Government / Politics

Change of Leadership for Los Angeles' Planning Department

Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated Vince Bertoni to lead the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Bertoni is currently the planning director of the city of Pasadena.

January 5, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Study: Local land Use Regulations Segregate Metropolitan Areas

A new study reveals new understanding about how restrictive land use regulations in urban areas affect economic segregation across metropolitan areas.

January 5, 2016 - CityLab

Glenn Beck

The Ideological War Against Urban Planning

The anti-planning debate may have quieted down, but it hasn't disappeared. Anti-Agenda 21 activists have merely spread out, into the politics of cities and counties planning for the future.

January 5, 2016 - Governing

New Year's Gift for Washington and New York City Commuters

Commuters working in New York City and Washington, D.C. will now enjoy transit tickets and passes purchased using pre-tax income.

January 4, 2016 - Planetizen

Will 2016 Be the Year California Finally Raises its 22-Year-Old Gas Tax?

Despite several attempts by Sen. Jim Beall (D-S.J.) and Gov. Jerry Brown, the Republicans have shown no willingness to lend their support to increasing the state gas tax, last raised in 1994, to repair roads and bridges.

January 4, 2016 - Capitol Weekly

'Bridge-Gate' Attorneys Make Their Case: You Can't Sue Over Traffic

Attorneys representing the state of New Jersey responded to the allegations of a class action lawsuit rising from the "bridge-gate" scandal.

January 3, 2016 - The Record

University of Chicago

Chicago Universities Commit to Bolstering Growth

Eight Chicago universities have agreed to engage with the city and local communities as they invest in their neighborhoods. The hope is to increase opportunities for employment and economic growth.

January 2, 2016 - Urban Institute

Russian River Brewery

Craft Breweries Follow the Demographics

The spread of craft beer manufacturing around the United States has followed demographic patterns, along with friendly regulations.

December 31, 2015 - Quartz

Public Meeting

Are YIMBYs a Silent Majority?

While NIMBYs make a lot of noise and a lot of news, could it be that support outweighs opposition when it comes to development? Some residents in Bethesda, Maryland think so.

December 31, 2015 - Bethesda Magazine

Utah's New Years Day Surprise: Nickel Gas and Diesel Tax Increase

The fuel tax increases in the Beehive State by 4.9 cents on Friday. But don't count on gas prices increasing. Not only are prices dropping due to plummeting crude oil prices, but service station owners may be reluctant to pass on the increase.

December 31, 2015 - The Salt Lake Tribune

End

Top Planning Trends of 2015

Pulling a few threads to unravel some of the biggest planning stories of the year.

December 31, 2015 - James Brasuell

Saudi Arabia Reducing Gasoline Subsidies to Cope with Budget Deficit

The world's third cheapest gasoline will increase by 40 percent in order to deal with a record budget deficit of $98 billion this year. Plummeting oil prices have forced the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, to reduce energy subsidies.

December 30, 2015 - AFP

As Oil Prices Fall, Alaska Considers an Income Tax

Not only might Alaskans have to pay a state income for the first time since 1980, three years after the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was completed, but Alaska Permanent Fund checks might drop 50 percent to cope with falling crude oil tax revenue.

December 29, 2015 - The New York Times

City Hall

Introducing 8 Newly Elected Mayors

There's no doubt that cities provide important leadership on countless issues—here are eight new elected mayors tasked with providing the political leadership to make it possible.

December 29, 2015 - Governing

Air Pollution Forces Italian Cities to Enact Serious Driving Restrictions

Unusually mild and dry weather in much of Italy has worsened air quality so much that city governments are acting to reduce emissions from one of the chief sources of air pollution by enacting odd-even license restrictions on driving.

December 29, 2015 - The New York Times - Europe

Rail Extensions Receive Sizable FTA Grants in Omnibus Spending Bill

Sound Transit, L.A. Metro, and Santa Clara VTA received sizable funding in FTA's New Starts/Small Starts program for their light and heavy rail extensions, thanks to Congressional representatives who included them in the omnibus bill,.

December 28, 2015 - RT&S (Railway Track & Structures)

Funding Revitalization in the Post-Redevelopment Era

A Los Angeles City Councilmember discusses his instructive quest to cobble together funding for the revitalization of his district after the termination of community redevelopment agencies.

December 28, 2015 - The Planning Report

City Hall Philadelphia

New Director of Planning and Development Picked in Philadelphia

The reorganization of planning department functions in the city of Philadelphia was one of the more substantial planning-related results of the November election. Now the new Planning and Development Department is taking shape.

December 28, 2015 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Popularity of Electric Vehicles Threatens Viability of Bay Area's Express Lanes

The California DMV announced that the maximum of 85,000 Green Clean Air Vehicle Decals had been issued to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, denying new Volt and plug-in Prius owners the coveted sticker allowing them free access to HOV and HOT lanes.

December 26, 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

Austin Transit Planners Regroup After Bond Defeat

The voters of Austin rejected a $1 billion transportation bond in 2014, but transit advocates and Capital Metro staff are already reorganizing to make a new pitch for transit in the quickly growing city.

December 26, 2015 - Community Impact Newspaper

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.

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.