Government / Politics

Affordable Housing

'CarsonWatch': New Housing Justice Coalition Fights Trump Agenda

National organizations are mobilizing around housing as a human right.

August 11, 2017 - Right to the City

Natural Gas

Appeals Court Deals Second Setback to Trump Administration on Methane Regulation

Another unpleasant reminder for the Trump Administration that there are three equal branches of government: A federal appeals court ruled 9-2 that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt must enforce a rule to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas wells.

August 7, 2017 - CNN Politics

Texas Toll Highway

Hints of a North Texas Freeway Rebellion

At the helm of a movement to think beyond concrete solutions to transportation challenges in North Texas are the mayors of Fort Worth, Grapevine, and Arlington.

August 6, 2017 - NBC DFW

Good Side of the Downside: The End Is (Only) Near

Depressed by city planning in your neck of the woods? Ben Brown says to lower your expectations.

August 5, 2017 - PlaceShakers

City Hall

Impacts of AVs and E-Commerce on Municipal Budgets

A new report from Urbanism Next/SCI takes you through a city’s budget—both revenues and expenditures—and describes the areas that will be affected as AVs become commonplace and e-commerce takes on an even larger role in retail

August 4, 2017 - Urbanism Next

Marijuana

San Francisco Creates 'Office of Cannabis'

A "one-stop shop" for marijuana businesses will open in time for the statewide legalization of the industry this January.

August 3, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

1984 Olympics

Worldwide Response to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics: Skepticism

More than one media outlet praised Los Angeles' optimism for cutting a deal with the International Olympics Committee to host the 2028 Olympics.

August 3, 2017 - The Guardian

Chevy Bolt

Are Reports Predicting a Future of Electric Vehicles Exaggerated?

David Yager, an oil industry consultant, writes that recent reports predicting electric vehicles will eventually outsell those with internal combustion engines are vastly exaggerated, notwithstanding national bans on future sales of such cars.

August 3, 2017 - Business Insider

Olympic Stadium

Quebec Olympic Stadium Now a Shelter for Asylum Seekers from the U.S.

The government of Canada is scrambling to build a policy in response to growing numbers of asylum seekers crossing the border between the United States and Canada.

August 3, 2017 - The Globe and Mail

Imperial Beach Border

Department of Homeland Security Will Skip Environmental Review for the Border Wall

Also, the House of Representatives has approved the funding president trump wants for the wall, but the Senate is likely to balk.

August 2, 2017 - Associated Press via Denver Post

Electric Cars

Electrifying California: Volkswagen Settlement Approved

The biggest obstacle to the adoption of electric vehicles in California, a shortage of charging infrastructure, just became a lot more manageable thanks to $200 million from Volkswagen stemming the from the dieselgate settlement.

August 2, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Trump Administration

Is There Space for Planning in Trump's News Cycle?

An analysis of Planetizen traffic in the first six months of the Trump Administration reveals an audience still focused, despite so many distractions, on the future of communities.

August 1, 2017 - James Brasuell

Water Dripping

San Joaquin Water Treatment Plant Still Not on Track

California's San Joaquin Valley has an opportunity to build a treatment facility to bring water from the Kings River to communities in Tulare County, but so far infighting among towns in the county has prevented work from starting on that plant.

August 1, 2017 - News Deeply

Border Wall

Border Wall Plans Following the Path of Least Resistance

Planning of President Trump's proposed border wall is moving along very quietly, and quickly, at a federal wildlife refuge in Texas.

July 31, 2017 - The Texas Observer

Tailpipe

Another Nail in the Coffin of the Internal Combustion Engine?

Is the movement away from gasoline and diesel-powered cars unstoppable? In response to air pollution litigation, the British government announced on July 26 that sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles would be banned by 2040.

July 31, 2017 - The New York Times

Waterfront walkway along Navy Pier in Chicago

Money for Blighted Neighborhoods Pushed to Chicago Tourist Attraction

The administration of Rahm Emanuel okayed a financial scheme to move money for poor neighborhoods into a fund for Navy Pier, a downtown mall and theater.

July 31, 2017 - Better Government

Metro Rapid Bus

Los Angeles Metro Takes Initial Step Toward Conversion to Electric Buses by 2030

The board of L.A. Metro voted Thursday to spend $138 million to purchase 95 electric buses plus chargers and wiring upgrades for two transit lines that now use natural gas buses, and approved a motion to convert all buses to battery-electrics by 2030

July 30, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Autonomous Vehicles and Streets: A Guide to Potential Impacts

As the arrival of autonomous vehicles (AVs) becomes more of a reality, cities need to start considering how this new technology will affect streets and street networks. This brief guide provides an overview and resources on this topic.

July 29, 2017 - Urbanism Next Blog - Sustainable Cities Initiative

Capitol Hill

Senate Appropriations Committee Restores TIGER Grant Program

Unlike the House Appropriations Committee's DOT budget that reduces spending by almost 4 percent from current levels and eliminates the TIGER grant program, its Senate counterpart increased transportation spending, including the TIGER grant budget.

July 28, 2017 - The Hill

California's Business-Friendly, Bipartisan Approach to Climate Change

Gov. Jerry Brown, accompanied by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed legislation to continue the cap-and-trade program initially authorized under a bill signed by his Republican predecessor 11 years ago at the same Treasure Island location.

July 27, 2017 - KQED News

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.