Jason Corburn issues an indictment of the "community malpractice" by policy-makers that's led to America's glaring health inequalities, and argues that 2013 must be the year that planning works towards improving the living conditions of the poor.
In light of urban America's enduring inequities in "life expectancy, disease and disability by racial and ethnic groups and neighborhood location," Corburn, an associate professor at Cal Berkeley's School of Public Health & Department of City & Regional Planning, argues that "2013 must be the year we all view community development and city planning as ‘preventative medicine.'"
In order to, "shift our health care system from a focus largely on cures to preventing illness and death by improving our living, working and playing environments," he outlines seven elements required to re-focus on "improving the lives and living conditions of the poor and people of color." These include trainging an army of Community Health Workers (CHWs) focused on health promotion and primary prevention, re-invigorating America's urban community health centers and school-based health clinics, and requiring that "all federal, state and local legislation undergo a ‘health equity impact assessment,’ similar to the National Environmental Policy Act’s environmental impact assessment."'
"Thankfully," says Corburn, "many of the items on my ‘wish list’ are already happening, but they remain uncoordinated....2013 must be the year we commit our health system to making urban health inequities history. Let’s all get started."
FULL STORY: Taking Urban Health Equity Seriously in 2013

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

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)