On behalf of the Prince George's County Association of REALTORS^® (PGCAR), representing over 3,500 members, I am utterly disgusted by the recent decision by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Trump Administration to reverse the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule and the repugnant comments made by President Trump recently.

As you may be aware, recently in his remarks and in a series of tweets, President Trump declared, "I am happy to inform all of the people living their suburban lifestyle dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood." The President also added: "Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH. Enjoy!"

Respectfully, as a REALTOR^®, I am "bothered" and find the President's comments to be disturbing, divisive and abhorrent to say the least. As REALTORS^®, we take an oath to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics prohibiting discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin.

We, the members of the Prince George's County Association of REALTORS^® (PGCAR), stand in solidarity with the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) and other stakeholders, in expressing our displeasure and disappointment that HUD is retreating on its decades-long policy requiring that communities receiving taxpayer money address discrimination and segregation. One of our most fundamental rights is to live peaceably where we choose. As REALTORS^®, we believe equal opportunity in housing can be best achieved through not only observance of the law but through education, mutual cooperation of the real estate industry and the public in a free and open housing market.

Yolanda Muckle, President
Prince George's County Association of REALTORS^®, Inc.