Social / Demographics
Plastic Bag Fee Less Than Welcomed
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced plans to charge a six-cent fee for every plastic bag taken at the register. While good for the environment, some New Yorkers still don't like the idea.
Estates for All
Wendell Cox looks at how single-family detached housing came to be, and why it's likely to remain a popular option for the middle class.
Surprise - Affluent Long Island Hit Hard By Subprime Crisis
Editorial: Long Island is one of the nation's most affluent suburbs. With very high housing values and located by NYC, it would be not expected to be hit hard by the subprime crisis. But it has - and its roots lie in its racially segregated past.
Neighbors Complain and Cops Crack Down on Outdoor Exercise Hotspot
A grassy median in a tony Santa Monica neighborhood has been a hotspot for local fitness buffs looking for a nice place to workout for years. But residents tired of the constant outdoor gym that invades their street are complaining to the city.
Rural-Urban Split Disappearing from American Politics
Democrats are in cities and Republicans are in rural areas, according to the results of recent elections. But with two metropolitan candidates in this year's election and an increasingly urbanized populace, that split may become obsolete.
Segregated in the City
As more and more people move to the cities, the prevalence of economic and racial segregation becomes more and more apparent.
Call for More Minority Architects
Reportedly, only 1.5% of architects are minorities--but while current black architects gain more respect, it is a good time to reach out to minority youth who might also want to go into architecture.
Movement Within BC is Largely Away From Cities
There may be a trend of people moving toward cities globally, but a recent study has shown that when people move within the Canadian province of British Columbia, they move away from urban centers.
Op-Ed: Russia's Health Crisis Belies Its Economic Success
Russia's economic transformation due to its oil wealth is well-known, but not so the state of its public health which shows an alarming contrasting picture.
Security Cameras to Remain Secret in Toronto
Officials in Toronto have decided to keep secret the locations of 90 security cameras installed on public buildings. Residents and union officials are outraged.
Income Gap in American Cities As Bad As African Cities
Income inequality in U.S. cities rivals that of many African cities, which struggle with deep divides between the haves and the have-nots, according to a recent report from the United Nations.
How to Make San Francisco More Sustainable
As part of its series on creating a sustainable future, the San Francisco Bay Guardian has outlined a list of steps for improving land use in the city, and argues that current plans from the mayor won't be enough.
Homeless at the Mall
A reporter goes undercover as a homeless person to find out what happens when the indigent pay a visit to L.A.'s first corporate-controlled public park.
Social Inequity a 'Time Bomb' for U.S. Cities
The annual UN State of the World's Cities report contains a dire warning for American cities: racial divisions and social inequities are at alarming levels.
Sprawl To Blame for Lack of Community Involvement
In central New Jersey, all the signs that usually indicate extensive community involvement are there: affluence, education, and diversity. But in reality, participation levels are low. A new study shows that sprawl may be the culprit.
NIMBY Couple Fights Bus Route
This column looks at the NIMBY-minded attitude of one couple that has been fighting to prevent a bus line from coming into their neighborhood.
Scranton, PA - Not What You Think!
In this election, Scranton has come to symbolize blue-collar America, with visits by all four national candidates, parodied on Saturday Night Live, as well as the scene of NBC’s The Office. But the city is in a turnaround after decades of decline.
New Urbanism Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry
New Urban News reports that even as housing costs plummet and construction is halted on single-family homes across the country, traditional neighborhood developments and TODs are thriving.
Which Cities Stretch Dollars The Farthest?
Texas cities top a ranking by Forbes of where your dollar goes the farthest. Affordable housing and promising job prospects made a big difference.
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
