Government / Politics

Wealth Concentrates in Neighborhood Full of Government Contractors

Government contracts are filling the pockets of contractors in the Washington D.C. area and helping to create some of the nation's wealthiest neighborhoods.

August 17, 2011 - The Washington Post

Crime Dropping in Urban Areas

Crime in urban areas is on the decline. Some attribute the drop to increases in the amount of people returning to city centers.

August 17, 2011 - Governing

Dilapidated Properties and Delinquent Taxes Plague Philadelphia

Delinquent properties are scattered throughout Philadelphia, and they collectively owe nearly $500 million in taxes. This is a major problem for the city, and new legislation is hoping to tackle it.

August 17, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Georgia County Banks on Vacant and Abandoned Properties

Plagued by foreclosures, DeKalb County Georgia is buying up properties and creating a land bank in hopes of spurring redevelopment.

August 17, 2011 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

South Carolina's DOT Funding Predicament

The S.C. Dept. of Transportation is so broke that it won't be able to pay its contractors after meeting its payroll. It is depending on a payment from the FHWA and requesting additional reimbursements while rejecting federal funds for education.

August 17, 2011 - The (Charleston) Post and Courier

Court Sides with Sadik-Khan: Bike Lane Stays

The ruling by Judge Bert A. Bunyan of the State Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Tuesday added steam to the NYC transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan's campaign for pedestrian-oriented, cyclist-friendly streets.

August 17, 2011 - The New York Times

Rahul Mehrotra Talks Indian Urban Planning

Rahul Mehrotra talks to The Hindu about sustainable cities, community participation, and infrastructure. The article also has a review of his most recent book "Architecture in India Since 1990."

August 16, 2011 - The Hindu

Philidelphia Comprehensive Plan Accused of Spreading Gentrification

Community leaders argue that the recently approved Philadelphia comprehensive plan does more for developers than the working class in this op-ed.

August 16, 2011 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Best Small Towns in the USA

A week after the Ames straw poll in Iowa brought all the hype to America's heartland, Money magazine announces its annual ranking of the nation's best small cities. The Midwest dominates the Top 100 list, with the Northeast coming in second.

August 15, 2011 - Money

Free Interstate Lanes Must Remain Free, States John Mica

House Transportation And Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fl, in this opinion in the Orlando Sentinel, states his position on tolling the nation's interstate highways. He supports tolling only if applied to newly constructed lanes.

August 15, 2011 - Orlando Sentinel - Opinion

Why Latin America Needs a Planning Revolution

Futile efforts to deal with rampant urbanization could fetter the region's robust economy and squander its potential to become a global economic powerhouse, according to the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI).

August 15, 2011 - The Economist

Seattle to Eliminate Downtown Ride Free Area

A recent "political compromise" forces Metro to phase out the City's highly popular free bus service that serves over 10 million riders per year.

August 13, 2011 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Berlin Wall Site Now a Hot Neighborhood

The Berlin Wall was constructed 50 years ago by Communist East Germany. Parts of the wall remain as a remembrance, but much of the area has been transformed into hip neighborhoods and parks.

August 13, 2011 - NPR

Amman May Nix Bus Rapid Transit

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) may no longer be pursuing a bus rapid transit (BRT) system because of opposition from within government circles.

August 13, 2011 - TheCityFix.com

A $1.5-Billion Forward Pass by L.A. City Council

Unanimous approval of the five-year outline to build a 72,000-seat football stadium in Downtown L.A. goes to show that the City Council is all game for a politically radioactive project.

August 12, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

Political Hurdle For VMT Fees Proves Too High For The Netherlands And Oregon

Two years ago a Dutch city embarked on a trial for distance-based pricing that placed a meter on the dashboard showing the price of the trip. The plan was scratched due to an election. In OR, VMT fee legislation for electric vehicles has stalled.

August 12, 2011 - The New York Times - Environment

Philadelphia Tries to Crack Down on Youth Mobs

In the face of recent violence committed by roaming groups of teenagers, officials in Philadelphia are imposing stricter curfews for youth.

August 12, 2011 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Goats Clearing Brush and Luring Crowds in L.A.

Goats being used to clear brush on a hillside in downtown Los Angeles are a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to deal with overgrowth -- and they're attracting fans.

August 12, 2011 - The New York Times

Modeling The Urban System of Portland

A new program is being implemented in Portland, Oregon, to try to quantify and model the behavior of the city.

August 12, 2011 - Fast Company

Experts Say Detroit's Transit Disagreements Can Be Resolved

Despite a lack of cooperation on regional transit issues, Detroit area transportation agencies can find a way to fix the region's broken system, according to a panel of officials and experts.

August 12, 2011 - The Detroit Free Press

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.