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Minneapolis drew national attention in 2018 for being the first city in the <br />nation (https://www.startribune.com/x/566241702/) to loosen single-family <br />zoning rules it said were rooted in racist planning decisions of the past. The <br />state of Oregon (https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-single-family- <br />zoning-law-effect-developers/) and cities such as Berkeley, Sacramento and <br />Charlotte have since adopted similar measures, and officials in Connecticut <br />(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/26/realestate/connecticut-zoning- <br />reform.html) , California, Atlanta, and Seattle have also debated zoning <br />reforms. President Biden is proposing a $5 billion competitive grant program <br />(https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/blog/2021/06/17/exclusionary-zoning-its- <br />effect-on-racial-discrimination-in-the-housing-market/) to encourage cities to <br />eliminate exclusionary zoning practices. <br />At the Minnesota Capitol, two lawmakers — a Republican and a Democrat — <br />have introduced measures that would either encourage or require cities to <br />allow higher density development. <br />Even the most ardent advocates admit that zoning reform will not eliminate <br />racial segregation or improve affordability on its own, especially not soon <br />enough to help the current generation. <br />“I don’t think it’s a panacea,” says Gary Cunningham, a former Metropolitan <br />Council member and longtime leading voice for racial equity in the Twin <br />Cities. “It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s not sufficient.” <br />Minneapolis shows that change will be slow. Only 23 building permits have <br />been issued for new duplexes or triplexes in places they would not have <br />previously been allowed. <br />Some of the fully developed first-ring suburbs are starting to follow <br />Minneapolis’ lead, but most suburban leaders believe that they can meet the <br />needs of anyone who wants to live in their communities by zoning land for <br />townhouses and apartment complexes, especially along highways, transit <br />corridors and in commercial areas. <br />(http://www.startribune.com) <br />(https://www.facebo <br />u=https%3A%2F% <br />twin- <br />cities- <br />housing- <br />rules- <br />keep- <br />the- <br />metro- <br />segregated%2F600 <br />(https://twitte <br />url=https%3A <br />twin- <br />cities- <br />housing- <br />rules- <br />keep- <br />the- <br />metro- <br />segregated% <br />(https:/ <br />section