California

Parked Van

The 'Vanlord' Providing Shelter to L.A.'s Homeless

A creative rental industry has emerged in Los Angeles as the affordable housing crisis grows.

July 16, 2019 - Santa Monica Daily Press

Los Angeles Metro Bus

No Quick Fixes for L.A.’s Transit Ridership Woes

One of the largest transit systems in the country continues to lose large numbers of riders. But the causes behind the drop and the solutions to stop it are hard to pinpoint.

July 14, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Downtown

Private Branding of the Public City

Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.

July 14, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wine Country Fires

In California, Struggles Over Insurance Regulation in the Era of Climate Change

Setting insurance rates by looking to the past to predict the future doesn’t make sense with increasing environmental uncertainties, argues the California insurance industry.

July 13, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

Balboa Peninsula

Beachfront Residences Can't Extend Yards Onto Public Beaches, CA Coastal Commission Decides

"It's like squatting by the rich," said one commissioner.

July 12, 2019 - The Orange County Register

Extreme Weather

Funding Research of Atmospheric Rivers to Better Prepare for Heavy Rains

Atmospheric river seems like a phrase that has only recently entered the parlance of the times, but the state of California has seen enough of the idea in action want to know more, and prepare for more.

July 12, 2019 - Water News Network

Venice Canals

Report: Lack of Apartments Contributes to the Housing Affordability Crisis

It's going to take "radical policies" and "political courage" to overcome the housing shortage in California, according to a recent working paper, but they will be necessary to overcome the negative consequences of the planning and zoning status quo.

July 12, 2019 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Feds Release Capital Investment Grants for Three Rail Transit Projects

Three major public transit projects in the western United States received a major infusion of funding from the federal government this week.

July 12, 2019 - Progressive Railroading

Lost Our Home

The Four Kinds of Housing that Help the Homeless

Projects to add housing resources to help give homeless people a roof over the head have run into all sorts of public opposition—often times fueled by ignorance of how different kinds of homeless housing options work.

July 11, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

Homelessness

S.F. Residents Sue to Block Homeless 'Navigation Center' on Environmental Grounds

A group called Safe Embarcadero for All is suing to block the construction of a homeless shelter on city-leased land across from piers 30-32 on the San Francisco waterfront.

July 11, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Tent City

Will Appeal of Landmark Appeals Court Ruling Allow for Clearing of Tent Cities?

If the Supreme Court hears an appeal of a landmark U.S. Ninth Circuit Court case settled in April, the ruling would have widespread implications for dealing with homeless encampments throughout the West, perhaps nowhere more so than Los Angeles.

July 10, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Homeless Encampment

Los Angeles Clarifies and Strengthens Protections Against Source of Income Discrimination

Los Angeles officials hope a new law will cut off one of the city's pipelines to homelessness.

July 9, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve

'Grim' Choices Facing California as the Pacific Ocean Rises

The Los Angeles Times published a massively ambitious account of the sea-level threat facing California.

July 8, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Downtown River

A Sneak Peek at the New Plan (and Zoning Code) for Downtown Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Department of City Planning has released a draft of the DTLA 2040 plan. In addition to the changes it proposes for the downtown area, it's the first community plan update to roll out the city's new zoning code.

July 6, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Venice Beach Pedestrian and Bike Path

Statewide Scooter Bill Falls Short in California

Legislation that would have preempted local laws, and had the support of major scooter companies, is now a two-year bill.

July 6, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Gas Pumps

ICYMI: 12 States Hiked Gas Taxes on Monday

On July 1, Illinois and Ohio increased gas taxes by double digits: 19 cents per gallon and 10.5 CPG, respectively, followed by California at 5.6 CPG, all due to legislation passed this year or in 2017. Diesel tax hikes were even higher.

July 5, 2019 - Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

San Francisco Street

Curb Data Platform Expanding Reach, With Plans for More

More cities are leveraging technology to better manage one of the most confusing and congested spaces in the public realm: the curb.

July 3, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Air Travel

Air Quality Slips After Decades of Progress

Southern California has long been leader in air quality management, but lately the news has not been good.

July 3, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Northern California Wilidfires

Op-Ed Supports Congestion Pricing for San Francisco

An opinion piece by Josh Wilson makes a case for a congestion pricing plan tailored specifically for the realities of living and working in San Francisco.

July 3, 2019 - The San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Bay Bridge

Bay Area Planners Acknowledge the Need for Regional Housing Solutions

While most Bay Area communities are pursuing housing solutions "individually," local planners acknowledge the need for strategies that address the regional as a unified whole.

July 3, 2019 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

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.