April Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month

A key federal housing assistance program is in peril, Maui tries to balance housing affordability with its tourism-based economy, and a landmark Virginia law could set a new standard for road safety.

2 minute read

May 6, 2025, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Black and white photo of refugee camp of small wood cottages in Dolores Park, San Francisco CA after 1906 earthquake.

A temporary camp for San Francisco residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake in Dolores Park. | OpenSFHistory / OpenSFHistory / wnp14.0614

Last week, the Trump administration continued its effort to dismantle key federal initiatives, including the federal housing voucher program and the Public Lands Rule. Experts warn that Maui’s attempt to alleviate the housing crisis by banning short-term rentals could devastate the county’s economy, and a history lesson from San Francisco offers insights for today’s housing crisis. In Texas, churches rally behind zoning reform legislation while state lawmakers seek to ban cities from building new bike lanes. And an argument for why we should fund public transit.

The full list of April’s most-read stories:

1. Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

The historic settlement mandated improvements to wastewater systems in poor communities that have experienced severe impacts from pollution.

2. Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss 

Maui’s plan to eliminate short-term rentals to create more housing for locals could backfire with catastrophic effects for the tourism-dependent economy.

3. Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program 

The administration is considering massive cuts to the Section 8 housing voucher program and other federal housing assistance programs, claiming they can be more effectively replaced with state-run programs.

4. The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees 

Over a century ago, San Francisco deployed a quick-build solution to provide housing for thousands during one of the city’s worst crises. Could it be a blueprint for the future?

5. Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation? 

Todd Litman offers eight reasons why subsidizing public transit is an economically, ethically, and environmentally sound decision.

6. Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation 

Faith-based organizations are calling for zoning reform that could unlock thousands of new housing units and let churches make underutilized properties more productive.

7. BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule 

The Trump administration has taken aggressive steps to roll back conservation efforts and open up public lands to mining, lumber, and other industries.

8. Virginia Law Allows Judges to Mandate Speed Limiters 

Judges will be allowed to require speed limiting technology for drivers convicted of driving over 100 miles per hour.

9. Texas Bill Would Ban Road Diets, Congestion Pricing 

If passed, the bill would prohibit any new bike lanes or other infrastructure that requires narrowing traffic lanes.

10. ‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live 

A Minnesota state program offers housing assistance to Indigenous people, who, despite making up only 2 percent of the state’s population, make up 20 percent of the unhoused population.


Diana Ionescu

Diana is a writer and urbanist passionate about public space, historical memory, and transportation equity. Prior to joining Planetizen, she started and managed a farmers' market and worked as a transportation planner in the bike share industry. She is Planetizen's editor as of January 2022.

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Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Regeneration of contaminated industrial land used for waste dumping, West Midlands, UK, 2006 .

EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites

The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.

May 18 - Environmental Protection

Archway made of bikes in Knoxville, Tennessee over Tennessee River.

Knoxville Dedicates $1M to New Greenway

The proposed greenway would run along North Broadway and connect to 125 miles of existing trails.

May 18 - WATE

25mph speed limit sign with digital "Your Speed" sign below it.

Philadelphia Launches ‘Speed Slots’ Traffic Calming Pilot

The project focuses on a 1.4-mile stretch of Lincoln Drive where cars frequently drive above the posted speed limit.

May 18 - WHYY

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