Social / Demographics
Why Public Art?
Public art plays a role in cities across the world. But what role exactly, and for what purpose? Glass House Conversations explores these questions in this series.
Nation's Poor Reside in Suburbs
Suburban growth has coincided with the increase in immigrant population. Yet, while immigrants account for 30 percent suburban population growth, they account for only a fifth of the increase in the poor population, a recent Brookings study showed.
Linking American Individualism to Transportation Planning
Author Russell Shorto claims that "the willingness of Europeans to follow top-down social planning" makes public transit and bicycling more feasible in European cities than they are in the States where people don't always agree with technocrats.
Cities Adapting to Older Populations
Cities with high populations of older adults are beginning to alter their programs and street signs to make it easier to respond to senior citizens' needs.
New Orleans Sets New Rules for Public Housing
With great success, the city is on a fast track to transform six Great Depression-era public housing projects - totaling 4,000 units - into mixed-income housing. "People will be watching New Orleans closely," observes Linda Couch.
Germany Has Fewer Children, More in Poverty
The population of children in Germany continues to fall, and those that exist are increasingly in poverty.
City Engagement Via Technology
Cities across the U.S. are increasingly looking to technology to improve the public participation process and increase the ways citizens can engage with the government. Chief technical officers are becoming more common.
New Transit Lines Open Early, Under Budget
New TRAX light rail lines in Salt Lake City opened a year early and 20% under budget.
When Poverty Grows in the City, Poverty Grows in the Suburbs
Metropolitan poverty spreads from cities to the suburbs. This post from Metro Trends explains.
Coming to America: Who and Where
A new analysis of real estate search data shows where people from other countries tend to move when immigrating to America.
Why Did the U.S. Allow Its Cities to Decline?
Frank Gruber asks, "why, not how." Many of the explanations for decline are clear; why it was allowed to happen, less so. Gruber highlights "suspects" of what might have led to cities' destruction.
Guggenheim City Laboratory Arrives in NYC
The BMW Guggenheim Lab is a traveling exhibition that will visit nine cities in the next six years, providing a public space to explore the challenges of today's cities.
Minorities Move Up Social Ladder, Stay in Poorer Neighborhoods
A new study shows how even as minorities move up the social ladder, they tend to live in poorer neighborhoods, reports Joanna Lin for California Watch.
Blacks & Latinos Care More About Clean Air, Climate Change
Fox News Latino reports on a Public Policy Institute of California poll that shows both clean air and climate change rank higher as a concern for Latinos and blacks than fowhites and Asians.
Street Gang's Extortion Causes Massive Bus Strike in Medellin
Extortion by street gangs has been a way of life for bus drivers in Medellin for years. But recent refusals to pay -- and subsequent murders of drivers -- has led to a massive bus strike.
Landscape Impacts Spur Major Repairs to Three Gorges Dam
After years of denial, the Chinese government has admitted that its massive Three Gorges Dam project is destabilizing the land around the reservoir.
Bicycle Usage Jumps 14% in NYC
According to Mayor Bloomberg's latest press release, nearly 19,000 cyclists populate the streets of NYC on a daily basis - that's 2,300 more than last spring. The growing popularity makes the soon to be unveiled bike-sharing system looks promising.
Detroit Focuses on its Healthiest 'Hoods
Officials in Detroit have unveiled plans to taper off public services in certain parts of town unlikely to see their populations rebound and to focus on areas likely to recover.
Changing Cities Reflect New Suburban Values Of White Migrants
LA Times Columnist Gregory Rodriguez notes that cities from LA to D.C. and even Atlanta are losing black and even Latino and Asian populations to more affluent whites migrating from the suburbs, who take their values with them.
Transportation and Civil Rights
Transportation is increasingly a major civil rights issue, according to The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which argues that federal funding disproportionally serves car drivers.
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
