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Aaron Fernando

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Aaron Fernando is an independent journalist covering grassroots movements and solidarity economy projects, with a focus on land, policy, housing, and co-operative movements. He is also an organizer with the Ithaca Tenants Union, runs a video-focused publication, Striking Distance Ithaca, loves speculative fiction, and can be found on a cooperative instance of Mastodon at @[email protected].
Two women seated in a dark-paneled room. Behind them is an uncurtained window behind them and stone fireplace to the right. Both women have curly brown hair. The one on the left wears a flowing dark dress and several necklaces. She's gesturing with her hands as she speaks. The woman on the right is in a red plaid shirt and shorts; her hands are clasped on her knees.
Reported Article

They Had No Heat for Four Months. A New Law Let Them Sue.

August 7, 2024 | Aaron Fernando

In New York state, tenants can now take landlords to court to force repairs and get damages, without withholding rent first. Here’s how one of the first tests of the new law worked.

A Black woman in blue flowered dress and dusty pink hijab speaks into several microphones. In foreground, blurry, are news cameras. The woman is part of a large group at a rally, carrying signs promoting rent stabilization and saying "Home to Stay MPLS"
Reported Article

Affordable Housing Sector Split on Rent Control

May 21, 2024 | Aaron Fernando

In the Twin Cities, where voters have recently supported rent control, most nonprofit housing developers have stayed silent, and some have openly lined up with the developers and landlords who oppose it.

A stylized drawing of an urban scene done in the style of a blueprint. A crane looms over rows of buildings.
Reported Article

Will ‘Critical Race Theory’ Attacks Undermine Urban Planning Education?

August 16, 2023 | Aaron Fernando

Laws meant to restrict professors from discussing how race has shaped public policy could target the factual discussion of housing policy and its history—but professors say they don’t intend to go along.