Government / Politics

Silicon Valley, facing Downtown San Jose

Zuckerberg and Company Set Goals on Housing Policy and Affordable Housing

With over $500 million in resources, the Partnership for the Bay’s Future is funding policy and affordable housing projects throughout the region.

February 23, 2020 - The Mercury News

Rock Island Line

Opinion: Improved Commuter Rail Services Would Better Serve Chicago’s South Side Residents

The city’s South Side residents need more transit options, but an extension of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line would be a costly and less effective alternative.

February 23, 2020 - Chicago Tribune

great lakes

Opinion: Climate Change Has Brought the 'Era of Extreme' to the Great Lakes

Severe flooding in these coastal areas will become the norm, but how to best address the environmental challenges is not entirely clear.

February 21, 2020 - The New York Times

Exurban Commute

A Path for California to Get to Zero Carbon...And Below

A new study from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory evaluates strategies to achieve former Gov. Jerry Brown's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. Unlike other reports that study emission reductions, it evaluates "negative emissions" strategies.

February 20, 2020 - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Los Angeles Skyline

Opinion: L.A. Parking Requirements Need Serious Revamp

Los Angeles has a parking problem—namely, too much of it—caused by minimum parking requirements.

February 20, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Colorado Interstate

Paying for the Senate Highway Bill Would Require Additional $102 Billion

Under the new bill, the Highway Trust Fund would need more funding to get through the next five years.

February 20, 2020 - Eno Transportation Weekly

Connected City

The Smart Cities Revolution Happened, but Cities Were Left Out of Loop

Cities have transformed in profound ways, but more recent changes were the last part of a series of technology waves.

February 19, 2020 - Governing

SF Muni

Congestion Pricing Has Mayoral Support in San Francisco

Additional disincentives for driving (i.e., congestion pricing and new parking fees) are on the mayor's agenda in San Francisco.

February 19, 2020 - SFGate

Los Angeles Residential

The Complex Story Behind the Failure of California's Upzoning Bill

SB 50 was often viewed as an attack on wealthy, single-family homeowners, but housing justice advocates also had issues with the legislation.

February 19, 2020 - Curbed

Vote

Prop 13 on the Ballot in California—Just Not the Prop 13 Everyone's Worried About

A case of mistaken identity has embroiled California in election controversy, as claims of bias and misinformation swirl around Prop 13 (2020), Prop 13 (1978), and an anticipated "split roll" initiative.

February 19, 2020 - James Brasuell

Broadway Los Angeles

L.A. Officials to Look at Possibility of Car-Free Downtown Broadway

Los Angeles may follow in San Francisco’s footsteps by banning cars along a stretch of a downtown thoroughfare.

February 19, 2020 - Curbed Los Angeles

New York Street Parking

N.Y.C. Parking Reform Takes Step Forward as Debate Rages On

In Manhattan, a contentious debate has been brewing over on-street parking and how that space could be used for something other than storing cars.

February 19, 2020 - Gothamist

HUD

Opinion Writers Oppose Trump's Proposed Changes to Fair Housing Laws

A former housing and urban development secretary and a professor of sociology oppose the Trump administration's proposed changes to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.

February 18, 2020 - The New York Times

Arlington Transit Bus

Virginia Proposal for No-Cost and Reduced-Fare Transit

The program would allow transit agencies throughout the state to eliminate or reduce fares.

February 18, 2020 - Greater Greater Washington

San Francisco city

A New Planning Director in San Francisco

Outgoing San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim announced his departure in September. Rich Hillis will be the next to have the job.

February 18, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Electric Bike

L.A. Wins Round One in Battle With Uber Over Privacy and Data

Los Angeles and Uber bike-share subsidiary Jump are in a protracted legal battle over the city's data sharing requirements.

February 17, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Opinion: California State Water Department Needs to Step Up in the Fight on Climate Change

California's water resources are under threat from climate change, and the state's water agency must take action to face the challenges.

February 16, 2020 - The Sacramento Bee

Angry Public Meeting

The State of Public Meetings

Dating back to a tradition begun in the 1630s, public meetings are an essential part of the political systems, and planning processes, of U.S. cities. Public meetings are also broken, according to this article.

February 13, 2020 - Curbed

State capital building

Top Planning Issues for State Legislatures

The American Planning Association identifies three issues that will define the year in state legislatures around the country.

February 12, 2020 - American Planning Association

Washington D.C. - Federal Reserve

Debating Improvements to the Community Reinvestment Act

The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 was the final of a suite of federal laws aimed at fighting racial segregation in housing. Congress is beginning to consider how best to modernize the act to meet the challenges of contemporary times.

February 11, 2020 - Washington Center for Equitable Growth

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.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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.