Amicus Brief on Behalf of the Leo T. Mccarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good and 44 Housing Scholars to California Supreme Court in California Building Industry Association v. City of San Jose (S212072)

Abstract

The briefs of other parties in the litigation emphasized inclusionary zoning’s goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing. This brief focuses on inclusionary zoning’s goal of promoting social inclusion and integration by locating affordable housing in the right location. The brief explains how economic and racial segregation deny equality of opportunity to low and moderate income families because segregation limits their potential for economic and social mobility by restricting access to the primary means of mobility, e.g. employment and education. Drawing from a wide array of empirical and other studies the brief demonstrates how inclusionary zoning is an effective remedy to economic and racial segregation because it provides better access to the means of economic and social mobility.