Government / Politics

'Smart' Parking Meters Issue Tickets From Afar
More tickets, fewer meter maids.

San Francisco's Next Mayor a Self-Described 'Pro-Housing' Politician With Support From YIMBYs
London Breed is the first African American female elected mayor of San Francisco, and she brings high hopes that a pro-development approach can help mitigate the city's housing affordability crisis.

Trump Rebuffed by Federal Energy Commissioners on Coal and Nuclear Power Bailout
Last month the Trump administration directed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to require grid operators to purchase power from aging coal and nuclear power plants, enabling them to keep operating as a matter of "national security." Regulators disagree.

Chicago's New Train to O'Hare Won't Be a Train—It's Elon Musk's 'Loop'
Loop, as in a derivation of Hyperloop, conceived by Elon Musk and to be built by his newest venture, The Boring Company, is the technology of choice for high-speed transit to O'Hare Airport.

A Kinder and Gentler Approach to Scooters
It's a temporary experiment, but Santa Monica will not cap the number of scooters operated by private companies in the city.

Wanted in the Autonomous Vehicles Debate: A Place at the Table for Local Authorities
How much should the federal government involve local authorities in crafting autonomous vehicle regulations? Officials in New York say they aren't being included enough.

Initiative to Split California into Three States Qualifies for November Ballot
Should the "California Three States Initiative " pass on Election Day, the Golden State will be a step closer to splitting into three states: California, Northern California, and Southern California.

Cobb County, Georgia Preparing a Transit Wish List
Cobb County has been enabled by the state to raise taxes to fund transit expansions. Early planning efforts are expected to face political headwinds in a region known for opposing both taxes and transit.

The 'Head Tax' Failed in Seattle; Cities Still Want the Tax to Support Housing, Transit
If your city was home to some of the wealthiest, largest companies in the country, would you tax them to raise money for more housing and transit service?

Means-Based, Transit-Fare Discounts Take a Leap Forward in the Big Apple
The 2019 New York City budget includes $106 million to subsidize half the transit fare for qualified residents for six months. The city joins the ranks of Seattle, Toronto, and the Bay Area that offer income-based discounts for transit fares.

Looking Back to Find the Future of San Diego
An advocacy group is republishing the 1974 regional plan for sustainability, and finding that it's just as relevant now as it was then.

Carson: HUD No Longer Raising Rents for Subsidized Households
Blame it on the federal budget, says Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carson.

TIGER Grants Are Back, But They're Called BUILD Grants Now
Promises (or fears) of the end of TIGER grant funding have proven unfounded thus far into the Trump Administration. Here's what's new with the U.S. Department of Transportation grant program formerly known as TIGER.

California and Auto Industry Agree on Vehicle Emissions Standards
Normally having the California Air Resources Board and the auto industry in agreement on emissions standards would be enough, but the Trump administration wants to ensure that California plays no role in setting standards.

Study: There's a Lot of Vacant Land in Texas Cities
All that empty acreage means that these big, rapidly developing cities don’t really have to sprawl.

Two States to Decide on Gas Tax Measures on Election Day
California voters will likely decide on whether to repeal a 12-cents gas tax increase while Missouri voters will decide whether to increase the state's 17-cents per gallon gas tax, fourth lowest in the nation, by 10-cents per gallon over four years.
In New Jersey, Beach Parking Located Right on the Sand
This summer, the seashore town of Wildwood is charging a fee for people with the right cars to park in a very convenient location.

Phoenix Joins Growing List of Cities Suing Over Citizenship Question
Phoenix sues Trump over change to census questionnaire which some believe could cost the city $350 million in federal funding.

Urban Utopias Under African Skies
An exhibit by Congolese artist Bodys Isek Kingelez at the Museum of Modern Art invokes urban idealism at the same time that it serves as a foil for poverty and deprivation in the megacities of the developing world.

Winners and Losers of the California Primary
With national media focused on individual candidates, propositions that dealt with park and water bonds, transportation spending, cap-and-trade, and rainwater may have been overlooked. Plus, a measure to increase bridge tolls in the Bay Area.
Pagination
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie