Government / Politics

It's the state transportation version of an hotel tax - increase a fee predominantly paid by outsiders. However, increasing and extending the toll on the West Virginia Turnpike won't be sufficient to meet all of the state's transportation needs.

September 10, 2013 - The Charleston Gazette

The candidates competing to emerge from today's mayoral primary confront a host of challenges that threaten the quality of life in the Big Apple. Five experts identify the issues they believe are key to improving the city's livability.

September 10, 2013 - The New York Times

Speeding is paying-off in the amount of $15 million for Seattle area schools thanks to speed-enforced cameras, a proven but nonetheless controversial traffic safety tool. Revenue will be used to make walking safer under a proposal by Mayor McGinn.

September 9, 2013 - The Seattle Times

Apparently the construction boom that's taken place over the last 12 years in New York hasn't quenched developers' appetites to build. Many are pushing to get their projects approved before the development-friendly administration leaves office.

September 9, 2013 - Crain's New York Business

As New Yorkers prepare to vote in tomorrow's mayoral primaries, Democrat Bill de Blasio's "tale of two cities" critique of the Bloomberg years has resonated with voters. But when it comes to land use, do his policies promise more of the same?

September 9, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Dissatisfied with state regulation and feeling that rural interests go unrepresented, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted this week in favor of leaving the Golden State to create a state called Jefferson.

September 6, 2013 - The Los Angeles Times

New Jersey has to decide how to protect homes, roads and development from future storms. The Army Corps of Engineers has proposed to build protective sand dunes, but a small number of beachfront property owners refuse to allow the plan to proceed.

September 5, 2013 - The New York Times

Paso Robles -- one of California's premier wine-producing regions -- is on the verge of running out of water, pitting wine producers against rural residents. At stake is the possible future of the region.

September 5, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Respected consulting firm McKinsey & Company offers a detailed report on the steps city leaders around the world take to transform their cities into great places to live and work.

September 5, 2013 - McKinsey & Company

From stop-and-frisk to sugary sodas to popular pedestrian plazas, The New York Times reviews the positions of NYC's candidate pool on the important issues -- many of them planning-related -- facing the Big Apple's next mayor.

September 5, 2013 - The New York Times

The $1 billion electronic cigarette industry has boomed in the last year; Southern California cities, shell-shocked from the spread of marijuana dispensaries, are struggling to cope with the storefront businesses.

September 4, 2013 - The Los Angeles Times

Since it has struggled with aggressive transit foes over half-cent sales taxes and light rail, Charlotte, North Carolina's transit system is launching a campaign to dispel myths about transit with crisp, clear infographics.

September 4, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Following-up on the depavement of 83 miles of "farm-to-market" roads, TxDOT now proposes a much larger budget-saving measure: "Turn back" control of 2,000 miles of these state roadways to counties and cities. TxDOT also wants to focus on urban roads.

September 4, 2013 - KUHF Houston Public Radio

For the first time since 1946, Los Angeles is completely revising its zoning code. Urban Insight, the team behind Planetizen, is pleased to be part of this project. One of our key goals is to create a modern web-based version of the zoning code.

September 3, 2013 - Chris Steins

The new film The World's End may be a hilarious British comedy about an epic pub crawl interrupted by the Apocalypse, but it also presents the viewer with a provocative perspective on competing views of liberty.

September 3, 2013 - Michael Dudley

What do Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Intuit and many other tech companies in have in common? Their locations next o the San Francisco Bay could be underwater within 50 years as sea levels rise. The latest idea is a "Golden Gate Barrage".

September 3, 2013 - Xconomy

In the eight years since Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast states have made great strides in adopting new visions for their cities and towns. A new report outlines the recovery's progress, pointing to successes in housing and transportation.

September 3, 2013 - The Sun Herald

Kenneth T. Jackson of the New York Times expresses his opposition to recent density concerns in New York City, which he believes are compromising its future as the world’s greatest city.

September 3, 2013 - The New York Times

Sacramento reporter John Myers suggests that if the oil industry and the Sierra Club both oppose a fracking bill - one for going too far; the other for not going far enough - then state Senator Fran Pavley's bill, "must be doing something right".

September 2, 2013 - News 10/KXTV Sacramento

George Skelton, capitol journalist for the LA Times, argues for compromise on Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's SB 731 that weaves a tight line between labor & environmentalists vowing to uphold CEQA and businesses demanding reform.

September 1, 2013 - Los Angeles Times