Government / Politics

Arizona Suburb

Could Immigration Crackdowns Crash the Housing Market?

Immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are a growing factor in the demand for new housing. In the long term (or sooner), the Trump Administration's hard line on newcomers could lead to instability for the rest of us.

March 20, 2017 - The Guardian

Monorail. Las Vegas

Las Vegas Light Rail Plans Take a Big Step Forward

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has proven its seriousness about an ambitious proposal to build a light rail connection between McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip.

March 17, 2017 - The Associated Press

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia Plans Assault on Sprawl With '20-Minute Neighborhoods'

Melbourne's long-range plan for development through 2050 envisions denser neighborhoods, built around the idea of 20-minute neighborhoods.

March 17, 2017 - Melbourne Herald Sun

President Trump's Other Infrastructure Plan—Defunding Grant Programs

The showman captured America's attention with a promise to "make America great again" with a $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Receiving scant attention are the infrastructure grant programs he'll cut in order to fund massive defense spending.

March 16, 2017 - The Hill

Canadian Prime Minister Wins Award for Being Pro-Oil Sands and Pro-Environment

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is treading a fine line between supporting the economy of oil-sands dependent western Canada and fighting climate change, as impossible as that might sound. His efforts were rewarded by the energy industry.

March 14, 2017 - CBC News

paris

Crumbling Of Democracy Bodes Ill For Urban Design

Ironically, some of the greatest architecture of the past came from the most nefarious of sources: monarchies and dictatorships. Democratic design, though, can be bland and generic. What of design in our new undemocratic age?

March 13, 2017 - Common Edge

Leaving California

A Proposed Legislative Solution to California's Out-Migration Epidemic

The Sacramento Bee follows-up a revealing report on lower income workers leaving California due largely to exorbitant housing costs with an editorial endorsing legislation by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco to address the source of the problem.

March 13, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

Scott Pruitt

EPA Administrator Transitions from Climate Change Skeptic to Denier

Perhaps there never really was much difference between 'skepticism' and 'denial'. Scott Pruitt certainly proved that on Thursday when he answered CNBC's Joe Kernen's question if carbon emissions are the primary cause of climate change.

March 13, 2017 - CNBC

Dog

Is Eugene, Oregon's Downtown Dog Ban, a Stealth Ban on Homeless?

The Eugene City Council enacted a 'trial dog ban' in downtown to protect public safety after complaints of aggressive dogs.

March 13, 2017 - The Register-Guard

San Diego Gaslamp District

Making It Easier to Build Won't Help

Here are some observations that may shed light on the mystery of why—despite creating every incentive that planners can conceive—we are failing to produce affordable housing at the level we need.

March 11, 2017 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Bunker Hill

Los Angeles' Iconic Angels Flight Railway To Utilize P3 Model

After appearing in the film La La Land, the world-renowned, iconic, 116-year-old Angels Flight will reopen to the public after a three-year modernization process.

March 10, 2017 - The Planning Report

Future Farmers of America

Trump Administration's Draft Budget Raises New Concerns About Data Collection

President Trump has made no secret of his disdain for many of the traditional data points used to represent the health and prosperity of the country. The budgetary process offers an opportunity to match words with action.

March 9, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Electric Cars

Electric Vehicle Fees: Where's the Controversy?

Some may find it silly to get worked up over an annual fee of about $100 to pay for road maintenance when electric vehicle purchasers receive a $7,500 federal tax credit, on top of generous state perks, but electric vehicle supporters object to them.

March 9, 2017 - Vox

High Line Sign

Incentives and Non-Traditional Strategies Solving Common City Problems

Small reminders and suggestions can add up to big changes for cities that "nudge" citizens.

March 9, 2017 - Data-Smart City Solutions

Detroit Street Art

Rust Belt Cities Shouldn't Demolish Their Way to the Future

In a piece for CityLab, Richey Pipparinen argues that trigger-happy city officials need to slow down their push to demolish homes.

March 9, 2017 - CityLab

Electric Car

Uncertain Future for Electric Vehicles if Fuel Efficiency Standards Relaxed

The U.S. EPA has signaled that it will withdraw an earlier decision to maintain the 54.5 miles per gallon target. Should that happen, a major casualty will be electric vehicles, according to one prominent EV advocate interviewed on NPR.

March 8, 2017 - NPR

Capitol Hill

U.S. Conference of Mayors Lobbies for Federal Infrastructure Funding

The devil is in the details, as they say. That will be especially true as Congress and the Trump Administration decide how to allocate infrastructure spending around the county.

March 7, 2017 - Route Fifty

Pumping Gas

Legal Loophole Will Allow Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards

On Tuesday, the Trump administration anticipates unraveling two signature Obama environmental regulations: fuel efficiency standards for model year 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles and beginning the undoing of the Clean Power Plan.

March 7, 2017 - The New York Times

Los Angeles Residential Street

Los Angeles Planning Reforms Respond to Measure S

Councilmember José Huizar weighs the city's new rules against those proposed by the upcoming ballot measure.

March 7, 2017 - The Planning Report

AS Roma Stadio Olympico, Rome, Italy

Rome's Urban Planning Chief Quits in Stadium Dispute

Paolo Berdini, Rome's councilor for urban planning, has resigned from his position after clashing with the city's mayor over a new soccer stadium for AS Roma.

March 7, 2017 - Business Insider

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.

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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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