The Gulf Coast is home to diverse ethnic and racial communities that have already endured decades of pollution from chemical and petroleum industries. The BP leak may be the "nail in the coffin" for many of these communities, writes Jordan Flaherty.
The BP oil disaster is not only ravaging ecosystems, it is threatening entire coastal communities, many of them locations of distinct and centuries-old African-American and Native American cultures. According Flaherty, the leak is also just the latest incident in a long line of industrial contamination and environmental racism that have ravaged these communities over decades:
"[I]n the early part of this century, the oil companies took advantage of the fact that people living on the coast were isolated by language and distance and laid claim to their land. Over the past several decades, these companies have devastated these idyllic communities, creating about 10,000 miles of canals through forests, marshes and homes...at least five Louisiana towns - all majority African-American - have been eradicated due to corporate pollution in recent decades.
So, late last month, when oil started washing up on the shores of nearby Lake Chien and fishing season was canceled before it had even begun, [French speaking Native-American] members of Pointe-au-Chien took the news as another nail in the coffin of the lifestyle they had been living for generations."
FULL STORY: Cultural Extinction

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont