Government / Politics
Why Americans Are Moving from Blue to Red States
In this op-ed, Arthur B. Laffer and Stephen Moore analyze the recent Census findings showing renewed migration from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and Southwest. They note the movement is clearly from blue states to red, and explain why.
Merger of L.A.'s Planning Department Looking Increasingly Likely
Long rumored plans to merge L.A.'s Department of City Planning with Building and Safety to cut costs and streamline permitting are coming into focus, as the outgoing mayor tries to push through the reforms before he leaves office.
Is Indexing the Key to Fixing the Federal Gas Tax?
It's not too early to think about "fixing the Highway Trust Fund", a prerequisite to renewing MAP-21 transportation legislation that expires Sept. 30, 2014. Rep. Peter DeFazio may have the fix in the form of an indexed gas tax - but which index?
Stop the Madness: New Thinking Needed for Prioritizing Transportation Projects
For architecture critic Inga Saffron, a $900 million project to improve a South Jersey interchange illustrates the madness of transportation funding priorities.
Can Office Conversions Ease London's Housing Shortage?
As a property buying binge by the global super-rich makes parts of London "more international, more expensive and more empty," the government is looking to ease the conversion of offices to residences. Can this ease the city's housing shortage?
IMF: Cut Subsidies to Cut Emissions
A new IMF report recommends cutting energy subsidies globally to reduce overall fossil fuel emissions, reports Brad Plumer.
Obama's Misplaced Urban Affairs
Did you know the White House Office of Urban Affairs still exists? Neither did we, nor did the many urban leaders who haven't interacted with it in years. Ryan Holeywell examines what happened to the initiative that began with so much promise.
Reducing Historic Tax Credit Could Curb Development in St. Louis
A successful tax credit that boosts development and preservation in St. Louis's historic urban core is under legislative attack in Missouri.
Amended Virginia Transportation Bill Backtracks on Prius Tax
In signing the funding bill that eliminates the state's 17.5-cent gas tax, Gov. Bob McDonnell reduced the new registration fee on hybrid vehicles to $64. While environmentalists remained disappointed, Moody's bond rating agency praised it highly.
With Boston Mayor's Departure, Evaluating His Imprint on the City
With longtime Boston mayor Thomas Menino's announcement that he will not seek re-election, Paul McMorrow assesses the five-term mayor's impact on the shape of the city.
Congress Pushes U.S. DOT to Improve Bike and Pedestrian Safety
A bipartisan group of 68 members of the U.S. House have authored a letter to outgoing Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood asking that U.S. DOT develop performance measures that will specifically target the safety of non-motorized users.
Trump Huffs and Puffs about Scottish Offshore Wind Project
Donald Trump says he will sue to prevent the construction of an offshore wind farm that government officials claim will boost the local economy and meet half of residential energy needs in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Examining L.A.'s Dirty Zoning Secrets
To celebrate its 50th post, Jeremy Rosenberg has handed over the reins of his "Laws That Shape L.A." column. The focus of this week's guest feature: the special overlays and site-specific designations that cover 60 percent of the city's geography.
The Power of Place: On Democracy and Public Participation in Planning
More thoughts on how public participation in the placemaking process can create better places and better functioning democracies.
Proposed 'Bike Freeway' in S.F. Faces Backlash
At a raucous community meeting held last week, the opposition to a proposal to replace curbside parking along Polk Street with bike lanes and parklets made their opinions known to city planners, reports Maria L. La Ganga.
Departure of USDA's No. 2 Official Deals Blow to Sustainable Agriculture
In an essay for Grist, Tom Laskawy laments the departure of deputy secretary Kathleen Merrigan, the Obama administration's "most powerful supporter of local and organic foods," from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Is San Francisco’s Transit-First Policy Facing a Midlife Crisis?
Driving accounts for 62 percent of all trips in San Francisco - the same level as when the city's pioneering transit-first policy was adopted 40 years ago. Aaron Bialick looks at the reasons why the policy has led to "scant visible progress."
Big Data Brings Big Benefits to Bloomberg's New York
Alan Feuer profiles the work of New York City's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, a "geek squad of civic-minded number-crunchers" turning the city's trove of digital data into actionable information.
Maryland Gas Tax Bill May Raise the Bar
One of the nation's most-watched and complex gas tax bills made significant progress in the House of Delegates. It retained one of its most significant parts, indexing the tax (and transit fares) to inflation, overcoming opposition by Republicans.
Clash of Interests Holds Back China's Environmental Efforts
Pollution is a growing problem throughout China - one that even tight-lipped public officials have been forced to acknowledge. But conflicting government interests - between state-run polluters and concerned policy-makers - are holding back fixes.
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
