Government / Politics
Florida’s Successful Commuter Rail Could Cease Operations in Two Years
After FDOT abruptly decreased its annual subsidy of Tri-Rail from $42 million to $15 million in July, the 80-mile rail line announced that without additional funding, it could cease operations by July 2027.
Poll: 2/3 of Virginians Don’t Trust Local Governments to Address Housing Crisis
Three-quarters of residents say the state needs to do more to address housing supply and affordability.
Are Regional Governments the Answer to the Housing Crisis?
A never-realized model of regional governance once proposed in California could help ease the housing crunch and create more housing in suburbs and peripheral areas.
Trump Revives 2019 Plan to Cut Housing Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants
The proposed change to HUD rules would restrict federal housing aid from households that include undocumented people.
Mayors Along the Mississippi See Climate Change Coming — and are Shoring up Together
The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative is bringing together local officials to address climate resilience across the region.
Parking: The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe
Parking regulations affect our lives and communities in many, often mysterious ways. These impacts are often overlooked, resulting in bad policies. It's time to apply urban planning magic: fewer driveways and better managed public parking.
Court Favors First Nations in Landmark Metro Vancouver Land Claim
The longest trial in Canadian history ended with the BC Supreme Court awarding rights to a 750-hectare parcel in Richmond to First Nations groups.
The Problem With Outsourcing Public Engagement
Why hiring outside consultants to represent public works projects at meetings often misses the point of having public officials hear community concerns.
NYC Unveils First Comprehensive Greenway Plan in 30 Years
New York City’s Greater Greenways plan charts an ambitious, equity-focused expansion of its 500-plus-mile greenway network, aiming to connect more neighborhoods to parks, waterfronts, and safe, sustainable transportation options.
Monterey Park’s Blueprint for Equitable Parks
Monterey Park’s first-ever Parks System Master Plan offers a community-driven roadmap for creating more equitable, accessible, and vibrant public spaces.
Transforming Brownfields into a Regional Destination: The Rise of Origin Park
River Heritage Conservancy is transforming more than 400 acres of former junkyards, brownfields, and landfills in Southern Indiana into Origin Park, a nature and recreation destination that will honor the site’s history.
Building a Just Energy Transition
A new book outlines a “four-plus pillars” framework for phasing out fossil fuels while addressing systemic inequities, emphasizing public support, dedicated funding, economic diversification, coalitions, and reforms that dismantle extractive systems.
LA County Adopts Maximum Indoor Temperature Ordinance to Protect Renters from Extreme Heat
LA County has adopted an ordinance capping indoor temperatures in rental units at 82 degrees Fahrenheit in unincorporated areas, aiming to protect renters from extreme heat while providing phased compliance and support for small landlords.
Hawaii’s Tsunami Scare Reveals Evacuation Shortfalls
A tsunami alarm revealed serious flaws in Oahu’s evacuation planning, prompting calls for urgent improvements in emergency infrastructure, coordination, and public safety.
What Housing Crisis?
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order that prohibits the construction of duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes from replacing single-family-homes destroyed by the recent wildfires in Pacific Palisades, i.e., the suspension of SB 9.
July Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
California loses high-speed rail funding, rural Texas hospitals risk closure, and housing advocates warn that a proposed DC law would disproportionately harm Black residents.
Delivering on the Promise of Parks
In LA County, even amid budget challenges, new parks are opening, targeted investments are being made in underserved communities, and long-term plans are guiding progress — demonstrating a sustained commitment to parks as essential infrastructure.
EPA Plans “Largest Deregulatory Action” in History
The agency plans to repeal a key 2009 rule that underpins the government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Even in California, Energy Affordability Trumps the Environment
A Democratic senator proposes to relax vehicle emissions standards in order to increase the supply of gasoline as the state's oil refinery capacity decreases, thus mitigating increases in gasoline prices in the state with the highest fuel prices.
Proposed ‘ROAD to Housing’ Bill Tackles Housing Affordability
The bill is a bipartisan effort in the Senate to ease regulations for housing development and reward cities and states that support pro-housing policies.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
planning NEXT
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
