Government / Politics

Motivations of Proposed Federal Housing Rules Questioned
Reports of a new federal program designed to cut the waiting list for public housing was greeted incredulously from housing advocates this week.

Residents Left Behind as L.A. Stadium Project Surges Ahead
Inglewood had fallen on hard times, but then plans for a massive sports and entertainment complex came along. While the city’s future is poised to change dramatically, the development is also displacing residents.

A Small but Significant Fuel Tax Hike for Arkansas
The 3 cent gas tax and 6 cent diesel tax increases are among the lowest of any states that have hiked fuel taxes since 2013, but combined with other revenue sources in the legislation, plus an upcoming sales tax ballot measure, it's historic.

Texas State Legislators Aim to Reduce Their Own Housing Sway
Current Texas law grants state representatives significant power over whether affordable developments receive federal tax credits. Controversially, several representatives have proposed the reduction of their own authority in that regard.

Civic Crowdfunding to Mitigate 'Bikelash'
Public outcry about the priority given protected bike lanes on streets can be mitigated when civic crowdfunding is part of the planning process, according to this article.

Reactions to Ontario's Subway Takeover Plan
Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a plan to replace Toronto's subway expansion plans with a vision of his own. Reactions have been pouring in ever since.

Lincoln Yards Mega-Development Clears Final Legislative Hurdle
A Chicago City Council vote to approve tax increment financing for the massive Lincoln Yards redevelopment proposal scored a surprising reversal and a big win for outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with an assist from Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot.

Spotlight On Bay Area Planners
At this week's American Planning Association National Conference in San Francisco, a roundtable of eight planning directors from the Bay Area discussed their cities unique situations and common challenges.

Virginia Legislators Agree to Fuel Taxes, not Tolls, to Fund I-81 Improvements
Motorists who purchase gas along the I-81 corridor will pay an additional 2.1 percent gas tax, about seven cents a gallon. Trucks, which disproportionately use the corridor, will see increases to registration fees and road and diesel taxes.

Trails and Rails Battle in San Francisco Bay Shoreline Park
Can freight trains and a scenic shoreline park along San Francisco Bay coexist, or are they incompatible uses? The East Bay Regional Park District voted to remove old rail tracks that BNSF Railway wants to reactivate. A local court may decide.

Comments Closed for Significant Changes to 'Waters of the United States' Rule
The Trump administration has spent the first two years of its time in office trying to overturn key provisions of the "Waters of the United States" rule.

A Presidential Campaign Built on Rust Belt Revitalization
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is hoping to ride a track record of urban revitalization success to the Oval Office.

First City to Make Ride-Hailing Trip Data Public: Chicago
Data geeks in Chicago will get the first chance to crunch detailed data on transportation network company trips in their city.

Big Ideas for Downtown Phoenix Park, but Little Progress
Advocates say an upgraded Hance Park could be a great success for the city, but the move forward has been slow.

Florida Plagued by Sewage Spills
The state’s aging sewage infrastructure is failing, but the cost to replace it would be monumental.

Trump Signs Two Executive Orders Limiting States' Authority Over Energy Pipelines
The Trump administration's "energy dominance" agenda depends, in part, on growing the energy distribution network, namely pipelines, rail facilities, and ports. However, states can use the Clean Water Act to block pipelines and coal terminals.

Gateway Program Encounters Barrier in Trump
President Trump has not been a friend to the $30 billion Gateway Program, a transportation project meant to replace aging rail infrastructure connecting New York and New Jersey.

Tampa Streetcar Sees Big Boost in Ridership
Free fares and more frequent service have resulted in a huge increase in ridership on the TECO Line Streetcar and proved skeptics wrong.

N.Y.C. Artists in Residence Tackle Social Issues
A program in New York brings artists into public agencies to work on collaborative projects that take creative approaches to problem solving.

Housing on the Agenda as Philadelphia Election Approaches
In the run-up to a municipal primary scheduled for May 21, Philadelphia's City Council has introduced a range of bills to address housing affordability and tenants' rights.
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