Government / Politics

Sacramento

Sacramento Streetcar Faces Uncertain Future Due to Trump Budget

The president's Fiscal Year 2019 Budget cuts the critical Capital investment Grants program run by the Federal Transit Administration. Projects lacking a full-funding grant agreement, like the Sacramento Streetcar, may fall victim.

February 18, 2018 - The Sacramento Bee

Trump

Trump's 25-Cent Infrastructure Tax?

During a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, President Trump endorsed hiking the gas tax by 25-cents per gallon to help pay for the $200 billion investment and restore solvency to the Highway Trust Fund.

February 18, 2018 - Politico

Brazil Olympics

Abandoned Olympic Venues Cast Doubt on the Value of Hosting

Though cities hope for an economic boost, these photos show it's far from guaranteed.

February 17, 2018 - Business Insider

New Orleans

Massive Surveillance Expansion Would Focus on Nightlife in New Orleans

The city of New Orleans wants to watch you party.

February 16, 2018 - CityLab

Toll Road Truck

Praise for the Trump Infrastructure Plan

While there has been no lack of criticism (some might say condemnation) of the $200 billion investment that aims to generate an additional $1.3 trillion, some individuals and groups have stepped forward to praise the plan, or at least parts of it.

February 14, 2018 - DC Velocity

Fish and WIldlife

The Dismal State of Water Infrastructure in Rural Kentucky

In a region where the utility is on the "brink of financial collapse," residents face outages, boil-water advisories and bills that come with health warnings.

February 14, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Berkeley Hills Bay Area

The Country's First Municipal Cryptocurrency Could Fund Affordable Housing

The city of Berkeley is exploring the sale of digital tokens—backed by municipal bonds—as a fundraising mechanism for affordable housing and other local priorities.

February 14, 2018 - Business Insider

Car Culture

Critics Blast Trump's Infrastructure Plan

Opposition mobilized quickly after the Trump Administration released its long-awaited infrastructure plan. There's even a hashtag.

February 13, 2018 - James Brasuell

Gas Pumps

Missouri Governor: Don't Show Me a Gas Tax Hike!

It is an understatement that Increasing fuel taxes is challenging. If there is an opportune time to do it, it's when gas prices are relatively low, when the state decides to cut other taxes, and when there's bipartisan support.

February 13, 2018 - St. Louis Public Radio

Leslie Knope

Pop Culture Hasn't Been Kind to Planning Lately

A post for the Market Urbanism website says planning is entering Season Three with no guarantees it will catch on with audiences.

February 13, 2018 - Market Urbanism

Environmentalism

Infrastructure, Unlike the Trump Administration, Can't Ignore Climate Change

How can President Trump, who has made environmental regulation rollbacks and climate denial trademarks of his administration, be expected to select projects for his infrastructure plan that must weather climate change?

February 12, 2018 - The New York Times

Anti homeless bench

An Artist Campaigns Against Anti-Homeless 'Hostile Design'

Bournemouth native Stuart Semple is intent on "naming and shaming the bodies who fund and install these things."

February 12, 2018 - The Art Newspaper

Donald Trump

Trump's Infrastructure Plan Is Finally Public

The federal government is basically asking for matching funds from states and localities to fund infrastructure projects.

February 12, 2018 - The Washington Post

Nashville

Nashville Transit Tax Headed for May Ballot

An historic transit referendum will be on the ballot for Nashville residents in May after some final political maneuvering over the matter of the plan's cost.

February 12, 2018 - Tennessean

Detroit, Michigan

Unexpected 'Airbnb Ban' in Detroit's Residential Neighborhoods Causes a Stir

Somehow the city of Detroit managed to start enforcing an Airbnb ban in single-family neighborhoods without anyone realize the council had approved the regulation.

February 12, 2018 - Curbed Detroit

Editorial Opposes Use of Eminent Domain to Give Property to For-Profit Developer

The borough of Emerson, New Jersey is testing the limits of eminent domain.

February 9, 2018 - NorthJersey

One Native American Family, Two Housing Crises

In Oakland, California and Torreon, New Mexico, Julian Brave NoiseCat reports that "[f]or Indigenous people, the crisis of the home is intergenerational."

February 8, 2018 - High Country News

Alaskan Way Seawall Construction

When the U.S. Economy Is 'Too Strong' to Spend on Infrastructure

A low unemployment rate means major investments by the federal government could ultimately harm the economy.

February 6, 2018 - FiveThirtyEight

Silicon Valley

Most California Cities Now Subject to State-Mandated Development Streamlining

Given that 97 percent of California cities aren't meeting their housing targets, SB 35, last year's landmark "by-right" housing bill, now applies to projects that contain varying amounts of affordable units.

February 6, 2018 - East Bay Times

Census.gov shutdown message

Explained: The Risks Facing the 2020 Census

Why some experts are very concerned that Census 2020 will fail the democracy that depends on it.

February 6, 2018 - YouTube

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.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

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100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.