In honor of Independence Day, we’re re-sharing one of our most popular blogs of all time. Pass this along to someone in your life who might still be wondering what today really means for our nation and the world.

The government stole from Lynette Johnson, a Guyanese immigrant in New Jersey, when it foreclosed on her property, sold it, and pocketed the difference between her property’s selling price ($101,000) and her property tax debt (about $24,000).  

Fortunately, last week—after four years of PLF fighting for Lynette in court, and more than two years after we won a landmark decision in a similar case at the Supreme Court—a New Jersey appellate court has ruled in Lynette’s favor.

California has been having a rough year: In a short six months, it was hit with wildfires, urban unrest, and even some small earthquakes. But earlier this week the Golden State made a decision that should change its luck: It reformed its most powerful environmental regulation, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), to ease the way for new construction in the state. 
 
PLF litigation fellow Sam Rutzick offers his kudos for the much-needed reforms and a reminder for all Americans: “Reforms like these, broadly recognized by nearly everyone as absolutely necessary, are the only way to keep America competitive, and to build the abundant economy we need for years to come.”

Our housing crisis didn’t just happen by accident—there were seeds planted intentionally decades ago that have contributed to where we are today. But to fully understand how we got here, PLF’s James Burling takes us back to the beginning—to the first zoning law in the United States. Hint: It wasn’t about green space or infrastructure. It was about race. 
 
Note: This is the second installment in James’ series in The San Diego Union-Tribune focusing on housing in America. Check out the first installment in the series, Nowhere to live? No hiding from bad government policies, to get caught up.