Government / Politics

Historic Vote by California Senate on Cap-and-Trade Expected Monday

Caling the upcoming vote on AB 398, which has created strange political bedfellows, "the most important vote of your life," Gov. Jerry Brown cast the decision as choosing between "massive new regulations" and market-based mechanisms.

July 16, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

A New Tool to Amplify the Power of Open Data

Open data that no one knows how to use is hardly open at all. A new platform from Esri aims to improve the situation.

July 14, 2017 - CityLab

California Earning Clean Air Despite the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

While premature to claim victory, a report from the San Francisco Chronicle suggests that the California Air Resources Board will prevail in a looming showdown with the U.S. EPA over whether to allow the state to set vehicle emission standards.

July 13, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Barbes Music

Safe for Now, Brooklyn Music Mecca Sees a Cloudy Future

More than 20 percent of New York's smaller music venues have closed in the past 15 years. Although Brooklyn institution Barbes was recently saved by a crowdfunding campaign, its founder is pessimistic about the future of New York's independent arts.

July 13, 2017 - Soft City

Capitol Hill

House Appropriations Bills Move the Needle Away from Trump's Agenda

A House of Representatives committee has different ideas about the spending priorities of the federal government when it comes to issues like a proposed border wall and the Great Lakes.

July 12, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Portland, Oregon

Oregon Legislature Passes Gas Tax, Includes Bike Tax

After Gov. Kate Brown signs the comprehensive funding package, Oregon will be the eighth state this year to approve legislation to increase its gas tax and the first ever to add a bike tax to fund bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

July 12, 2017 - The Oregonian

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Denver Could Create a New Transportation Department

Hoping to give more of a focus and priority to the issues of transportation, the mayor of Denver is proposing a reorganization of city departments.

July 12, 2017 - The Denver Post

Brooklyn, New York City

Looking for Answers on Trump's Ties to Subsidized Housing

Two congressional Democrats, aided by press investigations, are connecting the dots between President Trump's real estate holdings and the Trump Administration's proposed budget.

July 12, 2017 - The New York Times

Houston

Mounting Evidence of the Houston Housing Authority's Poor Performance

Both the local newspaper and the controller's office have found evidence that the Houston Housing Authority fails to deliver projects that match the amount of funding it receives.

July 12, 2017 - Houston Chronicle

Southeast Michigan's RTA Could Trim its Footprint to Build Support for Transit Funding

One way to get a transit funding tax plan approved is just to cut outlying areas out of transit taxes, and transit planning, entirely.

July 11, 2017 - Detroit Free Press

Carpool Lane Sticker

Second Attempt at Renewal for California's Clean Air Vehicle Decal Program

New legislation would continue the Clean Air Vehicle program after Jan. 1, 2019 to allow zero and near-zero emission vehicles to continue to qualify for carpool lane stickers in the Golden State.

July 10, 2017 - Santa Monica Daily Press

Toyota Fuel Cell

Fuel Cell Vehicles Get Surprising Boost from Uncle Sam

The petroleum industry-friendly Trump Administration has awarded $15.8 million to 30 projects that are intended to substantially reduce oil consumption from passenger vehicles.

July 10, 2017 - AASHTO Journal

Oil

Interior Secretary Issues Order to Expedite Drilling on Public Lands

Secretary Zinke's order is part of the "energy dominance" agenda of the Trump Administration to make the U.S. a major energy exporter. The order will reduce the time needed by the Bureau of Land Management to process permitting for new wells.

July 10, 2017 - The Washington Post

University of Chicago

Should Rich Non-Profits Pay Property Tax?

Illinois' debt is teetering on the brink junk status and, while it's struggling, rich non-profits like Northwestern University continue to buy up expensive land while paying no property taxes.

July 10, 2017 - Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Bean At Sunrise

The New Enemy of the Alt-Right: Modern Architecture

Are the iconic symbols of modern architecture a new front line in the new era of culture wars?

July 9, 2017 - CityLab

Phoenix Dust Storm

Survey: What's the Biggest Risk Facing Cities

Politico Magazine put out a big question to "mayors, urbanists and other thinkers": what are the biggest threats that American cities currently face?

July 9, 2017 - Politico Magazine

urban swing art piece in montreal

The Three Factions of Contemporary Planning and Urbanism

This post is sure to inspire debate. The hope, however, is that it will inspire coordination.

July 9, 2017 - Forbes

Mount Hood Clackamas

Oregon's $3 Billion Transportation Funding Legislation Has a Tax for Almost Everyone

The package, which doesn't tax walking and running shoes, went to the legislature on June 30. It includes a ten cents per gallon gas tax, a 0.10 percent payroll tax, a $15 tax on new bikes costing at least $200, and a potential toll on I–205.

July 7, 2017 - KGW

Appeals Court Rebuffs Trump's EPA on Methane Emissions Suspension

In a win for the environment, a D.C. Circuit panel ruled that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt could not arbitrarily suspend the starting date of a landmark Obama rule that would reduce methane emissions from new and modified oil and gas wells.

July 6, 2017 - The Washington Post

Bike and Bus Lane

FHWA Greenlights More Red Lanes for Buses in San Francisco

The Federal Highway Administration approved 50 applications of red transit-only lanes to be painted throughout San Francisco. Already used on four streets in a pilot program, the lanes have proven effective but are opposed by some business owners.

July 6, 2017 - San Francisco Examiner

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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