Government / Politics

Golden Gate

Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask About Prop. 13

A new report from the California Legislative Analyst's Office demystifies the highly consequential and controversial property tax limit enacted by Proposition 13.

September 25, 2016 - California Legislative Analyst's Office

Bay Area City Rejects Crude-by-Rail Terminal, Could Set Precedent

Crude-by-rail opponents are hoping that Benicia's rejection of a proposed rail terminal for a Valero refinery will set a precedent: it was enabled by a U.S. Surface Transportation Board decision allowing the city to have the final word.

September 25, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Donald Trump

Trump Announces 'America First' Energy Plan

The Trump Campaign made a big play for the carbon industry's votes this week at an event in Pittsburgh.

September 23, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Climate Change Protest

Climate Equity Agenda Key to Passage of California's Climate Legislation

Environmental advocacy is not enough. Environmental and social justice must play a role in California's legislative effort to battle climate change, opine two professors from UC Berkeley and USC in the San Francisco Chronicle.

September 21, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Parking Gate

Just Arrived: The First Federal Safety Guidelines for Automated Vehicles

It's a big day for the future of automated vehicles. Federal safety regulators gave first indication, not yet regulations, of how they expect automated vehicles to behave when they hit the road en masse.

September 20, 2016 - The New York Times

Why Don't Environmentalists Support Washington's Carbon Tax Measure?

A largely revenue-neutral carbon tax proposal, similar to the carbon tax in British Columbia which began in 2008, qualified for the November ballot in Washington. Environmentalists and Democrats, not Big Oil, may cause it's defeat.

September 19, 2016 - Crosscut

Washington Adopts 'First-of-its-Kind' Carbon Reduction Rule

The state's unique Clean Air Rule is called 'cap-and-reduce.' Businesses that fall under the cap are required to reduce emissions, just like California's cap-and-trade program. However, they can not be forced to purchase carbon credits.

September 18, 2016 - Crosscut

Cherry Creek Denver

Denver Will Ban Suspected Drug Users From City Parks

The American Civil Liberties Union is not pleased with the potential civil rights infringement enacted by a new directive by Denver Parks and Recreation.

September 16, 2016 - Fox31

Tenants' Rights

Rent and Eviction Controls on the November Ballot in Six Bay Area Cities

Voters in six Bay Area cities in four Bay Area counties will determine the outcome of eight ballot measures on rent and eviction control. Two of the cities will have city council-sponsored measures competing against voter initiatives.

September 16, 2016 - San Francisco Chronicle

Mexico City Street Art

Mexico to Pilot Carbon Pricing

The year-long program will begin in November, laying a foundation for a national carbon market.

September 14, 2016 - CleanTechnica

Drone

Could You Pass the Drone License Test?

The new exam is required nationwide for commercial use of drones.

September 14, 2016 - Quartz

Austin

The Big Representation Gap in Austin's Regional Planning

The names and faces occupying decision-making positions in the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization do not reflect the names and faces of the people they are meant to represent.

September 14, 2016 - Streetsblog USA

Rental Cars

Editorial: A Compelling Case for a Carbon Tax

With record amounts of gasoline burned by America's passenger vehicle fleet which is increasing composed of light trucks rather than cars, and with Americans driving record distances, The Washington Post argues it's time for a carbon tax.

September 13, 2016 - The Washington Post - Editorial

Lucas Oil Stadium

Federal Subsidy for Private Sports Stadiums Since 2000: $3.2 Billion

Are you ready for some football…stadiums to receive massive subsidies from the federal government?

September 12, 2016 - Brookings

Vancouver Chuck Wolfe

A Twitter Feed that Sings About Placemaking

"My twitter stream is alive with the sound of placemaking," writes Chuck Wolfe. While preparing for this week's Placemaking Week in Vancouver, he explains the importance of PPS-led programming and hopes for various panels, proceedings and events.

September 12, 2016 - The Huffington Post

United Nations

Finally, a Breakthrough for the New Urban Agenda

A marathon negotiation forged the compromises necessary for the New Urban Agenda to be adopted next month at the Habitat III summit in Quito, Ecuador.

September 12, 2016 - Citiscope

High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail: What's Good for Texas Is Good for California

It's becoming clear that Texas will beat California to having the first all high-speed train on the continent. Ethan Elkind suggests three ways that success for Texas Central's Dallas-to-Houston line will benefit the struggling California project.

September 12, 2016 - Ethan Elkind

DJ dude

An Emerging Cause for Advocacy: Night Life

"Night mayors" are working in cities around the world to improve relations between city government and the entertainment venues that can define urban living for many residents.

September 9, 2016 - Curbed

Gas Pump

Wouldn't It be Nice if Legislators Were Rewarded for Voting to Increase the Gas Tax?

Surprisingly, legislators are rewarded for supporting new gas taxes: they get reelected, according to a new analysis by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. What's more, they overwhelmingly hail from red states.

September 9, 2016 - The Hill

Los Angeles

How Well Do You Know Your City's Boundaries?

A new crowdsourced map projects asks people to draw their city limits from memory.

September 9, 2016 - CityLab

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

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

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

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