Government / Politics

NJ Transit

Post-Christie, NJ Transit Finding a New Way Forward

This opinion piece celebrates the new era of transit funding and planning currently underway in the state, but also calls for more: progress, action, and work.

October 28, 2019 - NorthJersey.com

Sunnyside Queens

Opinion: End the City Council Land Use Veto

"Member deference" is what they call it New York, but many local elected officials in the United States have veto power over land use and development plans.

October 28, 2019 - New York Post

Traffic

It’s Time to Embrace Congestion Pricing

Charging based on demand and for access is commonplace—except on roads.

October 28, 2019 - Brookings

Mexico City, Florida

Awareness of Climate Change Threats Doesn't Motivate People to Act, Study Finds

Disaster preparedness efforts need to take into account that homeowners in vulnerable areas don’t take action even when the risks are clear.

October 25, 2019 - Grist

City of Bridges

A Mobility Collective for a Unified Transportation System

The collective of micromobility and shared mobility operators is tasked with developing an integrated system that would better serve the diverse needs of travelers.

October 25, 2019 - CityLab

Charro Days

A Radically Different Planning Process in Brownsville

In a year-long program that included bike rides, serenades, and Dragtivist performances, an art collective guided Brownsville, Texas residents in reimagining how they could influence equity and justice in their city.

October 24, 2019 - Shelterforce Magazine

Miami Flooding

Kayaking, Canvassing, and Cooking Classes: Cities Experiment With Climate Outreach

As cities across the U.S. commit to ambitious climate actions, they're seeking effective ways to engage with local communities.

October 24, 2019 - Yale Climate Connections

Los Angeles Metro Bus

How to Improve Buses, the Overlooked but Essential Part of Urban Mobility

A new book argues that buses are an integral part of successful mobility networks and that better bus systems improve cities in ways benefiting all residents.

October 23, 2019 - CityLab

Robert Moses

Robert Moses Inspires 'Motherless Brooklyn'

A new movie starring Edward Norton, based on the novel of the same name by Lionel Essrog, gives a central role to a Robert Moses doppelgänger, as portrayed by Alec Baldwin.

October 23, 2019 - Slate

East Palo Alto

Another Bay Area City Considers Urban Tolling

East Palo Alto has long suffered the toll that transbay traffic has imposed on this gateway to Silicon Valley from the East Bay in the form of air pollution and traffic congestion. Now the city is considering tolling the traffic.

October 23, 2019 - (Palo Alto) Daily Post

California

U.S. Air Quality Declining, Taking Lives

Particulate matter air pollution has been on the rise since 2017, according to new research. Wildfires, economic activity, and lax regulation are potentially to blame.

October 22, 2019 - Bloomberg

Amtrak Surfliner

San Diego Parking Reform Wins the Day With the California Coastal Commission

The California Coastal Commission could have overturned part of San Diego's ambitious parking reform policy approved earlier this year, and would have if commission staff had won their arguments.

October 21, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Canadian Election

More Than One North American Political Campaign Ignoring Housing and Transit

When it comes to ignoring matters of housing affordability and public transit during an election cycle of great significance, the United States is not the exception. Candidates in Canada's 2019 Federal Election have mastered the same trick.

October 19, 2019 - The Star

San Francisco, California

Social Equity Cited in Veto of California Road Pricing Bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a unique road pricing bill due to concerns that charging a fee would limit access to driving on two blocks of Lombard Street, a popular tourist attraction in San Francisco that is severely congested.

October 18, 2019 - ABC KGO TV 7 - San Francisco

Ca73

Governor's Transportation and Climate Actions Stir Controversy in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order last month directing state agencies to consider climate goals in their spending and operations. Two weeks later, three highway widening projects were deleted, and locals are crying foul.

October 18, 2019 - Streetsblog California

New Orleans Doors

As New Orleans Property Values Climb, Property Taxes Relief Considered

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is searching for ways to mitigate the impacts of "skyrocketing property values" while also holding on to some of the new revenue created by the corresponding rising property taxes.

October 18, 2019 - NOLA.com

Florida Climate Change

A Climate Change 'Paradigm Shift' in Florida

Even Republicans are talking about climate change in Florida since former Governor Rick Scott left office.

October 18, 2019 - Miami Herald

Crude Oil Train

The Constitutional Clause Being Used to Threaten Climate Change Policies

An interstate commerce clause is being used to challenge climate change measures and regulations.

October 17, 2019 - Sightline Institute

Wild Detroit

Detroit Program Would Offer Property Tax Relief to Low-Income Homeowners

The Pay As You Stay program would lower back taxes for qualifying homeowners and help them avoid foreclosure.

October 17, 2019 - Detroit Free Press

Peter J. Park, LLC

Leadership in Urban Planning, After Two Successful Stints as a Planning Director

Peter Park is the director of Peter J. Park, LLC and a former planning director of Denver and Milwaukee. In this interview, Park shares insights from a career of leadership in though and action in the field of urban planning.

October 17, 2019 - James Brasuell

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.