Welcome back to The Weekly Wrap, our Friday roundup of stories that explain the problems oppressing people in cities and elevate the solutions that bring us closer to economic, environmental and social justice.

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More Than 1,000 Nonprofits Nix DEI Language From Their Tax Forms

In response to the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts across the country, over 1,000 nonprofit organizations have changed the language in the mission statements included in their tax filings with the IRS, ProPublica reports.

The current administration has threatened to pull government funding from organizations over what it is calling “illegal” DEI efforts, often referring to these efforts as immoral and wasteful.

This change has been seen in major organizations. For example, UNICEF USA, the United Nations’ humanitarian children’s wing, changed language from wanting a “more equitable world” for children to wanting a “better world.” Some organizations have had to change title names for leadership to meet the Trump administration’s standards. Some have gone out of their way to rename the entire organization: The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity in Ohio now goes by the name the Financial Alliance for Representation and Empowerment.

NYC Passes Bill Giving Nonprofits the Chance to Buy Housing

Half a decade after the bill was introduced, the New York City Council has finally passed a revised version of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, which will allow some nonprofits an early shot to bid on some residential properties that go up for sale before they’re officially on the wider market, City Limits reports. Some for-profit organizations can also have early bids if they partner with nonprofits in the city.

The legislation was modeled after a similar COPA bill in San Francisco and will focus on affordability and preserving existing housing in New York. When the owner of one of the qualifying buildings wishes to sell, they will now be required to notify the city and a list of the qualified entities that will be listed by the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development.

Some landlords and real estate groups have criticized the new bill, saying that it is an example of government overreach. Some have warned that it may make housing even more unaffordable and that nonprofits are being unfairly favored.

A Billionaire Buys Housing Complex and Slashes Rent Prices

Billionaire investor Mark Stevens recently purchased the Riverview apartment complex in Steamboat, Colorado, and has offered units at below-market rates to help alleviate the housing crisis, The Colorado Sun reports.

Units in the housing complex were offered for lower than average prices about a month ago for people working more than 30 hours a week in the valley. There are no income requirements for those applying through the local housing authority.

The effort to lower prices has alleviated some of the displacement that areas of Colorado has struggled with in recent years as housing costs have soared, but timelines for approving affordable housing haven’t really changed.

Fresno’s Guaranteed Income May Be Successful, Study Shows

A new study analyzing the viability of Fresno County’s guaranteed income program has found that it is likely to be successful, Fresnoland reports.

In the initial program, participating families received a debit card with $500 a month. Many spent about a quarter of that on groceries.

The first small pilot found that the regular payments lifted many of the 150 participating families in the Fresno, California, area out of debt. This in turn improved overall emotional health for the participants and lowered the rate of food insecurity for many of the families.

Fresno State Professor Amber Crowell, who led the program’s evaluation, explained that though this won’t solve all of the participants’ problems, the income is “an important part of the anti-poverty agenda.” Organizers are hoping that the study findings will extend the program for Fresno residents during the current cost of living crisis, or even make it permanent.

Congestion Pricing in NYC Has Increased Foot Traffic, Boosting Local Business

Many New York City business owners weren’t happy when the city implemented congestion pricing to help alleviate car traffic in lower Manhattan this year. But a new study from the NYC Economic Development Corporation has found that the price hike for car drivers has increased foot traffic in the affected area of the borough and has helped local businesses, Jalopnik reports.

Car traffic in lower Manhattan went down by about 11% and foot traffic in some areas of Manhattan increased by almost 5%, the study showed. This is compared to a 1% increase in business areas that were not in the congestion pricing zone in the borough. The boost to business came in part because a pedestrian walking past a store is more likely to go inside compared to someone who is in a vehicle.

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MORE NEWS

• NYC City Council raises cap on street vendors in the city. The New York Times

• Older city residents aren’t safe crossing the street, study shows. The Conversation

• Colorado approves $200 million-plus package fee plan to launch statewide recycling in 2026. The Colorado Sun

• Tolls across Illinois will likely increase as part of a new transit bill. NBC Chicago

• The number of young children in Seattle’s population has dropped significantly. Axios Seattle

• This North Carolina farmer is increasing local food access for his community. Capital B

• Rebuilding in Altadena and the Palisades is finally speeding up after this year’s deadly fire. The LA Times

• The Marshall Islands launches a universal income program that includes a crypto option. The Guardian

• Chicago has rolled out a security plan for improving safety on transit after several violent incidents. NBC Chicago

• Every NYC subway station is getting paddles and more to combat fare evasion. Gothamist

OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES

• Smart Growth America has published a new guide for developing affordable housing on county-owned land.

• City Thread Accelerated Mobility Playbook Technical Assistance Grant is open to applications from cities and community advocates looking to take transportation projects from concept to fruition. Apply by Dec. 31.

• The Peace Development Fund is providing grants of $3,000 to $7,000 for community organizing projects in Mexico, the United States and Haiti. Apply by Jan. 31, 2026.

• Keseb’s Democracy Innovation Lab is seeking early-stage, non-partisan and not-for-profit projects that reimagine community-building for inclusive and resilient democracies. Submit a pitch by Feb. 2, 2026.

• The Climate Smart Communities Initiative has launched a grants competition for funding and assistance to support community-based climate resilience in vulnerable communities. Apply by March 12, 2026.

• Scotland’s Urban Studies Foundation is providing seed-funding for collaborative primary research proposals from around the world that engage with the theme “urban urgencies.” Apply by March 23, 2026.

• The Sparkplug Foundation is offering grants to support early-stage programs that focus on music programs, community organizing and education. Apply by May 22, 2026.

• The Draper Richards Kaplan is providing up to $300,000 in grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period to organizations that are working to tackle environmental justice issues. Apply on a rolling basis.

• Check out Next City’s jobs board for new opportunities.

EVENTS

• Jan. 13 to Jan. 29, 2026: Join Next City for ‘SolutionsFest,’ a virtual celebration that showcases everything from climate change recovery to affordable housing solutions throughout the U.S.

• Check out events from Next City and our partners here.

This post was originally published on Next City.