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.

January 31, 2008 - Kanas City Star Prime Buzz

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.

January 31, 2008 - Associated Press

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.

January 31, 2008 - USA Today

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.

January 30, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

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.

January 30, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

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.

January 30, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

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.

January 29, 2008 - The Washington Post

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.

January 28, 2008 - The Washington Post

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.

January 28, 2008 - The New York Times

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.

January 27, 2008 - Reason

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.

January 26, 2008 - The Washington Post

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.

January 25, 2008 - San Francisco Examiner

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.

January 25, 2008 - The Vancouver Sun

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.

January 24, 2008 - Governing

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.

January 24, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

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.

January 24, 2008 - NPR

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.

January 24, 2008 - The National Corridors Initiative Press Release

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.

January 23, 2008 - The Kansas City Star

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.

January 23, 2008 - Campaign for America's Future

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.

January 21, 2008 - Associated Press

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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