Government / Politics
Louisiana Town Sets Permanent Curfew for Walking and Biking
Public perceptions about noise and drugs have led the city of Kaplan in Louisiana to prohibit walking and biking at night.
Washington Governor Delays Progress on Mileage Fee, Again
For the second time in two years, Gov. Jay Inslee has dealt a legislative setback to transportation planning efforts to prepare for the 2035 ban on the sale of gas-tax paying light duty motor vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.
Sweeps Aren’t Outreach: Policing Homelessness Still Doesn’t Work
A new study shines a light on the connection between homeless outreach teams and policing, and examines why so many cities still use resident complaints to guide their response to the homelessness crisis.
A Rare Governance Moment for UN-Habitat
The 2nd UN-Habitat Assembly adopted resolutions highlighting key needs for achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda in cities while important partnerships were announced.
California Gasoline Tax Rises by 4 Cents
You might have missed it as legislators didn't vote on it—not this year, anyway—despite attempts by Republicans to suspend the increase.
Regional Authority to Address Homelessness Proposed in Spokane
The city wants to coordinate resources and groups to bring resources to unhoused residents after the closure of Camp Hope, formerly the largest encampment in the state.
A Fair Share for Walking
Most people value walkability, yet most communities underinvest in pedestrian facilities. Some jurisdictions are investing more in sidewalks and crosswalks in order to better serve community values.
National Mileage Fee Pilot Program Late to Launch
EV sales are increasing–good news for the environment but bad news for road funding, as they pay no fuel taxes. Fortunately, the bipartisan infrastructure law has $125 million earmarked to "demonstrate a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee."
Planning Through the Eyes of a Big City Mayor
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall joins the Planning Commission Podcast to talk about housing, street reconfiguration, and saving the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.
How L.A. County Equitably Administers American Rescue Plan Resources
L.A. County recently received a 2023 achievement award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).
The Good, the Bad, and Urban Planning Politics
Urban planning and politics are two sides of the same coin.
Revisiting ‘Third Places’ as a Pandemic Recovery Tool
In Chuck Wolfe's latest piece on downtown recovery for GeekWire, he proposes revisiting a multifaceted ‘third place’ agenda as a focus for downtown recovery.
Coastal Climate Resilience to Receive $2.6 Billion Federal Investment
The Biden Administration announced the second massive investment of federal funds for coastal resilience on June 6. The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $3.3 billion to NOAA. In March, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act added $562 billion.
‘Moonshot’ Infrastructure Program Aims to Fund Transformative Ideas
A new federal program hopes to replicate the success of DARPA by developing ambitious infrastructure projects with government funding.
How Extreme Heat Drives Inter-Agency Collaboration
City officials tasked with addressing the impacts of extreme heat highlight the importance of aligning the efforts of multiple city departments.
What Caused the Failure of Zoning Reform in Colorado?
Land use reform bills that gained bipartisan support in the Montana legislature were strongly opposed by Colorado Republicans.
Federal Bill Would Preempt Local Authority on Telecommunications Siting
A congressional committee advanced a bill recently that would streamline telecommunications infrastructure investments by preempting local control of siting decisions.
Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation
Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.
The Rise of the ‘Night Mayor’
More cities are acknowledging the unique role of nighttime activities in urban life and the need for special ‘night governance.’
Proposed Land Value Tax Plan in Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan proposes hiking property taxes for vacant land and buildings while lowering the rate for occupied homes and businesses in a split tax plan he contends will resolve many of Detroit's blight and high property tax woes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
