Barack Obama

Obama on Urban Affairs

Via the White House, here are the President's opening remarks at yesterday's roundtable discussions with the Office of Urban Affairs and the Domestic Policy Council. He highlighted success stories in Denver, Kansas City, and Philadelphia.
14 July 2009 - 1:00pm
WhiteHouse.gov

Obama's High Speed Rail Plans

Neal Peirce looks at President Barack Obama's ambitious plans for high speed rail and the significant obstacles that stand in its way.
10 May 2009 - 5:00am
Citiwire

Is Obama's Urban Policy Office DOA?

During the campaign, Obama promised U.S. mayors that he'd create an Office of Urban Policy. But indications so far are that the office is facing a significant downgrade, writes Dayo Olopade.
29 April 2009 - 2:00pm
The Root

2,000 Transportation Projects

That's how many projects the Obama administration claims to have launched with the stimulus money, countering detractors who argued that the funding couldn't be spent fast enough to have an impact.
13 April 2009 - 1:00pm
The Washington Post

Translating the Stimulus: What it Means for Energy

$16.8 billion of Pres. Obama's stimulus package is allocated to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Steve Coll of the New Yorker explains where the funding is going, and what it means.
16 March 2009 - 8:00am
The New Yorker

Shovels Are In Motion, Says Obama

The President and V.P. addressed the Department of Transportation today, stating that the new investment in infrastructure "will create or save 150,000 jobs by the end of next year, most of them in the private sector."
3 March 2009 - 2:00pm
WhiteHouse.gov

Obama Seeks More Census Power

President Barack Obama is seeking greater control over the 2010 Census. This opinion piece from The Wall Street Journal looks at what it could mean for the upcoming count.
15 February 2009 - 7:00am
The Wall Street Journal

Where Will the Money Go?

Now that the $838 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed the Senate, where will the money go? Stimulus Watch has a breakdown of every project by state, and by type. Here are links to the transit, roads, energy, and housing projects.
10 February 2009 - 2:00pm
Stimulus Watch

Stimulus to Nowhere?

John Norquist, President and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism, believes that President Obama should reconsider committing stimulus funds to decades-old freeway expansion projects and take transportation policy in a new direction.
22 January 2009 - 2:24pm

Obama Knows Jane Jacobs

Last summer in Toledo, former mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski handed Barack Obama a book, saying it is the most important book about rebuilding cities. Obama responded, 'Is it Jane Jacobs?'
7 January 2009 - 9:00am
BeyondDC

LaHood a 'Spending Superstar'

The Wall St. Journal calls new transportation secretary Ray LaHood the "secretary of earmarks", and one of the biggest spenders in Congress.
29 December 2008 - 9:00am
The Wall St. Journal

Suburbs Benefit From an Urban President, Too

In fact, says one planner, suburbs and exurbs can expect to see some of the biggest changes of all, at least from infrastructure and transportation funding.
22 December 2008 - 6:00am
Marketwatch

How Will D.C. Cope with 4 Million Obama Fans?

Planners in Washington D.C. are bracing for the arrival of millions of visitors for President Obama's inauguration -- which they expect will overwhelm the parking supply and the public transit system.
16 December 2008 - 9:00am
Salon.com

Obama's Infrastructure Spending Could be a "Tragic Waste", Says Kunstler

James Kunstler believes that President-Elect Obama's bid to boost the economy through repairing infrastructure could be more usefully spent on rail and harbors.
11 December 2008 - 12:00pm
James Kunstler's Blog

Obama Announces Energy Team

Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, will be the President-Elect's pick for Secretary of Energy, and Carol Browner (formerly head of the EPA) will take on the newly created role of Energy Czar.
11 December 2008 - 5:00am
The Wall St. Journal

Obama Puts Focus on Public Works

President-elect Barack Obama has announced a promise to institute a broad-ranging package of building programs, from infrastructure to schools -- the nation's largest public works program since the post-war era.
9 December 2008 - 8:00am
The New York Times

'Window of Opportunity' for Infrastructure

Neal Peirce takes a hopeful look at President-elect Barack Obama's willingness to invest in infrastructure.
8 December 2008 - 1:00pm
Citiwire

President of Opportunity: Just Add Funding

President-Elect Barack Obama is seen by many urbanists as a great opportunity for improving the built environment of the U.S. Anthony Flint sees big plans brewing but wonders how they'll be funded and if Obama will be able to handle them all.
17 November 2008 - 5:00am
Citiwire

The Planetizen News Brief


4:30 minutes (4.18 MB)

A weekly rundown of some of the most interesting and important news and issues, airing every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City". Read, download or listen to this week's News Brief, which looks at Obama's Office of Urban Policy, the regenerative power of shopping centers and the economy's impact on Christmas celebrations.

13 November 2008 - 5:00am

Obama Administration to Create Office of Urban Policy

When President-elect Obama takes office in January, he says, an Office of Urban Policy will be established, and a Director of Urban Policy will be in place to "coordinate all federal urban programs."
12 November 2008 - 2:00pm
The Washington Post
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