Government / Politics
An Argument for an Inefficient City, Starting with Spatial Justice
By taking a turtle for a walk, we can begin to take back our minds and bodies.
Fire Safety Testing Paves the Way for Timber Towers
A new kind of building will soon rise in the United States: the wooden tower. Extensive testing by the US Department of Agriculture and the timber industry will soon make timber viable for high-rise tower construction.
Broward County Voters Approve One Sales Tax Measure but Reject Another; Neither Passes
Had it not been for the political compromise that enabled it to be placed on the ballot, voters would have narrowly passed a county transportation sales tax measure. In neighboring Palm Beach County, a straight-forward sales tax measure passed.
Cities Can't Afford To Be 'Data Poor'
Fundamentally, we are at a critical turning point in terms of how we think about data and how we use data for governments and cities as well as businesses and other institutions.
Election Outcomes Put Atlanta Metro Region on Two Different Transportation Paths
Three sales tax measures in Fulton County all won on Nov. 8. Two city ballot measures sets a course for investment in public transit and active transportation for Atlanta, while Fulton County will invest in road projects to reduce traffic congestion.
Airbnb Drops Lawsuit with the State of New York
The frontline of the ongoing battle between Airbnb and government regulators shifts from Albany to New York City.
Mumbai Cuts Noise Pollution to Improve Health
Traffic police in Mumbai have launched a campaign to cut down on unnecessary honking by motorists in the city of Mumbai
The San Francisco Bay Area Voted for a Sustainable, Inclusive Future
We can’t simply rely on the federal government to solve the San Francisco Bay Area’s challenges. Time and time again, we have turned to local do-it-yourself solutions. This year, voters rolled up their sleeves and took matters into their own hands.
Sanctuary Cities Preparing for Fight with Trump on Deportation
With Donald Trump set to take office January 20th, some cities are already planning to defy his deportation plans.
Budget Cuts to Hit Toronto's Planners Despite City's Continued Growth
Many in Toronto's planning department voiced concerns about proposed cuts to the budget, in part because of the growing number of applications they're receiving.
While Rural America Zigged, Suburban Sprawl Zagged
In 2016, Republicans did worse than usual in affluent sprawl suburbs, while gaining a little ground in working-class cities.
Seattle's HUGE Transit Victory on Election Day
In dollars, Seattle region's Proposition 1 was second only to Measure M, a $120 billion sales tax measure in Los Angeles County, although the comparison is lacking in at least three respects. Prop 1 did not pass in all three Puget Sound counties.
Santa Monica Voters Soundly Reject Slow Growth Ballot Measure
The so-called LUVE initiative, which would have required a public vote on any development exceeding 32 feet or two stories, was rejected by over 56 percent of voters. Opponents significantly outspent supporters who failed to get council support.
Obama Order Creates the Council on Community Solutions
The Obama Administration recently offered a parting gesture toward better coordination between the federal government and local and regional municipalities.
Colorado to Launch Road Usage Charge Pilot Next Month
Colorado residents are now being recruited to participate in a four-month program to evaluate how motorists react to being charged by the mile driven rather than gallon of fuel burned. Sagging fuel tax revenues are the impetus for the pilot program.
Seattle City Council Parts With Mayor on Affordable Housing Funds
Political drama connected to the funding of affordable will require changes to the mayor's proposed city budget.
Following Study, Army Corps Needs More Study to Decide Dakota Access Route
As the protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline continue, so does the legal wrangling.
Metro Detroit's Millage Tax Comes Within Half a Percentage Point of Passing
A $4.6 billion transit plan proposed by the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan received 49.5 percent of the vote on November 8. The millage tax would have funded bus rapid transit and regional rail within a four-county region.
Baltimore Transit Advocates, Politicians Pushing for a Better Bus Plan
First came the demise of the $2.9 billion Red Line light rail project, then came the $138 million BaltimoreLink bus system project. Now a coalition of union and political interests are pushing for a "People's Alternative."
The Future is Fiction
What will our cities look like in the year 2050?
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
