Social / Demographics

Which States Grew and Which Didn't
Texas and Utah were the leaders in growth for the 2015-2016 fiscal year; Illinois lost more residents than any other state.

California's Birth Rate Drops to Lowest in Recorded History
Fewer babies are being born in the nation's most populous state, now estimated at 39.4 million residents, according to new data by the California Department of Finance. The state grew by .75 percent, adding 295,000 people in the year ending July 1.

How Equitable Infrastructure Investments Benefit Everyone
A call for the country to focus its infrastructure investments to the most vulnerable and neglected populations—and watch the benefits compound.

The Most Popular Planetizen Posts of 2016
No Electoral College needed: these were the most popular Planetizen posts from the year 2016.
Gentrification the Killer in Oakland Fire
Already, the Ghost Ship tragedy is being used as a justification for code enforcement crackdowns that will likely further gentrification. But how can we combat gentrification and displacement and improve safety at the same time?

D.C. Weighs 'Banning the Box' on Housing Applications
Washington, D.C. might prohibit landlords from asking tenants for criminal histories, at least at first pass.

Cultural Policy in the Mile High City
Ginger White Brunetti, deputy director of Denver Arts & Venues, discusses cultural policy in the Colorado capital.

Five Lessons for Resilience
Resilience is commonly understood as the capacity to endure shocks and stresses. But for Lisa Dickson, Arup’s resilience leader for the Americas, this definition is too limiting. Jeff Byles talks with her about five key lessons on resilience.

Americans Continue Relentless Increase in Driving
New data released by the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle mile traveled increased three percent for the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period last year. Driving has increased continuously since April 2014.
Trump, Carson, and 'Inner Cities'
Both during the campaign and his victory speech, President-elect Trump referenced the troubled conditions of 'inner cities.' A Tufts professor offers advice for the new administration if it really wants to help.

New ULI Report Classifies Differences Among Suburbs
The U.S. remains largely a suburban nation, though central cities are experiencing a great comeback after years of population loss. But what exactly is a suburb? A new report from the Urban Land Institute provides answers by providing subcategories.

Victory for Native Americans and Supporters at Standing Rock—for Now
The Army Corps of Engineers denied Energy Transfer Partners an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline under Lake Oahe, advising them to explore alternative routing and conduct an environmental review, granting indigenous peoples a rare victory.

San Francisco Rejects Environmental Review for Lack of Gentrification Analysis
In what could be a first, but potential not a last, the power of the California Environmental Quality Act was invoked in San Francisco with regard to concerns about gentrification.

Syrian Refugees in Small Town Vermont
Rutland, Vermont is scheduled to become home to 100 Syrian refugees, a prospect that has awoken passionate responses from the town's residents.

King County Expands Fare-Free Transit for Riders in Need
The victory for homeless and very low-income transit riders is a reminder of the importance of grassroots organizing.
What Mobility Leaders Think About Car Connectivity
As autonomous vehicles prepare to disrupt transportation systems, Ford Motors President & CEO Mark Fields, L.A Chief Sustainability Officer Matt Petersen, and rideshare company Chariot co-founder Ali Vahabzadeh opine on tomorrow's mobility ecosystem.

Why Bother with Community Engagement?
What is the highest purpose of community engagement? Why do some planners go all out to hear from the public? This article dives into these questions based on nine interviews conducted at APA 2016.

Friday Eye Candy: Turning Gentrification Data Into Art
Herwig Scherabon is a graphic designer featured this week in The Guardian.

White Voters and Polarization: Can We Span the Racial Divide by Emphasizing Shared Interests?
Dowell Myers reflects on an article from the Journal of Planning Education and Research in light of the recent presidential election.
Cincinnati welcomes artists leaving the coasts
For the founders of young art center Wave Pool, Cincinnati offers opportunities unmatched by the coastal cultural meccas.
Pagination
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