Two prominent developers have plead guilty to federal fraud charges for stealing millions of tax-payer dollars intended for low-income housing developments.
Jay Weaver reports on the unfolding federal prosecution "of an elaborate affordable-housing racket that cost taxpayers $36 million." To summarize the fraud: Michael Cox and Gonzalo DeRamon, co-founders of the Biscayne Housing Group, conspired with the top two principals of the Carlisle Development Group ("once the state’s biggest affordable housing developer," according to Weaver) as well as two South Florida contractors who already pleaded guilty.
Weaver's original report broke the news that Cox and deRamon intended to plead guilty. In an updated post, Weaver notes that "[c]ombined, Cox and DeRamon pocketed between $7 million and $9.5 million in illegal kickbacks from contractors in their Miami-Dade affordable-housing developments."
Weaver's reports provide more details about the reach of the conspiracy.
FULL STORY: Feds: Miami developers, contractor to plead guilty in $36 million affordable-housing scam

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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