Government / Politics
Kansas City Light Rail Crime 'Myths' - Part 1
In part one of a two-part blog post, Jeffrey Spivak calls to question the Cato Institute's attempts to cast light rail as crime ridden.
Corps Can't Be Held Responsible
A federal court ruled recently that the Army Corps of Engineers could not be held liable for the levee fialures that caused the flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
When Out-of-Towners Crash, Cities Want Cash
Resulting from high numbers of car accidents involving people from out of town, cities across the country are adopting measures that charge drivers and their insurance companies for the city services performed at crash sites.
Car 'Feebate' Under Consideration in California
The California Assembly is considering a bill that would create the nation's first "feebate" -- a charge or rebate California drivers would pay or receive depending on how much greenhouse gas their cars emit.
Eminent Domain Restrictions Don't Hurt Growth
A recent report has found that restricting the government's eminent domain powers does not harm economic growth.
Rent Control Under Fire In California
A California ballot initiative heading to voters in June could bring an end to the state's rent control laws.
D.C.-Airport Rail Funding Decision Delayed
A decision on the fate of federal funding for the D.C.-Dulles rail link has been deleayed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters. This delay may keep hopes for federal funding of the project alive.
Private Investors May Save D.C.'s Dying Airport-Rail Link
After the federal government pulled its recommendation for funding a rail extension that would connect the Washington D.C.-area to Dulles International Airport, private investors are looking to get in the ring and save the plan.
The Downside Of A Declining Crime Rate: Prison Closures
Many rural prisons have become a mainstay for the economies of the small communities where they are located, and closing them can prove devastating to the local economy, creating long-term problems far beyond the loss of prison jobs.
Housing Slump Not Recession Culprit
In this piece from Reason Samuel Staley argues that the housing crisis can't be fully blamed for the economic recession.
D.C.'s Dulles Rail Project Seems Unlikely
A planned rail extension that would have connected the Washington D.C. area to Dulles International Airport has been all but killed by a federally-pushed disqualification of the project from receiving critical federal funding.
Proposal To 'Unbundle' Parking Heads To San Francisco Supervisors
A San Francisco supervisor has proposed several changes in parking regulations that will result in reduced new housing costs, and potentially reduced car ownership and operation. It requires the approval of the Board of Supervisors.
Report Says Canadian Government Needs to Renew Social Housing Funding
A recent report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is calling on the federal government to keep up tis funding of housing and shelter programs after they expire in 2009.
States Look to Update Tax Systems
This article from Governing looks at the state tax system and examines how states are taking steps to restructure their systems to ensure long-term viability.
Sky Bridge Gets Approval
The Salt Lake City Planning Commission has approved a controversial plan to build a sky bridge for pedestrians as part of a new mixed use development.
New Orleans Stumbles With Homeless Plan
With booming homelessness since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is looking to unconventional approaches to handling the issue. But things aren't quite working out as planned.
Censored: Pro-Transit Section From Commission Study
A pro-transit section, written by noted conservative Paul Weyrich, was excised from the final report, despite being approved by 9-3 majority vote of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.
Libertarians Prod Kansas City to Forget Light Rail
Libertarian groups Cato Institute and Show-Me Institute are scrambling to convince Kansas City to end talks to consider building a light rail system in the city.
The Bush Administration's 'War on Planning'
The decay of America's infrastructure and the Bush Administration's repeated excuse, "Nobody could have foreseen..." reveals how much of America's planning tradition has been lost to free market ideology, writes Sarah Robinson.
EPA's Executive Privilege Withholds Documents
In response to a request for documentation about why the EPA recently rejected greenhouse gas regulations in California, the agency has handed over limited and censored documents and citing an executive privilege in doing so.
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
