Scott Bernstein News
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Scott Bernstein, CNT’s President, recently made a presentation about the need to redefine housing affordability at the Home Depot Foundation National Partners and Federal Government Officials Convening in Washington, D.C. When people shop for home or apartments, they don’t necessarily have the full knowledge of the true costs of a location. The current definition of housing affordability is 30% of income, which does not take into account transportation costs. Our research shows that for a working family, those earning $20,000-$50,000, housing takes 30% while transportation takes up to 27% of income, and in the exurbs, transportation can easily exceed housing costs. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, H+T, Policy, Scott Bernstein, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
CNT applauds Governor Pat Quinn’s creation of Economic Recovery Commission, a panel charged with providing guidance for dealing with the current economic downturn while also preparing plans to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of Illinois’ economy.
“It is the best way to be ready and smart about upcoming economic opportunities to address the state’s unemployment rate and to accelerate the recovery and make it work for all communities and residents of Illinois,” stated CNT’s President Scott Bernstein who was appointed to the Commission. “We can take a leadership role in a 21st century approach that makes Illinois and its communities leaders in taking on tough economic and environmental issues simultaneously.” Read more »
Posted in General News, Scott Bernstein | No Comments »
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Scott Bernstein, President of CNT, was invited to participate in a public announcement of President Barack Obama’s national high-speed rail (HSR) master plan. The President, joined by Vice President Joe Biden, who has commuted to D.C. on rail every day for his national elected career, thanked the select group of leaders who have been working tirelessly on bringing high-speed rail to the United States. President Obama presented a vision that challenges Americans to imagine traveling at 100 mph or more by train, then making local connections by walking or transit. “The Obama administration is moving quickly to advance high-speed rail as the most sustainable and cost-efficient mode of innercity transit,” said Bernstein. “By investing in high-speed rail, the Obama administration is not only addressing transportation issues but also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Read more »
Posted in Climate, Featured Portfolio News, PCAP, Scott Bernstein | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 10th, 2009
On March 26, CNT’s President Scott Bernstein and Reconnecting America’s CEO Shelley Poticha told Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee members and staff that transportation and housing policy and funding must be linked to unlock the market for development near stations and to enhance affordability.
Bernstein talked about the collapse of the “drive until you qualify” real-estate paradigm and the importance of redefining affordability to include consideration of both housing and transportation. He cited research showing that if a family making the median income of $52,000 a year in Milwaukee, WI, moved from a neighborhood requiring three cars per household and 35,000 miles of travel per year to an area where the household would need just one car, it would increase housing costs by $5,000 but reduce transportation costs by $12,000.
Read more »
Posted in H+T, Scott Bernstein, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Friday, April 10th, 2009
Two of CNT’s leaders are being recognized this Spring for their work in changing the urban landscape in Chicago and around the world.
CNT’s President and Founder Scott Bernstein is being recognized as Chicago region’s public interest hero for making a significant positive change to the region over the last 30 years. On May 1, 2009, Scott will receive a “BPI’s 40 Who’ve Made a Difference Award.” Scott has been a true champion of cities. His vision that “place matters” has made change happen, from the formation of the city of Chicago’s energy code, to piloting Location Efficient Mortgages, to putting forth an urban agenda that stresses that housing and transportation affordability as the key to developing sustainable and livable cities. From his early days as an organizer on Chicago’s west side to testifying in front of Congressional committees, Scott has worked to improve the quality of life for all urban dwellers. For over 30 years, Scott has led the charge in demonstrating that cities and their people are assets in addressing economic and environmental challenges.
Read more »
Posted in General News, Scott Bernstein | No Comments »
Friday, February 20th, 2009
CNT’s President, Scott Bernstein, recently spoke about the benefits of the proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail in SE Wisconsin.
His talk, “Building Wealth through Investment” generated several editorials.
You can read a recap of Scott’s talk at the Transit Now website and his response to one of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorials.
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Scott Bernstein, Transportation and Community Development | 1 Comment »
