Government / Politics

Metropolitan Detention Center

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards

Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

February 25, 2019 - The Washington Post

San Francisco Parklet

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear

Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

February 25, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Transit Oriented Development

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo

The plans, they are a-changin.

February 25, 2019 - James Brasuell

Manhattan Upper West Side

Trump's Name Disappearing from Manhattan Buildings

President's Trump's name appears on six fewer buildings in Manhattan than on Election Day 2016.

February 25, 2019 - The Washington Post

Washington D.C. - The White House

Does Climate Change 'Really' Pose a Threat to National Security?

The White House is planning to establish a new climate panel, headed by a well-known climate denier, to question the findings of the president's own intelligence agencies that climate change does indeed pose a national security risk.

February 24, 2019 - The Washington Post

Cambridge Massachusetts

Cambridge Won’t Reach Goals to Curb Car Ownership

The city’s original plan to decrease car ownership isn’t quite panning out, even with more alternative transportation options for residents.

February 24, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Contest: Design a Logo for New York's Privately-Owned Public Spaces

New York City is holding a competition for a distinctive logo to clearly demarcate all of its 550 privately-owned public spaces.

February 22, 2019 - AM New York

Coal Mining

Coal, a Campaign Promise Unfulfilled

President Trump still touts coal and its return, but what’s happening in the real world suggests coal is on its way out for good.

February 22, 2019 - Intelligencer - New York Magazine

New York New Jersey Transit

Mixed Messages on Federal Spending Bill's Attention to Gateway Rail Project

Project supporters and the Trump administration disagree on the takeaway for the Gateway project after Congress and the president signed a federal spending bill earlier this month.

February 21, 2019 - Bloomberg

Border

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit

The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

February 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Robert Moses

The Robert Moses Nexus to Amazon's Cancellation of Queens HQ2

Last week, Amazon abruptly canceled its decision to invest about $2.5 billion and bring 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens. A scholar blames their abrupt decision on an arcane state bureaucracy tasked with preventing Robert Moses-like takings.

February 21, 2019 - Politico Magazine

Los Angeles 110 Freeway

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California

A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.

February 20, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Connecticut Turnpike

Connecticut Transportation Funding Debate: Toll Trucks or Toll All Vehicles?

New Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has reversed the position of his campaign, when he pledged to toll only heavy trucks to tackle traffic congestion. In an op-ed, Lamont explains why all vehicles must be tolled. He also rules out a gas tax hike.

February 20, 2019 - Stamford Advocate

U.S.-Mexico

What President Trump's Border Wall Can't Stop

William H. Frey, a demographer with Brookings, argues that racial diversity is a good thing for the country by many measures. Trump's wall would make it harder to benefit from demographic changes, but changes is still coming.

February 19, 2019 - Brookings: The Avenue

OC Transpo Ottowa

Gender, Climate Change, and Transit Decision Makers

A member of Ottawa’s city council says transit commissioners should support women’s rights and believe that climate change is real.

February 19, 2019 - Ottawa Citizen

Illinois Highway 90

Sale of Illinois Tollway Considered to Pay Pension Debt

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has a $134 billion problem in unfunded pension liabilities. Along with several other measures, his administration is considering selling state assets, including the Illinois Tollway, to fill the hole.

February 19, 2019 - Chicago Tribune

Toronto Lyrics

Ontario's Plan for Taking Over Toronto's Subway Revealed

Ontario Progressive Conservatives want the province to take ownership of the city of Toronto's subway network and take responsibility for maintaining and construction.

February 19, 2019 - The Star

Ohio River

Form at the Forefront of Zoning Code Rewrite in Covington, Kentucky

The city of Covington is conducting public hearings to gather feedback on at the outset of an 18-month process of rewriting its zoning code.

February 18, 2019 - City of Covington

Long Island City

Post-Mortem: Why Amazon Canceled the Queens HQ2

New York City and State offered up nearly $3 billion in incentives to lure Amazon and its 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens only to see the tech company cancel their plans after local opposition materialized. Was their retreat too hasty?

February 17, 2019 - The New York Times

High-Speed Rail

More Fallout From Downsizing California High-Speed Rail

A San Francisco Chronicle editorial warns that San Francisco must find funds, intended to come from the state's ambitious rail project, to extend the Caltrain commuter rail line to the SalesForce Transit Center.

February 16, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

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