Government / Politics

Deciding The Fate Of Long Island Bus

It appears to be a case of brinkmanship between suburban Nassau County and the regional Metropolitan Transportation Authority over how to fund Long Island Bus, with riders and workers the only sure losers.

October 11, 2010 - Streetsblog

The Fastest-Growing Cities in the World

Writing for Forbes, Joel Kotkin looks at the fastest-growing cities in the world, and shows how powerhouse cities like New York and Mumbai are being challenged by lesser known places.

October 8, 2010 - Forbes

Largest Public Works Project in America Scrapped

New Jersey governor Chris Christie has cancelled a proposed $8.7 billion tunnel under the Hudson connecting his state with New York City.

October 8, 2010 - CNN

New Jersey Running Out of Land

The NYT is reporting that New Jersey is running out of developable land, but with the recent ARC decision, the legacy of the Mount Laurel doctrine, and decades of highway-based suburbanizing policies, is New Jersey actually ready for density?

October 8, 2010 - Market Urbanism

Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Rail Against Rail

In Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, and California, the Republican gubernatorial candidates are all campaigning on pledges to return the high speed rail stimulus finds that the Obama administration recently awarded.

October 7, 2010 - The New York Times - U.S.

U.S. Cities Still Feeling Impact of Recession

A new report from the National League of Cities suggests urban areas will face diminished revenues through 2011 and beyond.

October 7, 2010 - National League Of Cities

World's Delta Cities Team Up to Address Shared Issues

A new group of cities is emerging to collaboratively tackle issues related to sea level rise in delta and waterfront cities.

October 7, 2010 - WorldChanging

Seattle's Sustainability Cred Suffering

In the progressive city of Seattle, Worldchanging's Alex Steffen finds the metro area falling behind other American cities with what is becoming an out-dated land use policy.

October 7, 2010 - WorldChanging

Light Rail Plans Emerge in Saudi Arabian Capital

The Saudi Arabian capital of Jeddah is looking to build a $5.6 billion light rail system.

October 7, 2010 - Agence France Presse

Stopping Sprawl, Slowing Emissions, Improving the Economy

A new report suggests that making policies in Canada to avoid urban sprawl development will reduce pollution and boost the economy.

October 6, 2010 - The Vancouver Sun

Finding Safe Places For Homeless To Park

Venice Beach (City of LA) is the latest community to restrict overnight parking of vehicle-dwelling homeless residents, including those living in RVs. It's a growing problem, especially in areas with inviting climates and tolerant political attitude

October 6, 2010 - The New York Times - U.S.

Walled Communities in Beijing Fight Crime, Spark Controversy

Small enclaves of low-wage workers in Beijing have been walled off from their surroundings in an effort to reduce crime. The separating walls have become a local controversy.

October 6, 2010 - The New York Times

HUD's Donovan on Transportation and Housing Costs

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan talks with PBS about the department's new approach of integrating transportation and housing policy.

October 5, 2010 - PBS

Reducing Crime With Public Spaces in London

Officials in London are relying on the creation of 86 new public spaces throughout the city to cut down on criminal behavior.

October 5, 2010 - London Evening Standard

New York City Given Power to Clean Up Brownfields

New York City has garnered new powers to institute cleanups on moderately contaminated sites, which could help revive hundreds of spots in the city that have sat empty or unused for years.

October 5, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

India Tries to Hide its Poor As Games Begin

As the Commonwealth Games get underway in New Delhi, India, locals are upset that officials have made efforts to hide slum areas from the view of visitors.

October 5, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Millions in Affordable Housing Funds Misspent

Continuing its exposé of California redevelopment agencies, The L.A. Times uncovers that $700 million meant for affordable housing across the state was spent without a single unit being built.

October 4, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times

Smart Growth Brain Trust

A new law in New York State requires state agencies to form smart growth advisory panels to determine whether proposed infrastructure projects meet smart-growth principles.

October 4, 2010 - City Newspaper

American Imperialism, Islands and Bird Droppings

A Columbia professor finds an obscure 1856 document that created the legal precedents that allowed the United States to seize and hold islands, and it all ties back to bird poop.

October 4, 2010 - CABINET

Secret Prisons in Suburbia

Earlier this year, The Nation uncovered that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds people in 186 under-the-radar "subfield offices," which the less generous might call "secret immigration detention centers."

October 3, 2010 - Utne Reader

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.