Government / Politics

Bolder Plans, Bigger Dreams

This year is the centennial of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago, a landmark in the world of urban planning. Martha Frish has had the pleasure of looking through Burnham's handwritten documents and shares some of his wisdom that didn't make it into the final plan.
12 November 2009 - 9:54am

Planning for Sustainability in New York City

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is both a local challenge and a global imperative, says Rohit Aggarwala, the director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability for New York City. Nate Berg caught up with Aggarwala to talk about his office's sustainability plans and the possible dangers posed by federal intervention.
9 November 2009 - 10:00am

Michigan Urged to Keep Film Incentive Program

Filmmakers are calling on state officials in Michigan to extend the state's grant program that provides up to 42% of production costs simply for filming in Michigan.
23 November 2009 - 8:00am
The Detroit Free Press

Iraqi Civil Engineers Take Over Base Planning

An architect, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and four civil engineers from Iraq have taken over the base planning for the U.S Army's Basrah base, a small city with electrical, sewage and water systems as well as ongoing construction.
22 November 2009 - 11:00am
Red Bull Release

Chicago's Private Parking Meter Bungle

Chicago's decision to privatize its parking meters seems to be a loss for the city, as new data shows the city could have made much more money in the long term had they maintained operational management.
22 November 2009 - 5:00am
The New York Times

Not Just About Jobs

When then-Pres. Bush signed a transportation bill in 1991, he said it 'could be summed up in three words; jobs, jobs, jobs. Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes of Brookings say that infrastructure spending is much more than that.
20 November 2009 - 11:00am
The Hill

Judge Rules Army Corps Responsible for New Orleans Flooding

A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' mismanaged maintenance of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet was the cause of flood damage in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
20 November 2009 - 9:00am
New Orleans Times-Picayune

HSR Too Slow? Blame CEQA

The California High Speed Rail Blog says that the biggest obstacle to building HSR in California isn't the cost, but a number of problems with the planning process, especially the California Environmental Quality Act.
19 November 2009 - 2:00pm
California High Speed Rail Blog

The Problem With Thinking Regionally

Carol Coletta is a believer in the new emphasis in regional government, but worries that it may be at the expense of the local.
19 November 2009 - 7:00am
GOOD Magazine

More Passengers And Less Funding Threaten To Cripple Transit Agencies

The recession has made many commuters more transit-dependent while shrinking the public coffers that may for the bulk of transit service. Without further subsidies, agencies face tough choices because of this "incredible paradox."
18 November 2009 - 2:00pm
InTransition Magazine

Large Homebuilders Handed Millions in Tax Breaks

Large homebuilders, including Pulte Homes and Hovnanian Enterprises, will recieve hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars under the recently passed Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009.
18 November 2009 - 9:00am
The New York Times

A Look Back at the Urban Impact of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz

As termed-out Mayor Manny Diaz leaves office in Miami, The Miami Herald's Andres Viglucci takes a look back at the impact Diaz had on the city's growth.
17 November 2009 - 7:00am
The Miami Herald

The Remarkable Rezoning of NYC

Recently the NYC Planning Dept. announced its 100th rezoning since Bloomberg took office. This article takes a spin through the city's remarkable shift in the last 50 years away from industry to business and tourism and a sustainable approach.
16 November 2009 - 2:00pm
New York Observer

VMT Fee May Replace Car Taxes In Netherlands

Imagine this: Replacing the sales tax on purchasing a new vehicle and annual, 'fixed' fees with a VMT fee based on size, weight, and CO2 emissions of the vehicle. This is the plan of the Dutch government to reduce congestion and greenhouse gases.
16 November 2009 - 11:00am
Breitbart.com

All Eggs in the HSR Basket

California Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered state officials to seek federal funding only for the state's high-speed rail project--at the expense of efforts to make Metrolink trains safer, some say.
16 November 2009 - 6:00am
Los Angeles Times

US, Canada and Mexico Collaborate on Wilderness Preservation

A new agreement signed this week by all three governments creates an international committee to collaborate on wilderness management.
16 November 2009 - 5:00am
WorldChanging

Inspiration for Kelo Case Leaves Town

Drugmaker Pfizer has announced plans to move offices and 1,400 employees out of New London, Connecticut, where it had ignited a heated debate over eminent domain that spawned the landmark Kelo v. New London Supreme Court case. Locals are not happy.
15 November 2009 - 5:00am
The New York Times

London Mayor Versus Aggressive Cyclists

London Mayor Boris Johnson, an avid cyclist himself, is calling on local law enforcement to crack down on the city's aggressive cyclists who he says are making it less safe to bike.
14 November 2009 - 5:00am
Bike Radar

New London, Four Years After Kelo

The 2005 Supreme Court decision on Kelo v. New London was a landmark in eminent domain law, paving the way for Pfizer to develop there. Four years later, Pfizer is pulling up stakes.
13 November 2009 - 2:00pm
The Hartford Courant

Blakely Blasts New Orleans Recovery Process

A video interview with Ed Blakely, former New Orleans recovery czar, reveals some tensions with the city, its officials, and its people that hindered the recovery process.
13 November 2009 - 12:00pm
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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