Government / Politics

Sam Who?

Bush nominates little-known official, Samuel Bodman, to be energy secretary.

December 11, 2004 - Bloomberg

To Change A City's Looks, Change How City Hall Works

The push to beautify Toronto will inevitably encounter the paralyzing effect of bureaucracy.

December 10, 2004 - The Toronto Star

An Unprecedented Energy Crisis

The shadow of an unprecedented energy crisis looms over President Bush's second term in office.

December 8, 2004 - Tom Paine - Common Sense

America Should Develop a 21st Century Fuel

Thomas Friedman believes that renewed investments in science funding, alternative fuel research and conservation programs should be this generation's Apollo program.

December 8, 2004 - International Herald Tribune

Bad Erie Canal Deal

An investigation shows how New York State officials put politics before planning in a scheme to develop the Erie Canal.

December 8, 2004 - Syracuse Post Standard

Privatization Makes a 'Big Dig' into Taxpayers' Pocketbooks

If you think that the Bush Administration's drive to privatize almost everything will lead to greater efficiencies and a better use of taxpayers' dollars, then take another look at Boston's "Big Dig."

December 5, 2004 - The Boston Globe

A Mall Is Not A Town Square, Court Rules

Texas courts uphold a controversial ruling on privately-owned shopping centers to regulate solicitation on center properties.

December 1, 2004 - PlainVanillaShell.com

Zombies In L.A.'s Planning Department?

Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes started his career in the Los Angeles Planning Department, and now wants to get rid of the the "zombies" in the planning department.

November 27, 2004 - LA Weekly

Has the U.S. Become a Banana Republic?

The huge deficits and social security privatization promoted by the Bush Administration makes an economic crisis almost inevitable, Princeton economist warns.

November 26, 2004 - Reuters

New 'Micros' Cast Deciding Vote In 2004 Election

Between the exurban and rural like the "Micropolitan" areas.

November 24, 2004 - USA Today

Get out of the Suburbs While You Can

The end of cheap oil is going to change everything: where you live, where you work and how you feed yourself, warns James Howard Kunstler.

November 24, 2004 - James Howard Kunstler

Exurbs Are Republicans' New Frontier

97 of the nation's 100 fastest-growing counties supported Bush, putting these exurban areas firmly on the political map.

November 24, 2004 - The Los Angeles Times

Reviewing How The Government Misuses Eminent Domain

The Claremont Institute review's Steven Greenhut's book, "Abuse of Power: How the Government Misuses Eminent Domain."

November 23, 2004 - The Claremont Institute

Planning By Ballot Measures

Citizens across the country voted on how they want their communities to grow.

November 18, 2004 - The Washington Post Writers Group

It's The Cities, Stupid

After reviewing the familiar red/blue election map, The Stranger concludes that urban liberals live in the Urban Archipelago, the United Cities of America.

November 18, 2004 - The Stranger

America's Obsession with Consumption

The greatest moral threat to the United States is not gay marriage, writes Derrick Jackson, but the inability to live within our means in a world of want.

November 17, 2004 - The Boston Globe

Mapping The 2004 Presidential Election Results

Researchers at the University of Michigan prepare a fascinating set of maps and 'cartograms' showing the results from the 2004 presidential election.

November 17, 2004 - University Of Michigan

Urban Voters Are The Democratic Base

This editorial argues that the future of the democratic parties lies in reorienting the party line towards urban issues.

November 16, 2004 - The Stranger

Golf Course Development Expansion Runs Into Trouble

Traffic and school have emerged as central issues in plans to expand Turf Valley Resort development in western Howard County, Maryland.

November 13, 2004 - The Baltimore Sun

New Political Party Based On Sustainable Urbanism

'Projet Montréal', is a new municipal political party founded in November, 2004, and based on sustainability.

November 11, 2004 - CBC News

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.