Government / Politics

Challenges in Rebuilding Houston Extend Beyond Development
Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic of The New York Times, looks beyond sprawl and development issues that challenge Houston in its rebuilding efforts. An anti-urban, anti-regulation bias from the statehouse isn't helping matters.

New Poll Shows Californians Would Repeal 12-Cent Gas Tax Hike
On Nov. 1, fuel taxes increased for the first time in 23 years in California. Next November, Californians will likely decide whether to return those taxes to 1994 levels, as well as repeal other tax and fee hikes passed by the legislature in April.

Advice for Repairing Relations Between Planners and the Public
Planners and the public must improve their relationship, according to this article.

Rent Control's Mixed Effects in San Francisco
As California debates the future of rent control in its municipalities, a group of Stanford economists have conducted research that connects San Francisco's existing policy with higher housing costs.

Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences
A movement initiated by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va.) to join the East Coast carbon cap-and-trade program has accelerated with the election of his Democratic lieutenant governor, Ralph Northam, as governor. Similar news is expected from New Jersey.

And Then There Was One
Donald Trump ran on an "America First" platform for president. The latest news from the climate talks in Bonn, Germany, though, shows that it is now "America Alone" in terms of nations who haven't adopted the Paris climate agreement.

Small New York Town Plans for Giant Legoland
Merlin Entertainments chooses the upstate New York hamlet of Goshen for its ninth Legoland theme park.

Rebuilding by Design, This Time in Houston
History shows that there's more than one way to control flooding, but the best ideas are also urban amenities.

Momentum Builds to Ban Sales of Gas and Diesel-Powered Cars in California
The Los Angeles Times editorialized in support of legislation that is expected to be introduced next year to ban sales of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles, though they didn't suggest a date when the ban should become effective.
Colorado Voters OK New Toll Lanes on Interstate 25 by Passing Two Measures
Colorado Springs and El Paso County voters agreed to add the highway widening to a list of projects that a regional transportation authority can fund. They passed an additional funding measure enabling county funds to be spent rather than refunded.

How Tulsa Beat Flooding Without Saying 'Climate Change'
An oil town in a red state proves we don't have to talk about climate change to adapt to it.

GOP Tax Plan Eliminates Critical Infrastructure-Funding Bond Program
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act would have a deleterious effect on major infrastructure proposed by the private sector. The loss of Private Activity Bonds would hike borrowing rates for road, transit, stadium, and even affordable housing projects.

House Tax Reform Bill Would Devastate Affordable Housing
The House tax reform bill threats to drastically reduce the number of affordable housing units developed.

Raising Speed Limits in the Name of Traffic Safety
Business Insider offers a platform for an argument favored by the National Motorists Association and a particularly vocal Michigan state police officer: that speed limits are too slow to be safe.

Election Day Roundup: Land Use, Development, and Infrastructure Measures
Planetizen rounded up all the pertinent results from local and state elections on November 8, 2017. The main theme of the day: voters continue to support local and state sources of infrastructure funding.

Portland, ME, Voters Reject 'Neighbor Veto' of Zoning Changes
In a close vote, Portland (Maine) residents voted not to allow immediate abutters to reject zoning changes approved by the City Council. The referendum was initiated by neighbors opposed to a cluster subdivision proposed instea dof a conventional one

P3 101: Comparing Infrastructure Procurement Models
Already a common means of delivering infrastructure in many countries, public-private partnerships are growing in importance in the United States, but how do they compare to other procurement models?

White House Denies Funding to Replace Tribal Villages
The federal government appears to be reneging on yet another promise to Native American tribes.

Electric Vehicle Sales Would Take a Hit With GOP's Tax Cut
The House GOP tax plan, which Trump wanted to name the "Cut, Cut, Cut" bill, was intended to cut taxes, but it's also cutting credits, like the federal $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit. How much would its elimination affect EV sales?

Trump Administration Releases Climate Report that Contradicts EPA Chief
In a move that surprised some, the Fourth National Climate Assessment found that climate change is "unambiguous" as opposed to a "hoax," as President Trump has stated, and that it is man-made, largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
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