Government / Politics
George Monbiot: 'The Great Moral Issue Of The 21st Century'
British journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot talks about global warming, car fuel economy, electric vehicles, manipulation of science, biofuels, the "Axis of Evil" on climate change, and "the great moral issue" of our time.
The Politics of Urban Poverty
The divide between extreme wealth and poverty in America's cities is growing starker, at the same time it is becoming more politically invisible, writes Bob Herbert.
The Fight Against Billboard Pollution
Are billboard companies exploiting public roadways?
Cities Draft Laws To Limit McMansions
Local municipalities are drafting laws to crack down on McMansions by imposing strict building restrictions, a move that has sparked controversy between officials and homebuilders.
Following Curitiba's Footsteps
Jaime Lerner's bold actions helped convince Curitiba's residents to adopt change and created a model for the world to follow -- even as the city faces new challenges to its much lauded transit and waste collection programs.
Cleveland Struggles To Turn Talk Into Action On Regionalism
Following up on a series from three years ago, the Cleveland Plain Dealer finds that much hopeful talk on the benefits of regional cooperation have yet to translate into actual reform.
Are Cities The Key To Success In The 21st Century?
Bruce Katz of The Brookings Institution argues that the health and vitality of cities will determine which nations will prosper in this century -- which he has dubbed the 'Urban Age'.
Does Density Make You A Democrat?
A recent blog post discusses the correlation between urban form and political leanings.
Historic Rail Corridor Dilemma: Rails to Trails or Rails?
Rail buffs hope to run a tourist train on an unused rail line in the Sierra foothills outside of Sacramento, but there are concerns that it would prevent the corridor from being used as a recreational trail for hikers, bikers and equestrians.
Law Requires Disaster Planning For Pets, Too
Federal law requires cities to have evacuation plans that include pets. Many cities never knew about this law and don't have the resources to follow it, which could disqualify them from receiving federal disaster relief funds.
Rent Regulation: The Right Tool for the Right Job
Far too many discussions about the 'failures' of rent control don't take into account what such regulation is really designed to do -- namely, provide housing stability and protect against displacement. Before allowing rent control regulation to wither in New York City and elsewhere, it's a good idea to consider how much residents and society overall benefit from these imperfect policies.
Oregon Requires State Agencies To Reduce Energy Use
Lawmakers in Oregon approved a bill to require state agencies to cut their energy consumption by 20% by 2015. Agencies will have to submit plans for how they will cut their energy use, which is expected to occur through facilities improvements.
North-South Rail Route To Reopen In Koreas
The governments of North and South Korea have agreed on plans to create a cross-border train route -- the first such rail crossing in more than 50 years.
Opponents May Stop Fee Raise That Would Pay For Affordable Housing
Political opposition may stand in the way of Oregon's plans to raise money for affordable housing by increasing the fees paid when filing real estate documents by more than 100%.
Public Participation Is Just A Click Away
More and more suburban Illinois communities are streaming their public hearings over the web, enabling more people to follow their local democratic process -- a trend being seen across the country.
Planning and Development In The United Arab Emirates
Dubai announces that it will be the site of a new $2.2-billion Universal theme park, while neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi announces a comprehensive planning effort called Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.
Using Toll Financing to Fund Highways
New technology allows us to manage traffic flow better than ever before, but we need to shift away from reliance on gas taxes, which are failing to deliver necessary revenue, a new Reason study argues.
Smart Growth's Past, Present And Future
A recent HUD journal article assesses the origins of the smart growth movement, and its current and anticipated impact on urban development in the United States.
Land Use Shows Itself To Be Controversial Element In Cool Cities Program
The land use policy in the US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement calling for smart growth caused a Bay Area mayor to refrain from signing the agreement, believing that limiting density would be better for the environment.
South Africa Struggles To Redistribute Farmland
A 2014 goal of 30% farm ownership by blacks in South Africa is far from being met, as whites still control more than 80% of the nation's farmland. Many say the government's land reform laws are incapable of efficiently redistributing the land.
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
