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KUSI: Advocates urge end to zoning that they say causes housing segregation

Reported By: Sasha Foo

By: Sarah Foo

Posted: October 9. 2019

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A coalition of housing advocates and civil rights groups is calling on the City of San Diego to end housing segregation by changing the City’s zoning laws.

They say these laws prevent of development of apartments, condos and other multi-unit dwellings in some neighborhoods, keeping these areas segregated.

Speakers referenced research that showed how Washington’s Depression-era mortgage policies fostered racial segregation, Flores displayed a map of San Diego from the 1930s, which showed neighborhoods where lending was forbidden. They included Logan Heights, Barrio Logan, City Heights and much of southeast San Diego.

Zoning, several speakers argued, was used as a weapon against poorer citizens.