Government / Politics

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

Mica To Obama: No Compromise On Transportation Bill

The WSJ report indicates that the debate that led to the FAA ticket tax suspension was just a prelude as to what to expect on Sept. 30 when the federal gas tax expires.

August 11, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal/Politics

Section 8 Renters Encounter Resistance

Lancaster, California has experienced a surge of Section 8 renters, and they are facing discrimination from residents and city officials, Jennifer Medina reports for The New York Times.

August 11, 2011 - The New York Times

Cities, Riots and Facial Recognition Technology

As riots engulf London, the role of technology in cities and crime-fighting comes into the spotlight. Some wonder whether this could usher in the age of facial recognition in cities.

August 11, 2011 - Forbes

The Small Town Impact of Post Office Closures

The U.S. Postal Services is considering a plan to close more than 3,600 of its 32,000 post offices. This piece from New Urban News looks at the impact of those closures on the small towns likely to be affected.

August 11, 2011 - New Urban News

County Could Railroad Atlanta Region Transit Tax

Voters in the Atlanta region will vote on a 1-cent sales tax for new transit projects. But one major county could stand in the way if its own project is not included.

August 11, 2011 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Philadelphia's Stormwater Solution

Philadelphia is embarking on a $2 billion, 25-year project to improve the way it absorbs and processes stormwater.

August 11, 2011 - This Big City

Turning Foreclosures into Rentals

As the Federal Housing Administration looks for new ways of dealing with the nation's foreclosed homes, more voices are calling for those homes to be repurposed as rentals.

August 11, 2011 - Marketplace

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.