Government / Politics
The Wildflower Wars
A dazzling wildflower season spells trouble for master-planned communities across the West.
Did Corrupt Building Practices Contribute to China's Earthquake Disaster?
As rescue work continues in the aftermath of the earthquake in China's Sichuan province, many -- including the state-run media -- are asking questions about why so many buildings collapsed, and blame corruption and shoddy construction methods.
Infrastructure Needs to be a Major Election Issue
None of the major presidential candidates are paying enough attention to the nation's deteriorating infrastructure, according to this article.
A Tale Of Two Visions For A Waterfront
Activists in Jersey City are suing over plans to replace a fledgling waterfront arts district with new high-rises. The city says the land, which is next to commuter and light rail stations, is best used for "smart growth" high-density housing.
How To Justify Economic Development Subsidies
Quebec is notorious for its lavish subsidies designed to lure business. But with transparent accounting and a cost-benefit ratio of 3.74 to 1, the province's economic development agency makes sure taxpayers know what they are getting for their money.
Fears Over Immigrants Stymie Accessory Unit Ordinance
Planners in Arlington, Virginia want to allow rental units in single family neighborhoods, but residents are strongly opposed to the proposal, many of them worried that the units will attract low-income immigrants.
Bankrupt City Could Serve As Model
The northern California city of Vallejo has declared bankruptcy, becoming one of few cities and the largest in the state to do so. Other struggling cities are watching closely to see if the strategy helps to save the city.
Road Building Requirement Lifted For Arizona Homebuilders
Homebuilders have been removed from the language of a transportation funding bill that would have required developers to pay for new roads.
Neighborhood Zoning Offices Give Residents Help And Answers
Following the lead of law enforcement, San Diego's code enforcement department is opening storefront offices where residents can come in with questions and complaints.
New State Laws Making It Easier To Build Green
States are helping homeowners who want to have a more eco-friendly lifestyle by overturning homeowner association regulations that ban solar panels and wind turbines.
Taking The Politics Out Of Parking
UCLA Professor Donald Shoup has criss-crossed the nation lecturing about the many benefits from market pricing of parking -- but he says too many cities are still making decisions based on politics.
District of Rats
Washington D.C. has successfully invested more than $600 million in a new baseball stadium, but the city's infamous infestation with rats is nowhere near resolved. Reason's Matt Welch asks why.
Learning From London's Congestion Charge
By looking closely at the key factors that helped London's congestion charge succeed, other cities can decipher whether a similar scheme would work in their jurisdictions.
Sweden Tops All Nations As Climate-Friendly
One country stands out in Europe in surpassing the greenhouse gas emission reductions required by the Kyoto Protocol - Sweden. While it used several environmental technologies to achieve those reductions, experts give credit to its carbon tax.
Affordable Housing Versus Better Wages
Massachusetts wants to require affordable housing developers to pay construction workers a "prevailing wage", but with costs already totaling $200,000 or more per unit, the proposal may ultimately decrease the amount of affordable housing built.
Candidates Sit Idly While Sprawl Thrives and Cities Die
This piece from The Cleveland Free Times argues that policy can and does encourage sprawl, and none of the candidates running for president will do anything to combat these policies. Meanwhile, American cities will continue to die off.
Housing Debacle Threatens Renters
A new report examines the impacts of the mortgage meltdown on rental housing.
Monied Interests Triumph in L.A.
In two separate examples, a Los Angeles Times columnist shows how stakeholders with money tend to win the support of local politicians more often than the less fortunate.
A Silver Lining To The Foreclosure Crisis: More Affordable Housing
The Federal Reserve has announced plans to help community non-profits to acquire foreclosed homes for use as affordable housing.
Los Angeles Cracks Down On Mansionization
Despite concerns about lowering property values across the city, the L.A. City Council moved to limit the size of newly constructed homes in older neighborhoods to about 4,000 square feet.
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
