executive.

Why is Westchester being targeted?

Social Engineering In suburbia

Even the activist group that filed the original lawsuit couldn't show any pattern of discrimination, which is why it filed a false claims suit instead. According to the 2010 Census, Westchester is the fourth most racially diverse county in the state, trailing only Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, and tying Manhattan.

Ahhh, here's the reason!

The Obama Administration acknowledges that its demands on Westchester—which include rezoning—fall outside of the settlement, but the White House is determined to make an example of the county. "We're clearly messaging other jurisdictions across the country that there has been a significant change in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and we're going to ask them to pursue similar goals as well," said Rob Sims, a deputy secretary at HUD at the time of the settlement.

Comments

[Phil]

Westchester is not being "targeted."
First, the setlement was not done during Obama's administration. It predates Asorino as well. It was done when Bush was in office and Andy Spano's administration admitted they took money but did not spend it on affordable housing the way they said they would.

This is an answer to the NIMBYs. Dismissing the settlement as social engineering is false. I'll tell you what social engineering is: NIMBY towns with NIMBY limousine liberals rejecting any sort of development because of "zoning." In other words, hey, we only want 4000 square foot homes on 2 acre lots. But we love all people (who can afford to buy a 4000 square foot home on a 2 acre lot). THAT is social engineering.

And if they wanted to assert that right, they never should have taken the government's money under Spano's administration.

[Phil]

Sorry, I meant he lawsuit. Not the settlement.

[tomfaranda]

Wow. Where to begin. I think you miss the point. HUD is going beyond what the settlement to their lawsuit was with the Spano Administration. And his settlement of that lawsuit was heavily criticized by local officials. But since it was made, the Astorino Administration is abiding by it. What Astorino says, and the WSJ agrees with - is that HUD is now going beyond - way beyond - the terms of the settlement, to push HUD's ideas for social engineering. Did you read the whole WSJ editorial, or just the excerpt?

[Phil]

I read the whole thing, it was long on assertions and devoid of specifics. I have followed this, and Astorino, whom I like, has objected to a mandate on a certain number of 3-bedroom units.