Government / Politics

Subway Turnstiles

Voters Approved 100 Percent of Pro-Transit Ballot Measures This Year

In 2021, public transit-related ballot measures passed with strong support across the country.

November 24, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Unofficial monument to 25 years of People's Park, Berkeley, California

A Fight For the Future of People's Park

Community groups are fighting a plan to build student housing in the historic People's Park.

November 24, 2021 - Mercury News

South San Jose houses

Report: How States Can Improve Housing Policy

While many policies that affect housing are decided on at the local level, there are several steps state officials can take to pave the way for healthier housing markets.

November 24, 2021 - The Brookings Institution

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Supes Reject Proposal To Turn Parking Lot Into Housing

State legislators are decrying the Board of Supervisors' decision to reject a proposal to build a 495-unit apartment building on a downtown San Francisco parking lot.

November 23, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Baltimore

Baltimore Could Revive Dollar Homes Program

A 1970s program let Baltimore residents purchase city-owned homes for $1. Now, the city council president wants to bring it back.

November 23, 2021 - Fox Baltimore

Single-Family Neighborhood

A Battle Brews Over Housing Density In Seattle

The newly elected Seattle City Council will take up the debate over single-family zoning in the city.

November 23, 2021 - Crosscut

Empty Parking

Parking Reform Map Shows Which Cities Have Eliminated Parking Minimums

As part of #BlackFridayParking week, a crowd-sourced map tracks the growth of the parking reform movement in U.S. cities.

November 23, 2021 - Strong Towns Blog

British Columbia residential Neighborhoods

Vancouver's New Housing Plan Takes Shape

If its proposals are effectively implemented, Vancouver's new housing plan would promote 'missing middle housing' and increase density near jobs and transit.

November 22, 2021 - The Globe and Mail

A giant puppet of a sea goddess made entirely of recycled materials walked through Glasgow during the COP26 climate change summit.

Key Lessons From COP26

Observers express cautious optimism as countries come together on climate goals, but developing nations say they need more support to mitigate the impacts of climate change already in progress.

November 22, 2021 - Yahoo News

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

Report: San Diego Transportation Plan Won't Meet Climate Goals

A regional plan announced by the San Diego Association of Governments will fall short of the city's goals to increase alternate mode trips to 50 percent, report finds.

November 22, 2021 - KPBS

Los Angeles Protest

L.A. Shifts Homeless Policy to Clear Street Encampments

Advocates say L.A.'s new focus on clearing 'unsightly' homeless encampments is a political band-aid that won't help people find permanent housing.

November 22, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

4 abandoned homes in St. Louis's Greater Ville neighborhood

St. Louis Could Fine Developers For Multi-Family Conversions

The city is considering implementing a fee for developers who reduce the number of units in a rehabbed building in a bid to discourage the loss of housing.

November 22, 2021 - St. Louis Public Radio

Mass Vaccination

Austria to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccination

Life for the unvaccinated in many European countries is becoming more difficult as infections surge. Austria will take the ultimate step in February and require residents to become inoculated unless medically exempt. A lockdown begins Monday.

November 22, 2021 - The New York Times

Homeless encampments on the Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk.

The Blue State Problem

The New York Times and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver have a message for progressives living in liberal cities in Blue States: you're part of the problem.

November 21, 2021 - The New York Times

Cranes rise into the sky on a construction site for an office and housing building for the Bouygues Group in the southern suburbs of Paris.

Could France's Approach to Combating NIMBYism Work in the United States?

France passed a law that required cities to have a certain percentage of social housing. Since then the country's most exclusionary cities and suburbs have seen a fivefold increase in the availability of social housing.

November 19, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Interstate 65 Louisville

Evidence for Tolls as a 'Surefire' Traffic Congestion Fix

Traffic on a Louisville freeway fell by half after a toll was implemented. Could this be the best way to reduce traffic congestion?

November 19, 2021 - City Observatory

San Francisco Bay Area

Opinion: To Meet Climate Goals, Bay Area Needs More Transit-Oriented Development

The region's transit-oriented development (TOD) plan requires a significant update to achieve the density and housing goals laid out in the MTC's 30-year vision.

November 18, 2021 - SPUR

Weathered stone slabs with the words Juvenile Court Entrance engraved into it.

Minor Defendants: Kids Are Being Named in Evictions

Absurd as it may sound, minor children are sometimes named in eviction filings. If a child’s name makes in onto official court records—especially if those records are public and online—the damage can be irreversible.

November 17, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Mount Rainier

How Tacoma Can Build More Equitable Transit

Advocates are calling for a 0.1 percent sales tax increase that could fund improved service and lower fares for the city's struggling transit system.

November 16, 2021 - The Urbanist

Texas Highways

Freeway Expansions Continue to Threaten Black and Brown Communities

Despite calls to center equity in infrastructure projects, highway construction and expansion still disproportionately impacts communities of color, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation.

November 16, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

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.