Zoning Laws Are Killing the Middle Class (w/ Mechele Dickerson)

In this episode of The Bulwark's 'How To Fix It,' host John Ablon interviews Professor Mechele Dickerson, author of 'The Middle Class New Deal,' about the systemic erosion of the American middle class and actionable solutions to rebuild it. Dickerson argues that the middle class was not a natural outcome but a deliberate creation during the New Deal and post-WWII era, and can be restored through targeted policy changes. She focuses on two major pillars: housing and public education. On housing, she critiques exclusionary zoning laws, the federal mortgage interest deduction, and overregulation that inflate costs and exclude lower- and middle-income families. She champions reforms like rent tax deductions, eliminating unnecessary regulations, promoting accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and adopting YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) policies to increase affordability and inclusivity. On education, she challenges the outdated school calendar and underutilized school buildings, proposing year-round schooling, expanded after-school and summer programs, and repurposing underused schools as community hubs—daycares, housing, or food distribution centers. These reforms, she argues, would not only support working families but also strengthen democracy by revitalizing the middle class. The episode emphasizes bipartisan, practical solutions rooted in historical precedent and economic logic, rejecting despair with a call to action grounded in policy innovation.