Social / Demographics

The Scar Inflicted On China By Coal Mining

Coal mining in northern China is ravaging many of its villages. Mining goes on without regard to the environmental destruction it causes and the devastating effects on China's rural villages.

June 26, 2006 - The New York Times

As Katrina Cleanup Drags on, New Orleans Falling into Despair

The extent of destruction in New Orleans extends beyond the physical -- the social and civil society infrastructure has also been severely damaged, and is now unable to cope with a new impact of the storm: an epidemic of depression and despair.

June 25, 2006 - The New York Times

Phoenix May Replace Philly As Fifth Largest City

After losing 54,000 people this decade alone in its most rapid clip ever, Philadelphia is on the verge of ceding the 'Fifth Most Populated City' title to Phoenix.

June 24, 2006 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Building Florida's Communion Community

Domino's Pizza magnate Tom Monaghan is betting on his New Urbanist vision of a faith-based community outside of Naples, Florida.

June 23, 2006 - The Slatin Report

Urban Gentrification Typifies Growing Economic Polarization

A snapshot of urban gentrification in San Francisco shows what is happening throughout the U.S., according to a new Brookings Report. The middle class is not only losing ground, but entire neighborhoods, and the consequences are far-reaching.

June 23, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

How The Automobile Changed Southern California

Los Angeles Times Special Commemorative Edition looks at how cars have defined the culture and identity of Southern California.

June 22, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Wal-Mart And The Jewish Diaspora

Due to the ever-growing presence of Wal-Mart, Benton County, Arkansas, is seeing a rising population of Jewish families, and generally high religious diversity.

June 22, 2006 - The New York Times

Are Cities Good For The World?

We are entering the "urban century": the majority of the world's population now lives in an urban setting. Is this good or bad? An article presents the cases for and against cities.

June 22, 2006 - The Ottawa Citizen

Georgia Law Slows Booming Latino Housing Market

Georgia law targetting illegal immigrants drives legal residents away from buying homes.

June 21, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Sharply Rising Rents In NYC Increase Burden For Most Households

Since 2002, the combination of falling incomes and rising rents has significantly increased the burden housing costs impose upon New York City's households, especially those earning less than 80% of the median income.

June 21, 2006 - The New York Times

Northwest Cities Become Whiter

In downtown Seattle and Portland, white gentrification leads to black flight to the suburbs.

June 21, 2006 - The Washington Post

Older, Close-In Suburbs Could Make Difference In Mid-Term Elections

The midterm elections to take control of the House may hinge on "close-in" suburbs, once seen as strictly the domain of Republicans. These older suburbs may now give the Democrats a slight advantage due to changing demographics.

June 21, 2006 - The New York Times

World Urban Forum Comes To Vancouver

The U.N.'s biennial forum on planning issues covers clean air and water, sanitation, pollution, safety, housing, poverty, alternative transportation and energy sources, and the increasing inequity between developing and developed countries.

June 19, 2006 - David Gest

Vietnam's WTO Bid Will Bring Corporate Market

As the small South Asian country prepares to enter the World Trade Organization, economists predict a drastic change of pace in the locally-driven economy as corporate retail is bound to take over.

June 19, 2006 - Der Spiegel

China Wants to Keep 'Kingdom of Bicycles' Status

More Chinese are buying cars, but the government urges them to keep on cycling.

June 17, 2006 - The Guardian

5,000 Public Housing Units To Be Razed In New Orleans

Despite criticism from low-income tenants, federal housing officials report that some 5,000 public housing units in Katrina-torn New Orleans will be razed and replaced with mixed-income housing.

June 17, 2006 - The New York Times

U.N. Warns Of World's Failure To Curb Slum Growth

A report by the United Nations concludes that three decades of efforts to address urban poverty have failed.

June 17, 2006 - The Financial Times

Megacities, Mammoth Problems

Six of the world's fastest-growing megacities are examined in terms of their most pressing problems and what they are doing to address them.

June 16, 2006 - Foreign Policy

Who Is 'At Fault' For Poverty? Big Government Programs Are Declining

In a wide-ranging article, the Wall Street Journal profiles America's ongoing "wars on poverty" over the decades, and details what the future might hold for anti-poverty programs. The "Great Society" efforts of the past seem to be over.

June 16, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

Did Landlords Force Out Tenants To Gentrify Apartments?

A lawsuit alleges that landlords harassed tenants and forced them out from rent-controlled buildings in gentrifying neighborhoods.

June 15, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

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.