Ben Carson in Trump Cabinet members actions and issues
On Civil Rights:
People can only afford to live in certain places
An Obama-era scheme called Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing barely got underway before President Trump took office. Obama's Department of Housing and Urban Development floated a requirement for "balanced housing" in every suburb. "Balanced"
meant affordable even for people who need federal vouchers. Towns had to make it possible for low-income minorities to choose suburban living and provide "adequate support to make their choices possible."
The real barrier to suburban living is money. Living in the 'burbs isn't cheap. HUD Secretary Ben Carson told a House committee last
May that "people can only afford to live in certain places." It's "not because George Wallace is blocking the door."
Source: New York Post on 2020 Trump Cabinet
Jul 21, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Coronavirus: Go about normal activities if you're healthy
Q: We've heard the president say, for example, that he's going to continue with political rallies in the face of this. Is this sending the right message?CARSON: Going to a rally, if you're a healthy individual and you're taking the precautions that
have been placed out there, there's no reason that you shouldn't go. However, if you belong to one of those categories of high risk, obviously, you need to think twice about that.
Q: You seem to be putting all the responsibility back on individuals,
saying that they should be thinking for themselves. What broader measures need to be taken?
CARSON: Those recommendations will be coming out from the CDC.
Right now, the recommendation is as I just prescribed--go about your normal daily activities if you are healthy. If you are not healthy, think very seriously about attending places where there are crowds.
Source: ABC This Week 2020 interview of Trump Cabinet
Mar 8, 2020
On Education:
Carson Scholars Fund: $7M in scholarships
Dr. Carson and his wife co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. The Fund is currently operating in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and
has recognized more than 7,300 scholars, awarded more than $7.3 million in scholarships, and installed more than 150 Ben Carson Reading Rooms around the country.
Born in Detroit to a single mother with a 3rd grade education who worked multiple jobs to support their family, Secretary Carson was raised to love reading and education.
He graduated from Yale University and earned his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School. He and his wife are the proud parents of three adult sons and three grandchildren.
Source: HUD.gov official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
On Civil Rights:
Scrap HUD tool for racial discrimination in public housing
In May of this year, Carson announced that he would be eliminating the software program used under the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule to ensure that racial discrimination did not take place in public housing. Critics of
Carson's decision say that this makes minorities vulnerable to discrimination and that Carson is more concerned about budgeting and pandering to the multifamily industry than maintaining equality.Under pressure from advocacy groups,
Carson invited the public to comment on the reform process. "A federal judge upheld our decision to suspend the use of a computer tool that was failing to help communities meet their fair housing responsibilities,"
Carson said. "What we want to do in pursuing new rulemaking--and why we're asking for public comment from all parties concerned--is to lessen regulatory burdens, while at the same time, help local officials meet their obligations," he added.
Source: Housing Wire's Jeremiah Jensen on 2017 Trump Cabinet
Sep 14, 2017
On Welfare & Poverty:
Eliminate income-based rent increases in public housing
Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson's plan for reforming public housing [includes] eliminating policies that increase rents as income goes up. "The current policies ensure that the more our residents earn, the more rent
they have to pay. Where then, is the incentive to work, or to get a better paying job, or have two parents living together and sharing their wages? There isn't any, which really defies common sense.
Our rent reform proposal, therefore, removes these perverse incentives by having a three-year recertification of income--and removes the requirement that tenants must report any income increases, immediately.
One could even say it's like not having to pay taxes for three years," Carson said in his remarks.
Source: Housing Wire's Jeremiah Jensen on 2017 Trump Cabinet
Sep 14, 2017
On Welfare & Poverty:
Cycle people up and out of public housing developments
HUD Secretary Ben Carson spoke at the National Multifamily Housing Council's Fall Meeting. He highlighted the issues facing the American housing market and laid out plans to address housing shortages and persistent poverty.Keeping with his previous
rhetoric on the subject, Carson reiterated his commitment to finding a way to cycle people up and out of public housing developments. Carson laid out three components of his plan for reforming public housing.
- Eliminating policies that increase
rents as income goes up.
- Allow public housing authorities the freedom to implement any of the Choice Rent structures for their properties.
- Use HUD funds to provide families in public housing with programs and resources that he hopes will help
break poverty cycles.
Carson commented on the imbalance between supply and demand in the market and essentially said that private investment through public-private partnerships are the key to addressing the lack of affordable housing in the US.
Source: Housing Wire's Jeremiah Jensen on 2017 Trump Cabinet
Sep 14, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2021