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Housing is Key to the Harris-Walz Agenda

The Harris-Walz ticket is making headlines for its ambitious housing goals. In a recent article from Route Fifty, National Association of Home Builders President and CEO Jim Tobin remarked that the Harris-Walz plan marked the first time in his career where housing and housing supply took center stage in a presidential platform. “That’s really important because housing has become so far out of reach for so many Americans [and] we’ve got to solve that problem,” he said.

As part of a broad economic agenda, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have outlined a multi-faceted plan with the goal of adding 3 million new units. The plan consists of building out existing policies, such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, along with new ways to empower and incentivize home builders and developers to construct and restore affordable housing. Additionally, they would ease regulations around development, reducing parking minimums and single-family zoning, to maximize usable residential space. For more on increasing housing supply and improving affordability at the state and local level, read the NewDEAL Forum’s “Addressing Housing Issues: Lessons from the 2024 NewDEAL Forum Ideas Summit.”

NewDEAL CEO Talks Reproductive Rights in 2024 Election

In this week’s episode of An Honorable Profession, NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan highlights one of the most powerful moments during the DNC when three women shared their personal stories of being denied abortions and what is at stake with a potential national abortion ban under Trump. Debbie is also featured this week in The Electorette podcast, chatting with host Jen Taylor-Skinner about JD Vance, the politics of reproductive rights, and the impact of draconian state abortion bans.

Their conversation highlights NewDEAL Leader-led efforts to protect patients seeking an abortion, as well as medical providers, including the efforts of Mayors Kate Gallego (Phoenix), Tishuara Jones (St. Louis), and Ron Nirenberg (San Antonio).

NewDEALers in the Spotlight

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps Elevates Bold Climate Plan

Santa Barbara County, CA, Supervisor Laura Capps championed the county’s newly approved plan to address climate change, “Together to Zero.” The plan aims to reduce emissions by 50% below 2018 levels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. It identifies various sectors and strategies to meet this goal, including increasing electric vehicle ownership from twenty-five percent to forty-five percent by 2030. That would directly address the city’s largest source of carbon emissions: single-occupancy vehicles. Additionally, the plan includes investments in more energy-efficient buildings, methods for reducing climate-related wildfires by building more trees, and a resolution to study solutions for reducing future emissions from oil and gas.

Supervisor Capps told Noozhawk, “I just go back to my strong, intense desire to make this succeed and make sure that these aren’t just goals on paper, but we really lift up the entire community that’s already there.”