In this discussion, Richard Kahlenberg, an education scholar and Director of the American Identity Project, dives into the persistent issue of economic segregation. He emphasizes how exclusionary zoning laws limit access to affordable housing, deepening educational disparities. Kahlenberg argues for systemic changes, highlighting successful advocacy efforts in Minneapolis. He also explores the interconnection between housing policies and democratic values, underscoring the urgent need for reforms that promote inclusivity and opportunity across communities.

Richard Kahlenberg, author of Excluded: How Snob Zoning, Nimbyism, and Class Bias Build the Walls We Don't See, discusses how US housing policy segregates neighborhoods based on economic class, disproportionately impacting Black and Brown people. He proposes a National Economic Fair Housing Act to combat class-based exclusion. The podcast also explores the connection between school and neighborhood integration, the original vision of charter schools, changes in cell phone tower regulations, concerns about fair housing legislation, and the power of organizing against racism.