The tech industry's push into San Francisco has entailed a fight for political and cultural legitimacy as well as social justice--one that shakes up conventional wisdom about conservatism, progressivism, and progress itself.
The flood of tech companies and their employees--at the end of 2013, San Francisco had 53,000 tech jobs, over triple the number in 2004--has spiked property values and rents: these days, San Francisco's housing is the costliest in the U.S.
That mounting costliness has occasioned massive displacements and lively protests.
The blockades of the "Google" buses have garnered worldwide attention, but it's the less showy city's tenants movement that has become a major force in San Francisco politics.
At the same time, the anti-displacement movement is unsettling assumptions about left and right.
The opponents of displacement, arguing from the left, which customarily identifies itself as the party of progress, are denounced as reactionary and insular--and not just by apologists for big business.
Meanwhile, the tech industry is hailed as the truly progressive force in town.
"This ideological churn," writes Zelda Bronstein, "embodies profound yet elusive shifts in historical consciousness" that are thrown "into high relief" by "the discord roiling San Francisco."
Examining arguments from both sides, Bronstein suggests that we need to rethink the relationship between technological change and democracy--and the meaning of progress.
FULL STORY: "How Silicon Valley Millionaires Stole Progressivism"

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