Government / Politics

Benito Juarez International Airport

Mexico City Airport Project Ends; Causes Economic Rumblings

Mexican voters do not want the airport project to continue, and serious economic consequences could follow.

November 1, 2018 - Bloomberg

Los Angeles Theater Sidewalk

Curbs Are Plentiful, But the Info About Them Isn’t Great. A New App Could Change That

An app called Surveyor is making it easier to collect better data on curbs.

November 1, 2018 - VentureBeat

San Francisco Homeless

Will More Money Solve San Francisco's Homelessness Problem?

San Francisco voters will decide on Proposition C, a business tax based on gross receipts levied on large employers, the most contentious of five local measures.

October 31, 2018 - Curbed SF

An image of a 3D city block generated by ESRI CityEngine software

Oracle Launches Land Use and Development Software

The product uses artificial intelligence to manage zoning, code enforcement, and permitting for local governments.

October 31, 2018 - Government Technology

Texas Rail

Rural Residents Not on Board With Texas Bullet Train Plan

A proposal for high-speed rail from Houston to Dallas is highlighting the state’s social and political divisions.

October 30, 2018 - Curbed

California State Capital

Sacramento Hopes to Lead Transportation Emission Reductions by Example

As California tries to stem its increasing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, its capital, Sacramento, may prove to be a model for other cities as it embraces electric vehicles and strategies to reduce driving.

October 29, 2018 - Curbed

Goods Movement

When Academic Research Goes Bad

A 'misconduct investigation' decided that an industry-funded study, used by the EPA as the basis to roll back a regulation limiting the number of old engines that could be used in new truck chassis (i.e., "glider trucks"), was inaccurate.

October 26, 2018 - Transport Topics

Not in my back yard

Friday Funny: Grey Areas Discovered Between YIMBY and NIMBY

You know housing politics has gone mainstream when a satirical literary journal pokes fun at your acronyms.

October 26, 2018 - McSweeney's

Small Jazz Club New York

New York’s Music Venues Vital to City, Says Report

A study of the musical nightlife of New York shows these spaces are an integral part of the city’s urban landscape.

October 26, 2018 - CityLab

Carbon Emissions

Prime Minister Trudeau Extends Carbon Pricing Throughout Canada

A carbon tax-and-dividend plan goes into effect on January 1 in the four Canadian provinces that don't price carbon emissions. Revenues will be rebated to residents, small businesses, and public institutions as Climate Action Incentive payments.

October 25, 2018 - Bloomberg News

New York City

New York Voters to Consider Term Limits for Community Board Members

Proposal 3, on November's ballot, aims to bring new diversity to the community board system that advises land use and development decisions around the city.

October 25, 2018 - Curbed New York

CTA Chicago

Chicago and New York: Two Transit Systems, Two Very Different Outcomes

Both cities have aging transit systems in need of major repairs. Chicago’s approach has helped turn the system around while New York is still grappling with its issues.

October 25, 2018 - The New York Times

Chicago Spire

Aldermanic Obstruction Too Strong for Former Chicago Spire Site Plans

Developers Related Midwest have new plans for the infamously failed development site, but have so far been stymied by demands from the office of Alderman Brendan Reilly.

October 24, 2018 - Chicago Tribune

Urban Planning Model

Is There Science in Planning?

A survey of planning offices in the United States reveals an important dynamic of professional practice.

October 24, 2018 - Edward J. Jepson Jr.

JFK Airport

One-Seat Ride to JFK a Long Shot, But Other Possibilities Exist

A one-seat train ride to JFK Airport has long been discussed, but it is not likely to happen. However, a number of options could improve the trip.

October 24, 2018 - Crain's New York Business

Jiujiang power plant

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue to Decrease in the U.S.

President Trump and his cabinet have been busy rolling back environmental regulations and promoting coal burning, and now they claim credit for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions last year even greater than in 2016.

October 23, 2018 - NPR

Tent City

Lawsuit Challenges Cincinnati's Homeless Encampment Ban

The ACLU will challenge Hamilton County's ban on tent cities in court.

October 22, 2018 - CityBeat

Homeless

L.A. Ends 'Veto' Power Over Homeless Housing

Anti-poverty advocates had criticized the "pocket veto" as arbitrary and unfair—and the state agreed.

October 22, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Climate CHange

IPCC Report Sways Microsoft to Endorse Carbon Fee Initiative on Washington Ballot

A dire report on climate change issued by a United Nations panel influenced Washington-based Microsoft to take a position on a controversial state carbon fee, Initiative 1631. Oil companies are fighting back, citing wide exemptions from the fee.

October 22, 2018 - Climatewire

Home Sold Sign

Californians Could Vote to Expand Prop 13 Property Tax Breaks in November

A biting opinion piece asks why Californians would want to worsen the effects of Proposition 13 by voting yes on Proposition 5.

October 19, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

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.