Cities facing budget cuts are cutting back on Christmas decorations and events. Has the Grinch stolen Christmas?
"This trend of skimping on civic cheer comes as a blow to many families. Their holidays at home will be more modest this year. Office parties will also be subdued. Now they can't even count on cherished holiday traditions in the town square.
Scott Swank, director of the Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Mass., hates to dwell on the loss; it feels a bit frivolous to mourn a festival when so many people are losing homes and jobs and life savings.
Still, it hurt him to have to call off the museum's annual Spectacle of Lights for lack of funding. Last year, 16,000 visitors came to wander a woodland path shimmering with lights and ringing with music. But the state, strapped for cash, cut arts grants this year and Mr. Swank couldn't find sponsors willing to shoulder the $140,000 cost.
'We're totally heartbroken,' he said. The economic crisis makes for 'a sorry picture all around," he said, 'but it's especially sad when it comes to Christmas.'"
FULL STORY: Glum Tidings: Santa Gets Sacked as Cities, Companies Look to Save
Holiday Travel Rebounds, Changes Shape
The number of Americans traveling for the winter holidays is expected to come close to pre-pandemic levels, while remote work is leading to more diverse travel schedules.
It's High Time for a Community-Led Economic Recovery
Past recoveries have only exacerbated structural inequalities. The recovery from the current economic and social crises can't afford to make the mistakes, according to a recent paper from researchers at the Brookings Institution.
The Geography of Low-Income Job Losses
The historic job losses of the past two months have hit the most vulnerable workers harder than others, so far. The Urban Institute estimated and mapped where more low-income jobs have been lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie