Commemorate Inauguration Day by digging deep into the promises and potential of the Biden Administration.
[Updated 1/22/2021] Today's the day. Joe Biden will soon be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, with a promise to "Build Back Better" from the unprecedented public health and economic crises facing the nation at the close of President Donald Trump's time in office.
If you're looking for links to reading about what a Biden presidency might accomplish, look no further. In addition to the latest round of news coverage of the transition, culminating today with Biden's inauguration, you'll also find links below to previous news and analysis from throughout the 2020 presidential election as well as the intervening months between Biden's historic election and today's Inauguration Day.
Biden comes into office with big plans for the federal government's coronavirus response, housing policies, infrastructure planning and spending, economic development. In fact, many of the most closely watched themes for the success of the Biden administration of living up to its campaign promises will be measured in terms of direct relevance to the professional and academic planners of the world—metrics like housing affordability, carbon emissions, vehicle miles traveled. Planetizen will be just as vigilant on the proposals and advancement of policies relating to these causes during the Biden Administration as it was for the previous administration.
The Biden administration is also significant for the historic accomplishment of Vice President Kamala Harris, who becomes the highest-ranking elected female in the history of the federal government, and only the second BIPOC to be elected to the Executive Branch, after former President Barack Obama. Harris becomes Vice President at a time of intense racial conflict, at least some of which can be traced to the backlash from the election of President Obama in 2008.
Latest News and Analysis on the Promise of the Biden Administration
- Get Ready for the Biden Stimulus (The Philadelphia Citizen, January 13, 2021)
- Biden Outlines $1.9 Trillion Spending Package to Combat Virus and Downturn (New York Times, January 14, 2021)
- American Cities See Their Luck Turn With a Biden Administration (Bloomberg CityLab, January 15, 2021)
- What Biden’s lack of support for the Green New Deal means for cities (City Monitor, January 17, 2021)
- What Do Housing Advocates Expect from the Biden Administration? (Next City, January 19, 2021)
- Leaders praise local provisions in Biden's recovery plan (Smart Cities Dive, January 19, 2021)
- A city leaders’ guide to Joe Biden’s policy agenda (City Monitor, January 20, 2021)
Previous Planetizen Coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris
- Kamala Harris Reintroduces 'Rent Relief Act' (April 9, 2019)
- Senate Votes 0–57 to Rebuff Green New Deal (March 27, 2019)
- How the Next President Might Take on the Housing Crisis (March 8, 2019)
- Democratic Presidential Contenders May Elevate Housing Policy (January 6, 2019)
- Debating a Renters' Tax Credit at the Federal Level (July 31, 2018)
Previous Planetizen Coverage of the Prospects for the Biden Administration
- What Biden's First 100 Days Will Look Like for Transportation (January 5, 2021)
- An Infrastructure Proposal for Biden's First 100 Days in Office (December 25, 2020)
- Housing Field Reacts to Marcia Fudge HUD Nomination (December 24, 2020)
- Biden Diversifies Cabinet With EPA Administrator, Interior Secretary Picks (December 21, 2020)
- Biden Selects Energy Secretary and New National Climate Advisor (December 18, 2020)
- Mayor Pete Is Biden's Pick for Transportation Secretary (December 16, 2020)
- What Biden's Win Could Mean for Land Use, Transportation, and Climate (November 10, 2020)
Previous Planetizen Coverage of President Joe Biden
- Two Presidential Candidates, Two Approaches to Housing Policy (November 3, 2020)
- What the Presidential Debate Revealed About the Suburbs (October 1, 2020)
- What Could a Joe Biden Presidency Accomplish on Affordable Housing? (April 27, 2020)
- Biden's New Climate Plan Would Spend $2 Trillion in Four Years (July 19, 2020)
- Biden Would Finally Get the Gateway Project Moving, Advocates Say (October 14, 2020)
- Comparing the Housing Agendas of the Remaining Democratic Frontrunners for President (March 9, 2020)
- 2020 Presidential Campaign: Media Coverage of Climate Strategies (June 17, 2019)
Infrastructure and its Discontents
The significance of the Biden administration's expansive view of infrastructure is reflected in the flood of commentary published in the week since the public's first look at the American Jobs Plan.
Focusing Housing Policy on Outcomes to Ensure Economic Recovery
Housing policy can ensure a sustainable economic recovery by focusing on five outcomes.
What Planners Need to Know, and Ask, About the American Jobs Plan
The American Planning Association has a breakdown of the massive $2 trillion jobs plan that would change the course of federal infrastructure policy.
The California High-Speed Rail Project Illustrates America’s Transit Issues
Slow progress and a bloated budget have plagued the High-Speed Rail project linking San Francisco to Los Angeles, exposing deeper issues with American transit projects.
What Role Does Health Care Play in Community Development?
Cities are economically diverse and require accessible health care systems, but this can be challenging to implement. Urban developers are working alongside health professionals to create affordable care for city residents.
Density and Driving: A Second Look
A common argument against more compact housing is that increased population density will only reduce vehicle miles traveled at moderate levels of density, as opposed to very low-density and very high-density areas. But this might not be so.
Want to Drive a Big Pickup Truck in D.C.? It’s About to Get (Even More) Expensive
D.C. is considering a $500 vehicle license fee for private vehicles over 6,000 pounds.
Zoning Reform Gains Momentum in Northern Virginia
Arlington County and Alexandria are moving forward with actions that could potentially launch a new era of planning and development in their respective communities.
Zoning Reform Works, but Is No Magic Bullet
Improving housing affordability and boosting housing production requires more than just eliminating single-family zoning.
Piedmont Environmental Council
City of Oakland, California
Marin Transit
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of San Carlos
City of Redwood City
City of Hot Springs
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
