Race and Class

Most of Bob Rosenberg's career was spent developing affordable housing and pushing the goal of racial integration nationally-two of the most difficult tasks imaginable. He participated in numerous endeavors to address these issues in New Orleans, Detroit, New York, Chester, Philadelphia, and Chicago, where he worked as the Alternative Manager for sites like Rockwell and Horner. As Housing Commissioner he wrangled with New York City's housing crisis, developed the 1969 Rent Stabilization law and the 421a Tax Abatement program, and set a record at the time for the most housing starts. For nineteen years, he was the federal receiver of the housing authority in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he worked successfully to undo years of decay in the public housing stock. Before that he spent 23 years overseeing the 6000-unit Starrett City housing development, fighting to keep it diversified despite being personally attacked by President Reagan. His work examines a national racial divide in housing which has never been seriously discussed.