Government / Politics
Standardizing and Sharing City Data
New York City is moving forward with a plan to create a singular clearinghouse of public agency information -- an effort to help improve the way city departments work together.
The Dangers of Drinking and Riding
The perils of drinking and driving have been well documented - but what of drinking and riding the subway? While the latter only endangers oneself for the most part, crashes can still happen - in this piece, a $2.3 million award was overturned.
City Data Visualization Tool Wins Journalism Prize
A visual city data mapping tool called CityTracking is one of the winners of this year's Knight News Challenge, a journalism competition that seeks out innovative communication ideas for the changing news media.
The Growth of Municipal Debt
Municipal debt is on the rise, as state and local borrowing has grown to nearly one-quarter of the U.S. GDP.
Reversing California's Sprawl with SB 375 and TOD
A new report from the Urban Land Institute finds that California's VMT-focused Senate Bill 375 can potentially reverse the state's sprawl. Transit-oriented development is seen as a strong strategy.
Mortgage Headache Spawns Legislation in California
Mortgage debt is crippling the housing market all over the country, and the homeowners who've taken on more debt than they can afford. Now, real estate interests and banking interests are battling over legislation intended to ease the pain.
Layoffs Hurt Planning Efforts in California
Cities in California's Central Valley are looking at the economic downturn as an opportunity for planners to focus on long-range work. But layoffs in planning departments are making that hard to do.
A Plan for A Carbon-Neutral UK
Worldchanging takes a look at a new report that plots out a plan to create a carbon-neutral United Kingdom by 2030.
Funding Permanent Housing for the Homeless in Tempe
Officials in Tempe, Arizona and Maricopa County are using federal stimulus money to help end chronic homelessness by providing permanent housing options.
Bank Rule Change Could Help Struggling Neighborhoods
A new rule proposed by federal regulators would allow bank investments made for neighborhood stabilization efforts and donations of foreclosed properties to be count towards compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act.
Double-Parking, Churches, and Cyclist Safety
Double-parking can be hazardous to cyclists. But police in San Francisco aren't enforcing the law when double-parking happens during church services. Some argue that the rule of law must be followed.
The Gulf Oil Spill Illustrates a Corrupt Regulatory System
On the Commons criticizes the policy of 'enclosure' that has allowed "the systemic failures of the regulatory system and its political sponsors, Congress and the President," to go unnoticed.
The Hidden Roadblock for Sustainability
According to Portland, Oregon Mayor Sam Adams, that roadblock is the lack of financing for clean technology upgrades for buildings. Fast Company talks to Adams about his goal to make Portland the most sustainable city in the world.
Cairo Opens Design Competition for Its New Pedestrian Center
Cairo is revising its downtown area into a "pedestrian friendly plaza." Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif will expand the successful 'daytime pedestrian zones,' and has launched an international design competition to produce a master plan.
Underground Berkeley Bike Station Surfaces
...and expands almost nine-fold to be the nation's second largest. While not as proximate to the BART gates as the existing ten-year-old, 400 sq. ft station, it will be only be half a block away.
The Sorry State Of Indian Rail
The sorry state of India's government-owned railways, both rail and freight, are hampering India's progress. Unlike China's authoritarian approach, politics in the world's largest democracy appears to be a major obstacle to modernization.
Build America Bonds May Be Bad Deal for Cities
Build America Bonds, part of the economic stimulus package that are intended to help cash-strapped cities building roads and schools, have been found to cost cities and taxpayers more over the long-term.
Cisneros: Not the Government's Fault
Former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros says the housing crisis is the fault of brought unscrupulous business people, not the government.
Strife in the City of the Future
Joel Kotkin describes the plight of a Los Angeles economy that has lost "one-fifth of all its employment since 2004." Once a hopeful generator of new jobs and technology, the area has suffered the most of all the Sunbelt metros.
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
