Government / Politics
The Smart Math of Mixed-Use Development
Are cities across the country acting negligently in ignoring the property tax implications of different development types? Joseph Minicozzi thinks so, and he's done the math to prove it.
NYT Editorial Blasts House Transportation Bill
Calling it "uniquely terrible", the Times questions whether it will even survive a full floor vote in the House. The editorial lists three major problems with the bill, but notes there are many more.
The New York Times - The Opinion Pages
House and Senate Transportation Bills on a Collision Course
As the bi-partisan Senate transportation bill cues up for its first vote on Thursday and the partisan House bill gets roughed up in committee, the prospects for reconciling the bills seems dim.
The Washington Post
The Obama Administration's Crusade for Homeowners
President Obama's multi-billion dollar proposal to help homeowners involves providing them refinanced, government-backed loans. The plan is not without its doubters, however.
PBS NewsHour
A Federal Assault on Transit
At the Transport Politic, Yonah Freemark provides a comprehensive overview of the 'all-out ideaoligical battle' being waged by the House GOP against public transit.
the transport politic
A Shift of Attention to Local Planning Policies by the Tea Party Becomes National News
The 'lamestream media' picks up the story of Tea Party activists railing against efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy.
The New York Times
Think Environmental Rules Are Holding Up Transportation Projects? Think Again.
Brad Plumer investigates widely echoed Republican claims that environmental rules are a major reason why it takes so long to build highways and bridges, and finds scant evidence to back up the claims.
The Washington Post
Reassessing Obama's Urban Policies
Having promised a new and progressive direction in urban policy, President Obama has instead been "destructive" for America's cities, argues Yana Kunichoff.
Truthout
Bankruptcy Ahead, Warns CBO On Highway Trust Fund
Treasury Secretary Ray LaHood warned Congress that according to a recent Congressional Budget Office report, the Highway Trust Fund will be broke come fiscal year 2014, due largely to more fuel-efficient vehicles and less driving.
The Hill's Transportation Blog
Calgary Experiments With Crowdsourcing Its Budget
In order to educate its citizens on how budgeting decisions are made, and inform decision makers on the priorities of its citizens, Calgary has engaged in an ambitious outreach process to get citizens to participate in drafting the city's budget.
The Atlantic Cities
Exclusive: Abrupt Changing of the Guard at Vancouver Planning Department
In a surprise move this week, Vancouver's city council abruptly relieved its high-profile Planning Director, Brent Toderian, of his duties, after six years on the job. Planetizen has spoken with the former director about what transpired.
Straight.com
Comprehensive Coverage of the End of Redevelopment in California
With no last minute pardons granted, yesterday marked the official dissolution date for California's 400-plus redevelopment agencies. Curbed LA has gathered the essential readings to guide you through the 'developments' at the state and local levels.
Curbed LA
Mayor Outlines "Plan B" To Push Through Transit Improvements in L.A.
Deputy Mayor for Transportation Borja Leon provides insight into the Mayor's plans for ramping up implementation of Measure R funded projects if the Federal Government fails to back his America Fast Forward program.
Streetsblog L.A.
House Transportation Bill: Can It Be Salvaged?
The long awaited Transportation bill unveiled this week by House Republicans, the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act,” follows an unsurprisingly partisan path to solving few of the country's transportation challenges.
Streetsblog Capitol Hill
Thinking About Sustainability on a Global Scale
In an opinion piece, noted economist Jeffrey Sachs explores what it will take to achieve the 'triple bottom line' of sustainable development, which the UN puts at the top of the global agenda.
Project Syndicate
As New York Plants One Million Trees, Benefits—and Some Burdens—Grow
The city’s MillionTrees program fights asthma and global warming. But tightening maintenance budgets, increasingly severe weather and decades-old planting decisions complicate trees’ contribution.
City Limits
L.A. Might be Forced to Fix Its Crumbling Sidewalks
A lawsuit based on the Americans With Disabilities Act may leave Los Angeles responsible for over a billion dollars' worth of crumbling sidewalks.
Los Angeles Times
SoHo Residents Balk at BID
Is it justified to believe that a proposed SoHo business improvement district, widely embraced elsewhere in the city, would only attract more hordes of visitors and non-residents? Proponents say that residents are fear-mongering.
The New York Times





















