Government / Politics

The Planning Meeting Everyone's Talking About
The world of planning hearings and the pandemic realities of Zoom meetings collided in spectacular fashion in the tiny town of Handforth Parish in the United Kingdom.

Moving from the Inequitable Housing System We Have to the Housing System We Need
Three big, but basic, things that we could do right now to get us much closer to equity in housing.

Opinion: It's the Perfect Time for More Trains in Maine
A more concerted effort could bring together the state's recent plans and federal infrastructure investment to link the region and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Proposed $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Includes $30 Billion Each for Transit and Rent Relief
Democrats in Congress are moving forward with a massive COVID stimulus package—with or without Republicans.

California's Stringent Coronavirus Restrictions Worked
Public health experts credit the controversial L.A. County public health order and the state's regional order, both of which banned outdoor dining, with reducing the viral spread that overwhelmed hospitals with COVID patients last month.

Private Sector Coalition Urges California to Invest in Affordable Housing
A new plan calls for increased funding for housing and supportive services to relieve the state's housing crisis and end homelessness.

I-5 Study Shows Benefits of Capping Urban Freeways
Putting a lid on the interstate through downtown Seattle could create new space for parks and housing, reduce pollution, and reconnect the disrupted street grid.

Austin Reallocates Police Funding to Homeless Housing and Services
The city is using the redistributed money to purchase hotels for permanent housing and provide supportive services.

Biden's Climate Plan Centers Environmental Justice
The Biden administration's climate plan calls for sweeping reform in the country's energy policy and places new focus on addressing racial and economic disparities.

Homeless Counts Fall Short in Gathering Accurate Statistics
Assessing the scale of homelessness in the United States is surprisingly difficult, with statistics failing to capture the diversity of unhoused people and their situations.

Awaiting the Mutant Storm(s)
Coronavirus infection, hospitalizations and most recently, deaths, are declining, but public health experts warn that more transmissible variant strains of the coronavirus threaten to overwhelm hospitals in the next few months.

Thank Indigenous Activists for the Keystone XL Pipeline's Demise
President Biden's executive order may put the final nail in the coffin of the controversial pipeline project, but it was unwavering local activists who kept the pressure on for a decade.

In Unprecedented Times, Nothing Less Than Universal Rent Relief Will Do
An intimate look at what it’s like fighting for meaningful state-level rent relief when the powers that be don’t believe everyone is worth saving.

Notes on the Buttigieg Confirmation Hearing
Takeaways from last week's Senate confirmation hearing for the nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.

CDC's New Face Mask Requirement on Transit Takes Effect Tuesday
Travelers will be required to properly wear a face mask when riding all forms of public transportation, e.g., ride-share, bus, train, ferry, or plane. The rule applies to transportation hubs and boarding platforms. Not just any face-covering will do.
How Democrats Can Fix the Affordable Housing Crisis
With Democrats taking back the Senate, can the Biden administration go beyond immediate-term rent relief to win more ambitious housing solutions?

The Impacts of Zoning Laws in Montgomery County
Historic zoning decisions have left a lasting legacy of housing inequality. Current leaders have the opportunity to change that.

Biden Administration Rules Out Gas Tax Hike
Shortly after Transportation secretary-nominee Pete Buttigieg told a Senate committee that all options were on the table to pay for federal transportation investment, a spokesperson ruled out a gas tax hike.

Planning Trends to Watch in 2021
The nation is now tasked with the challenge of changing course in the middle of multiple, global crises. The necessity of finding a way to overcome the failures of the past and lay the groundwork for a new kind of future has never been more clear.

State Preemption Hitting Home for California Cities
Recently approved laws that force cities to take a more proactive approach to the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment process are beginning to take effect in California.
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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