JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND -- PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TOP CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE SET TO MEET IN THE OVAL OFFICE, TRYING TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT COULD RESULT IN EVEN MORE MASS FEDERAL WORKER LAYOFFS.

THEN, WHY RENTERS ARE INCREASINGLY OUTNUMBERING HOMEOWNERS IN THE SUBURBS OF SOME OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST CITIES.

AND, A SPECIAL MUSICIAN RACKS UP MILLIONS OF VIEWS ONLINE WITH PERFORMANCES TAILORED TO HELP NEURODIVERGENT CHILDREN.

>> I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT MUSIC WAS CREATED FOR, TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

AND SO TO SEE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOWS ME EVERY DAY.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING.

I'M JOHN YANG.

THE BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN FOR TOMORROW'S HIGH-STAKES OVAL OFFICE MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, ONE DAY BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

APPEARING SEPARATELY ON NBC'S "MEET THE PRESS," SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE AND MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER EACH SAID THE OTHER WOULD BE TO BLAME FOR A SHUTDOWN.

SEN.

THUNE: I THINK THERE IS POTENTIALLY A PATH FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO SEE WHERE IT GOES, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WHILE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY THE DEMOCRATS IN A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

SEN.

SCHUMER: WE NEED A SERIOUS NEGOTIATION.

NOW, IF THE PRESIDENT AT THIS MEETING IS GOING TO RANT AND JUST YELL AT DEMOCRATS AND TALK ABOUT ALL HIS ALLEGED GRIEVANCES AND SAY THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING WE WON'T GET ANYTHING , DONE.

JOHN: REPUBLICANS WANT A SHORT-TERM SPENDING BILL WITHOUT ANY OTHER PROVISIONS, WHILE DEMOCRATS SAY THE PRICE OF THEIR SUPPORT IS RESTORING MEDICAID CUTS AND EXTENDING SUBSIDIES THAT HELP LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME EARNERS BUY HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

ADDING TO THE UNCERTAINTY ARE ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO USE A SHUTDOWN TO FIRE MORE FEDERAL WORKERS.

ERIC KATZ COVERS FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR THE ONLINE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE.

TELL US ABOUT THESE PLANS TO USE THIS SHUT TO FIRE MORE FEDERAL WORKERS.

ERIC: THE WHITE HOUSE THROUGH ITS BUDGET OFFICE PUT OUT GUIDANCE IN THE PAST WEEK ADVISING AGENCIES TO DEVELOP PLANS, INSTEAD OF HAVING NORMAL FURLOUGHS, EMPLOYEES ARE SENT HOME ONLY UNTIL THE SHUTDOWN ENDS, INSTEAD THEY WOULD BE SENT HOME PERMANENTLY, LOSE THEIR JOBS.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THE AGENCY SHOULD FOCUS ON ANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEE WHO DOES NOT RECEIVE SPECIAL FUNDING FOR THEIR JOB.

SO ANYONE FUNDED THROUGH NORMAL ANNUAL APPROPRIATION, AND ANYONE WHOSE WORK IS NOT FOCUSED ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES.

CERTAIN AREAS WOULD BE EXEMPTED, BUT LARGE SWABS OF THE FEDERAL - - SWATHES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD FACE POTENTIAL LAYOFFS.

JOHN: HOW DOES THIS FIT IN WITH THE GOVERNMENT -- THE PRESIDENT'S GOAL OF RESHAPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT SMALLER?

ERIC: TRUMP HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON TRICKING THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.

NOT LONG AFTER HE TOOK OFFICE, HE ORDERED SIMILAR LAYOFF PLANS FROM EVERY AGENCY.

A COUPLE AGENCIES WENT THROUGH WITH THOSE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THEY LAID OFF 10,000 PEOPLE.

BUT A LOT OF THOSE GOT HELD UP IN COURT.

THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK OTHER STEPS TO SHRINK THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE THROUGH VARIOUS INCENTIVES.

I BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION SAID 200,000 OR 300,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WILL BE OFF THE ROLLS BY SEPTEMBER COMPARED TO WHAT THEY INHERITED IN JANUARY.

THEY ALSO HAVE A HIRING FREEZE SO VERY FEW NEW EMPLOYEES ARE COMING IN.

THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THAT PROCESS TO POTENTIALLY FURTHER SHRINK THE AGENCY'S WORKFORCES.

JOHN: IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH FEDERAL WORKERS, IS THIS ADDING TO ANXIETY AND CONCERN AS WE FACE A POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN?

ERIC: IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

WE TALKED TO A LOT OF FOLKS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS SINCE THIS MEMO CAME OUT.

EVERYONE IS SORT OF PANICKED.

THERE IS ALWAYS A BIT OF ANXIETY DURING A SHUTDOWN.

IN A NORMAL SHUTDOWN THEY CONTINUE TO WORK, AND THERE IS THE PROMISE OF DELAYED PAY.

THEY FACE NEGATIVE RHETORIC FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

THEY HAVE BEEN INCENTIVIZED, PUSHED AND IN SOME CASES FORCED OUT OF THEIR JOBS.

THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM FOLKS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT THEIR WORKFORCES ARE ALREADY TRIMMED BACK TO THE BONE.

THEY ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO CARRY OUT KEY FUNCTIONS.

SOME OF THESE AGENCIES HAVE LESS OVERSIGHT LIKE NATIONAL PARKS.

THERE ARE BATHROOMS NOT BEING CLEANED, CERTAIN SERVICES NO LONGER BEING OFFERED.

WE REPORTED ON THE FOREST SERVICE, THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP PACE.

IT GOES DOWN THE GAMUT.

WE TALKED TO PEOPLE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SAYING THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET SERVICES THEY USE TO.

IF THERE ARE FURTHER CUTS, IT WOULD ONLY EXACERBATE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

EMPLOYEES, YOU TALK ABOUT MORALE.

EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR MONTHS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE TO LEAVE AND BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE RHETORIC FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, THEY FEEL ATTACKED, VILLAIN EYES - - VILLAINIZED.

THEY ARE SAYING THIS IS CONTINUING TO ADD TO THAT.

JOHN: A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEAR FEDERAL WORKERS THEY THINK OF WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT IT GOES BEYOND THAT, DOESN'T IT?

ERIC: ONLY 15% OF THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE IS IN THE D.C.

AREA.

THE VAST MAJORITY IS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD IN SOME CASES.

BEFORE THIS MEMO, THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT FOR EXAMPLE IS CONTEMPLATING AND PREPARING FOR WIDESPREAD LAYOFFS.

THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE NATIONAL PARKS AND IN REGIONAL OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, THE V.A., ALL SORTS OF LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES IN ADDITION TO INTERIOR.

EVEN EPA ENFORCEMENT.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST IN D.C., BUT IN OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SOME OF THEM WOULD MOST CERTAINLY BE SUBJECT TO THESE LAYOFFS.

JOHN: ERIC KATZ OF GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE, THANK YOU.

IN TONIGHT'S OTHER HEADLINES, THERE HAS BEEN A SHOOTING AT A CHURCH IN MICHIGAN.

IT'S LEFT AT LEAST 2 PEOPLE DEAD, SEVERAL OTHERS INJURED AND THE CHURCH IN FLAMES.

IT HAPPENED DURING WORSHIP SERVICES AT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS IN GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN, WHICH IS ABOUT 50 MILES NORTH OF DETROIT.

THE POLICE CHIEF SAID A 40 YEAR OLD MAN RAMMED HIS VEHICLE INTO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CHURCH, STARTED SHOOTING AT WORSHIPPERS AND THEN SET THE CHURCH ON FIRE.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT WAS DELIBERATELY SET BY THE SUSPECT.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL FIND ADDITIONAL VICTIMS ONCE WE HAVE THAT SCENE SECURE.

JOHN: POLICE SAID THE TWO OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE SHOOTER OUT.

HIS MOTIVE IS STILL UNKNOWN.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS IS ENDING HIS BID FOR RE-ELECTION.

THE DEMOCRAT -- WHO WAS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT -- MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN A VIDEO POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

ADAMS' CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN HURT BY HIS NOW-DISMISSED FEDERAL BRIBERY CASE AND BY LIBERAL ANGER OVER HIS WARM RELATIONS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE REMAINING CANDIDATES INCLUDE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND FRONTRUNNER ZOHRAN MAMDANI, FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, WHO'S RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT, AND REPUBLICAN NOMINEE CURTIS SLIWA.

OREGON GOVERNOR TINA KOTEK IS PUSHING BACK ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DEMAND TO SEND TROOPS TO PORTLAND.

KOTEK, A DEMOCRAT, SAID SHE CALLED MR.

TRUMP TO SAY THAT PORTLAND IS NOT A "WAR RAVAGED" CITY, AS HE SAYS IT IS.

KOTEK SAID SENDING TROOPS TO THE CITY WOULD ONLY CREATE CONFLICT.

GOV.

KOTEK: OREGON IS OUR HOME, IT IS NOT A MILITARY TARGET.

ANY DEPLOYMENT WOULD BE A MISUSE - - AN ABUSE OF POWER AND A MISUSE OF FEDERAL TROOPS.

JOHN: THE WHITE HOUSE HASN'T LAID OUT A TIMELINE FOR DEPLOYING TROOPS OR SAID WHERE THEY WOULD BE STATIONED.

KOTEK URGED THE PUBLIC TO STAY CALM AND SAID VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

AND, THE SOUTHEAST IS BRACING FOR THE EFFECTS OF NEWLY-DESIGNATED TROPICAL STORM IMELDA, WHICH IS CHURNING IN THE ATLANTIC.

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER SAYS IMELDA IS EXPECTED TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN AND BRING TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS TO FLORIDA BEGINNING TOMORROW.

IT'S THEN FORECAST TO MOVE NORTH - - AND WHILE IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL, IT'S LIKELY TO BRING HEAVY RAINFALL, FLOODING AND DANGEROUS SURF TO THE COASTAL CAROLINAS INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" -- PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN CRISIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND, THE RISE OF RENTERS IN THE SUBURBS OF THE NATION'S BIGGEST CITIES.

♪ ANNOUNCER: THIS IS THE PBS NEWS WEEKEND FROM THE DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON, HOME OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR WEEKNIGHTS ON PBS.

JOHN: A SHORTFALL IN FEDERAL PUBLIC TRANSPORATION FUNDING IS THREATENING BUS AND METRO SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHEN RIDERSHIP DROPPED DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE GOVERNMENT SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT.

BUT THAT MONEY HAS LARGELY RUN OUT.

AND NOW, WITH INFLATION ADDED TO THE MIX, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SADDLED WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEFICITS, LEADING TO REDUCED SERVICES AND INCREASED FARES.

ALI ROGIN EXPLORES THE EFFECT ALL OF THIS IS HAVING BEYOND THE MORNING COMMUTE WITH PHILIP PLOTCH, THE PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER AND SENIOR FELLOW AT THE ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION.

ALI: PHILIP PLOTCH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HOW DID REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS FIND THEMSELVES AT THE EDGE OF THIS FINANCIAL CLIFF?

PHILIP: SO YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HIT, THERE WAS A REAL CONCERN ABOUT A POTENTIAL FOR A REAL ECONOMIC CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PUMPED SO MUCH MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY.

THEY LENT A LOT OF MONEY TO SMALL BUSINESSES, MONEY WAS GIVEN TO SCHOOLS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND ABOUT $70 BILLION WITH A B WENT TO KEEP PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RUNNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE THINKING WAS PEOPLE NEEDED TO GET THE JOBS.

- - GET TO JOBS SUPERMARKETS AND , HOSPITALS.

AND REMEMBER, WE WANTED ALL OF OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS TO GET TO WORK.

THE PROGRAMS WORKED, THE ECONOMY KEPT CHUGGING ALONG, BUT NOW MANY AGENCIES ARE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY BECAUSE RIDERSHIP IS DOWN.

SO COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 14% FEWER PEOPLE ARE TAKING THE BUS AND ABOUT 28% FEWER ARE TAKING THE TRAIN.

SO THE TRANSIT AGENCIES, THEY'RE MAKING CUTS, THEY'VE BEEN STRETCHING OUT THE COVID FUNDING.

THEY'VE JUST BEEN HOPING THAT THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO HELP BAIL THEM OUT BEFORE THEIR MONEY RUNS OUT.

THAT'S WHY MANY OF THEM ARE NOW STARING AT THE EDGE OF A CLIFF WITHOUT ANY GOOD OPTIONS.

ALI: AND HOW IS THIS DISRUPTING THE AVERAGE COMMUTER WHO IS STILL TRYING TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY RIGHT NOW?

PHILIP: IF YOU'RE A TRANSIT RIDER, YOU MIGHT NEED IT TO GET TO A JOB OR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT, SCHOOL OR GROCERY STORE.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE BUS SERVICE OR THE TRAIN SERVICE.

OR THEY'RE GONNA BE MORE CROWDED.

OR YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT LONGER.

AND SOMETIMES THE LONG WAIT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES.

SO IMAGINE YOU TAKE ONE BUS TO ANOTHER BUS AND YOU NEED A TRANSFER.

IF THAT SECOND BUS IS ONLY RUNNING ONE EVERY HOUR, YOUR ONE HOUR BUS RIDE COULD TURN INTO A TWO HOUR BUS DRIVE REALLY FAST.

IF WE CUT SERVICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT TRANSIT AGENCIES, IT AFFECTS PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE TRANSIT.

SO THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS.

IT'S HARDER TO FIND PARKING SPACES.

WHEN THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC IN A CITY, IT SLOWS DOWN EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

IT REALLY HURTS EVERYBODY.

ALI: SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE SAW IN PHILADELPHIA.

IT'S SORT OF A CASE STUDY IN HOW THIS IS PLAYING OUT.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THERE AND WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT IT'S GOING TO REPEAT ITSELF IN OTHER CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO AND THE LIKE?

PHILIP: SO PHILADELPHIA HAS BEEN STARING DOWN A $200 MILLION ANNUAL SHORTFALL, $200 MILLION AND THEY PUT A PLAN TOGETHER TO CUT SERVICE, ELIMINATE ROUS, AND TO STOP SERVICE IN LATE EVENING AND EARLY IN THE MORNING.

AND A JUDGE PUT IT ON HOLD, SO THEY ARE GONNA CONTINUE THE SERVICE.

BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW IS POSSIBLY WORSE.

THEY'RE TAKING MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR IMPROVING THEIR SYSTEM, AND NOW THEY'RE USING IT TO KEEP RUNNING THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY HAD.

SO IT'S SORT OF LIKE, IF YOU SET ASIDE MONEY TO, LET'S SAY, FIX UP YOUR ROOF TO PAY YOUR GROCERY BILLS, THE WATER'S GONNA KEEP SEEPING IN INTO YOUR LEAKY ROOF.

IT MIGHT RUIN THE CEILING, IT MIGHT RUIN THE WIRING, SO YOU CAN SPEND $1,000 NOW TO FIX UP YOUR ROOF, BUT IT COULD COST YOU $30,000 LATER IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF IT.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT TRANSIT AGENCIES IF THEY START TAKING THE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR UPGRADING THEIR SYSTEM TO USE IT JUST TO RUN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY SERVICE.

AT SOME POINT, THINGS JUST BREAK DOWN MORE OFTEN AND THEY'RE MORE EXPENSIVE OVER THE LONG TERM AND THEY ARE NOT AS SAFE.

SO THE TRANSIT AGENCIES ARE REALLY TRYING TO AVOID WHAT THEY REFER TO AS A DEATH SPIRAL.

THAT MEANS THEY CUT SERVICE, SO SERVICE IS LESS ATTRACTIVE, AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE USING IT.

AND THEN BECAUSE FEWER PEOPLE ARE USING IT, THEY HAVE TO CUT SERVICE.

AND IT'S REALLY SAD FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

ALI: BUT THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING OR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAPPEN IN OTHER CITIES, RIGHT?

PHILIP: SOME CITIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF THIS PROBLEM.

THEY'VE SORT OF GOTTEN AHEAD OF IT.

SO MASSACHUSETTS RECENTLY PASSED A MILLIONAIRE'S TAX.

AND MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THEIR TRANSIT AUTHORITY UP IN BOSTON.

IN NEW JERSEY, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS TAKING MONEY FROM THE TOLLS FROM THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY.

MINNESOTA INCREASED THEIR SALES TAX AND THEIR GAS TAX TO PAY FOR MORE.

BUT THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE REALLY TAKING A HIT.

AND SAN FRANCISCO, YOU MENTIONED, THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM.

SO SAN FRANCISCO HAS TWO THINGS GOING ON.

THE BAY AREA, A LOT MORE PEOPLE WORK FROM HOME THAN ANY OTHER REGION, SO THERE'S FEWER PEOPLE.

ALSO, THEY RELIED ON THEIR FARE.

THE BART SYSTEM, THAT'S THE BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT, THEY RELIED ABOUT 70% OF THEIR EXPENSES CAME FROM THE FARES AND FROM PARKING FEES.

NOW, BECAUSE THE RIDERSHIP HAS PLUMMETED SO MUCH, ONLY ABOUT 20% OF THE MONEY IS COMING IN.

SO THEY REALLY HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR HELP.

SO IT'S REALLY-- IT'S DIFFERENT.

EVERY CITY IS DIFFERENT.

PITTSBURGH IS FACING A BIG PROBLEM.

WHILE OTHER PLACES AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING.

ALI: PHILIP PLOTCH WITH THE ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PHILIP: AND THANK YOU FOR INFORMING ALL OF YOUR LISTENERS.

♪ JOHN: AS THE COST OF HOMEOWNERSHIP SOARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RENTING HAS EMERGED AS AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR ALTERNATIVE AND NOT JUST IN CITIES BUT SUBURBS, TOO.

AN ANALYSIS OF CENSUS DATA FOUND A STEADY RISE IN THE NUMBER OF RENTERS AND SUBURBS SURROUNDING THE COUNTRY'S 20 BIGGEST METROPOLITAN AREAS.

SOME OF THE BIG REASONS, A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COUPLED WITH THE RISING COST OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.

DOUG IS A MANAGER OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FROM A COMPANY THAT CREATES SOFTWARE FOR THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

A BIG PIECE OF THIS IS AFFORDABILITY BUT ARE OTHER FACTORS DRIVING THIS?

DOUG: IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE.

THIS STARTED SINCE 2008 WITH THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, WHEN THERE WERE A LOT OF EVICTIONS AND HOME TURNOVERS.

EXPONENTIALLY THE DEMANDS KEPT GROWING, BUT THE SUPPLY DID NOT.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 10 TO 15 YEARS, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXACERBATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW UNTIL WE FIND REASONABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUE.

JOHN: YOU CALL IT A PROBLEM.

WHAT IS AT ISSUE?

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE DECIDING TO RENT RATHER THAN BY - - BUY?

DOUG: PRIOR TO 2008, YOU WOULD SEE A MIGRATION PATTERN OF FOLKS WHO RENTED, MOVING OUT, STARTING HOUSEHOLDS AND BUYING HOMES.

THAT IS BEEN ABBREVIATED BECAUSE OF THE COST OF A HOME, THE LACK OF SUPPLY, AND THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE HOME.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE IS DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS RENTING LONGER AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME.

JOHN: I KNOW YOUR REPORT SAID OF THE 1500 SUBURBS LOOKED AT, 203 WERE MAJORITY RENTERS.

SOMEWHERE AROUND MILITARY BASES WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT A TRANSIENT POPULATION, BUT WAS THERE ANYTHING COMMON AMONG THE OTHER PLACES?

DOUG: WHAT YOU SAW, TYPICALLY STUDENT CENTERS, ACADEMICS, UNIVERSITIES, IN ADDITION TO THE MILITARY.

PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR ROOTS DEEP AND TEND NOT TO MIGRATE GREAT DISTANCES.

MIGRATION PATTERNS ARE DOWN FROM WHAT THEY WERE THREE YEARS AGO WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THAT MOBILITY HAS DECREASED.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IS WHERE TO FIND THE BEST AFFORDABILITY WITHIN THE GENERAL GEOSPACE.

JOHN: YOU SAID THE PROGRESSION OF STARTING OUT IN THE CITY, GETTING AN APARTMENT, MOVING TO THE SUBURBS AND BUYING A HOME IS CHANGING.

ARE DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGING OR IS IT JUST THE PEOPLE MOVING TO THE SUBURBS ARE RENTING RATHER THAN BUYING?

DOUG: IT IS DEMOGRAPHICS.

GEN ZERS LIKE URBAN CORES.

THEY LIKE THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, AVAILABILITY OF RESTAURANTS AND SOCIAL AMENITIES.

WHAT WE FIND WITH MILLENNIALS IS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR STARTING A HOUSEHOLD, TO HAVE CHILDREN, LOOKING FOR BETTER SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

JOHN: OTHER THAN IMPROVED SCHOOL SYSTEMS IS THERE A CHANGE IN THE CULTURE OF SUBURBS?

DOUG: THERE ARE AND ALSO THERE IS PUSHBACK.

YOU HAVE NIMBYISM, WHICH MEANS NOT IN MY BACK YARD, THEY DO NOT LIKE TO SEE RENTAL COMMUNITIES ESTABLISHED.

WE HAVE FOUND THROUGH STUDIES CONDUCTED BY A MYRIAD OF PEOPLE, THAT, THE ABILITY TO CREATE HOUSEHOLDS VIA RENTAL OR PURCHASE, ADDS TO ECONOMIC VIBRANCY IN A GIVEN AREA.

IT DOES NOT DETRACT FROM IT.

JOHN: BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS HAVE NOTICED THIS TREND AND ARE FOCUSED ON MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES RATHER THAN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES.

COULD WE REACH THE POINT WHERE THERE IS MORE CHOICE, MORE INVENTORY AMONG MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES INSTEAD OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES?

DOUG: WE ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE THAT INFLECTION IN TERMS OF THE BTR COMMUNITY, BUILD TO RENT COMMUNITY.

THAT NICHE MARKET HAS GROWN AND CONTINUES TO GROW.

JOHN: WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO CHANGE THIS TREND?

DOUG: IT WOULD TAKE COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOVERNANCE AND BUSINESS.

TYPICALLY MUCH OF THIS IS SITUATED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WE SEE IT AS A COLLABORATION OF ALL THREE GROUPS, NOT NECESSARILY ONE GROUP IN GENERAL.

JOHN: DOUG, THANK YOU.

DOUG: THANK YOU, A PRIVILEGE.

♪ JOHN: FINALLY TONIGHT, A VISIT TO "JAHRI'S WORLD" -- A PLACE WHERE QUIRKY COSTUMES AND SILLY SONGS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE A SENSORY OASIS FOR NEURODIVERGENT CHILDREN.

HIS VIDEOS ON TIKTOK HAVE GONE VIRAL -- RACKING UP MILLIONS OF VIEWS.

EARLIER, I SPOKE TO THE MAN BEHIND THE MUSIC, JERRY TURNER.

I ASKED HIM HOW JAHRI'S WORLD GOT STARTED.

JERRY: SO IT WAS BY ACCIDENT, I GOT ASKED, DO YOU WANT TO WORK AT A SCHOOL?

I'M THINKING IT IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

COME TO FIND OUT, IT'S WORKING WITH CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM.

SO I HAD TO LEARN QUICKLY AND ADJUST TO A NEW WORLD.

JOHN: SO, EXPLAIN YOUR COSTUME .

JERRY: I HAVE A SONG CALLED THE HOT JALAPENO, AND IT WAS THE FIRST PERFORMING VIDEO I DID THAT WENT VIRAL ON TIKTOK.

I NEEDED SOMETHING COOL TO LOOK IN, LIKE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A JALAPENO, IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH TO ME.

SO IT WAS INITIALLY JUST FOR THE VIDEO, BUT WHEN I STARTED PERFORMING AT THE SCHOOLS, THE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOLS STARTED GETTING EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I GO BY "JAHRI'S WORLD," BUT THE CHILDREN UNDERSTOOD, OH, IT'S THE PEPPER GUY, THE JALAPENO GUY, THE CHILI PEPPER GUY.

THE CHILDREN KIND OF PICKED THE COSTUME OUT.

THEY MADE IT INTO THE ENTITY THAT IT IS TODAY.

JOHN: I KNOW THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU SAY THAT THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN AND RETAIN BASIC ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

JERRY: AS A CHILD, I REALLY STRUGGLED ACADEMICALLY, BUT I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN MUSIC AND ENTERTAINING WHILE EDUCATING.

FOR ME, IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

IT COMES PRETTY EASY, JUST FINDING A NICE BEAT, A NICE COOL MELODY AND SOMETHING THAT THE CHILDREN CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH.

BECAUSE A LOT OF CHILDREN, THEY GROW UP AND THEY'RE JUST TAUGHT ABCS AND COUNTING, SHAPES.

SO WHEN YOU MAKE A SONG WITH THOSE CONCEPTS, NOW THEY FEEL PART OF THE PERFORMANCE, BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING SONGS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO WHERE THEY ARE.

JOHN: HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU SEE A CHILD WHO MAY HAVE BEEN QUIET BEFORE, MAYBE SEEM WITHDRAWN, SORT OF GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MUSIC AND YOUR SINGING?

JERRY: THAT'S WHAT I LIVE FOR.

WHEN THOSE MOMENTS HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEURODIVERGENT COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO NECESSARILY BE ON ONE ACCORD, SOMEWHERE IN THE MUSIC, SPIRITUALLY, THERE'S AN ALIGNMENT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT MUSIC WAS CREATED FOR, TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

AND SO TO SEE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOWS ME EVERY DAY.

IT KEEPS IT FUN, SPONTANEOUS, AND IT KEEPS ME HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL.

JOHN: WHAT SORT OF REACTION DO YOU GET FROM PARENTS?

JERRY: AFTER THE SHOWS AND THE INTERACTIONS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PARENTS THAT I SEE SMILES BEFORE THEY WERE COMING IN KIND OF UPSET, MEAN MUGGING, SAD, BUT THEN AT THE END, A LOT OF COMMENTS IS I'VE NEVER SEEN MY CHILD BE ABLE TO INTERACT THIS WAY WITH OTHER CHILDREN.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY COULD SING.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY COULD DANCE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD THESE SOCIAL SKILLS.

JOHN: JERRY TURNER, ALSO KNOWN AS "JAHRI'S WORLD."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JERRY: THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪ JOHN: NOW ON THE NEWS HOUR INSTAGRAM, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE KISSING BUGS THAT HAVE A SWEET NICKNAME BUT IT DEADLY BITE.

ALL THAT AND MORE ON OUR NEWS HOUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.

AND THAT IS TBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR THIS SUNDAY.

I'M JOHN YANG.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.]

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