California

Homeless Camp

San Jose Is Training AI to Identify Homeless Camps

Images captured on cameras mounted on a municipal vehicle are being used to train a private technology companies’ AI algorithm to detect tents and signs of habitation in vehicles.

April 2, 2024 - The Guardian

View of Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains.

California's Top-Rated Park for Hikers Is Inside the City of LA

According to AllTrails, a popular fitness and travel mobile app, Topanga State Park has many highly-rated trails, most of which are of moderate difficulty and vary in length from three to seven miles.

April 2, 2024 - The Travel

Joshua tree sillhouetted against starry night sky in the Mojave Desert.

Preserving LA’s Dark Skies

Learn about the importance of dark skies for the health and enjoyment of individuals and wildlife, and how L.A. County's Rural Outdoor Lighting District is helping to reduce light pollution.

April 1, 2024 - Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

Dirt trail with wood railings through grove of tall California coastal redwood trees.

California Updating Outdoor Recreation Plan

State Parks is working on the 2026-2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) which serves as a vision for public outdoor recreation grant priorities in urban and rural neighborhoods, cities, and regions.

April 1, 2024 - California Department of Parks and Recreation

24-hour parking sign above parking garage entrance through which you can see a white SUV driving

Want to Reduce Traffic Congestion? Cash Out Employer-Paid Parking

Employer-paid parking will undermine New York City’s congestion tolls. But parking cash-out policies like those in California and Washington D.C. can solve the problem.

April 1, 2024 - Donald Shoup

Amtrak train passing over tall trestle bridge on California coast at Gaviota Beach.

LA-to-San Francisco Night Train Closer to Reality

A train operator has entered into formal negotiations with Union Pacific to move the project forward with a projected launch date of 2025.

March 27, 2024 - SFGate

Major League Baseball Stadium

Lawsuit Aims to Stop Dodger Stadium Gondola

A proposed aerial tram project that would shuttle visitors to L.A.’s Dodger Stadium faces backlash from environmental and community groups.

March 27, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Ohana mental health facility in Monterey, California with wavy silver roof.

Mental Health Facility Uses Design to Improve Outcomes

Far from the drab and claustrophobic mental health facilities of cinematic fame, Ohana aims to serve patients in an aesthetically soothing, nature-driven environment.

March 27, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Strava map of route shaped like reindeer in San Diego, California.

California Cyclist Maps Animals Through Rides

The La Jolla resident plots local bike rides that, when viewed on a map, outline the shape of animals or seasonal items.

March 26, 2024 - La Jolla Light

View looking down train tracks at San Clemente, California with grassy beach dunes and blue lifeguard tower on right side.

Southern California Rail Service Resumes After Landslide

The corridor has been closed multiple times in the past year as erosion and landslides put coastal rail infrastructure in jeopardy.

March 25, 2024 - Mass Transit

Trolley bus in San Francisco, California.

California Lawmakers Push Transit Funding Bill

The proposed legislation would also encourage consolidation of regional transit systems.

March 21, 2024 - Courthouse News Service

Dirt trail with wood railings through grove of tall California coastal redwood trees.

California Native Tribe to Co-Manage National Park Land

A historic agreement returns 125 acres — a fraction of the tribe’s historic lands — that will be used to build a cultural center and park facilities.

March 21, 2024 - The Guardian

Silicon Valley

Eviction Prevention Program Sees Success in San Jose

Fighting a continued rise in homelessness in the region, a county program is successfully helping families avoid eviction.

March 20, 2024 - Bloomberg CityLab

Mature jacaranda trees full of purple blooms on street in Los Angeles, California.

Expanding LA's Urban Forest

The County of Los Angeles Chief Sustainability Office is leading the effort to prepare the county's first Urban Forest Management Plan.

March 19, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Wood-frame apartment building under construction with tall palm trees and power lines in background.

California Developers Opt for Privately Funded Affordable Housing

Housing advocates worry that, without government guardrails, buildings may not remain affordable or well-maintained in the long term.

March 19, 2024 - The Wall Street Journal

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18, 2024 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18, 2024 - TimeOut

View of downtown Los Angeles from a green park

LA County Makes Progress Toward Sustainability Goals

A newly released annual report by the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) shows that Los Angeles County is making progress on meeting the goals of the OurCounty Sustainability Plan.

March 17, 2024 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Close-up of Californis state capitol dome with U.S., California, and POW/MIA flags on flagpole.

California's Lone Ballot Measure: Too Close To Call

Unlike on prior election days, California voters had only one state proposition to decide on March 5, a combination $6 billion general obligation bond and a restructuring of an income surtax, both dealing with behavioral health and homelessness.

March 15, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Intersection in downtown Los Angeles with pedestrians crossing, vintage building across street, and modern glass office tower in background.

LA Zoning Reforms Could Yield Up to 250,000 New Homes

A draft plan would speed up permitting for residential projects with an affordability component and make more buildings eligible for adaptive reuse.

March 14, 2024 - The Center Square

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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.