Government / Politics

Upcoming U.S. Budget May Slash Environment, Housing

The impacts of tax cuts and the sluggish economy may mean reductions in spending on social programs and the environment when the budget is unveiled next week.

February 1, 2005 - TomDispatch

Privatized Toll Roads Could Net $10 Billion

First Illinois, now New Jersey. Will privatizing toll roads become the next new trend?

January 26, 2005 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Looking Back at Federal Housing Reform

The Brookings Institution reports on the progress and success of public housing reform and vouchers.

January 25, 2005 - The Brookings Institution

The Homeless Census

Cities and counties across the country are undetaking a massive effort to count the homeless.

January 25, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

NIMBYs, BANANAs And NIMTOOs

'Pod thinking' results in planning that fails to look beyond the small community and encourages NIMBYism, BANANAs, and NIMTOOs.

January 23, 2005 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Devastated Falluja Faces Uncertain Future

The Iraqi city of Falluja may require more than $1 billion to rebuild; the U.S. is promising a fraction of that.

January 18, 2005 - TomDispatch

Organized Environmental Irresponsibility In Mexico

Toxic spills by Mexico's oil company, Pemex have turned a coastal area into 'one of the most contaminated regions in the world.'

January 16, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Christine Todd Whitman's New Book

Former EPA administrator Christie Whitman's forthcoming book assails GOP's rightward lurch.

January 16, 2005 - Grist Magazine

Do Planinng Performance Audits Work?

Richard Carson writes about his planning agency -- the Clark County, Washington Community Development Department -- used performance audits to reinvent itself .

January 15, 2005 - Planning Magazine

Commuters' Bill Of Rights

Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Robert Hertzberg offers a 'Commuters' Bill of Rights'.

January 14, 2005 - The Los Angeles Times

Sustainability Planning: First, Do No Harm

Sustainability planning may be precisely the wrong approach, argues Peter Gordon.

January 12, 2005 - University Of Southern California

Adding A Notch To The Belt

Eugene, Oregon's Urban Growth Boundary might be more flexible than you think.

January 11, 2005 - Eugene Weekly

Metropolitan Planning Organizations Reviewed

Have MPOs undertaken actions consistent with environmental justice andtransportation equity mandates?

January 8, 2005 - Metropolitan Institute At Virginia Tech

The Argument Against Subsidizing Stadiums

There are sound economic models for privately financed teams and venues, so why does government insist on subsizing stadiums?

January 3, 2005 - The Baltimore Sun

Most Expensive Places To Do Business

A new report ranks states according to the relative cost of doing business, including key economic and social indicators.

December 30, 2004 - The Public Policy Institute Of New York State

Are Farm Subsidies Good Economic Development?

Farmers had a record year for sales and profits in 2004. Yet government subsidies are up 40%. Is this good policy?

December 27, 2004 - The New York Times

Portland Planners Migrate To Sacramento

Sacramento insiders report an influx of Portland planners Portland who see the Saramento region as a young Portland.

December 27, 2004 - The Sacramento Bee

Collaborative Governance

'Collaborative governance' gives all parties with a stake in a public problem a say in how to resolve it.

December 23, 2004 - The Christian Science Monitor

Pentagon Exempts itself from Environmental Regulation

A new directive from the Department of Defense eliminates any need for the Pentagon to be responsible for public health or toxic site cleanups.

December 15, 2004 - Truthout

Oregon's Property-Rights Vote Could Derail Smart Growth

Neal Peirce shows how the innocuous language in Oregon's Measure 37 conceals the potential to turn the State into an "eruption of Burger Kings and Wal-Marts."

December 15, 2004 - The Seattle Times

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.