Government / Politics

With the recent developments happening in North Africa and the Middle East, public squares are taking center-stage as the epicenters of change.

February 25, 2011 - Urban Omnibus

Jay Walljasper discusses the role of public spaces in recent protests and revolutions from Madison, Wisconsin to Cairo, Egypt.

February 24, 2011 - On The Commons

The federal government should play a larger role in lending money to local governments for transit projects, and not just spending money, according to this oped.

February 24, 2011 - San Gabriel Valey Tribune

This column from The Seattle Times looks at two of the physical legacies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and finds both success and room for improvement.

February 24, 2011 - The Seattle Times

Ground has broken on Honolulu's long-planned rail system, but locals still worry that the new transit won't lure new development to town.

February 24, 2011 - The Honolulu Star Advertiser

The Mayor of Tel-Aviv has called the new Master Plan a "constitution for the city," yet local officials have stated they will not comment on the plan until after it is approved by the city council.

February 23, 2011 - Sustainable City blog

Transportation consultant and analyst Ken Orski looks into the transportation provisions of President Obama's proposed 2012 budget and beyond and notices some major shortfalls - and poses questions to the administration as to how they will be funded.

February 23, 2011 - InfrastructureUSA

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday that the city will begin to utilize QR (quick response) codes on all building permits, providing more access to information for New York residents.

February 23, 2011 - TechCrunch

A federal appeals court upheld a federal district court ruling that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area's transportation planning and funding agency, does not discriminate against minorities in the way it funds buses and trains

February 22, 2011 - San Francisco Chronicle

A brand new capital city is being planned for the recently approved new country of South Sudan. Juba, the region's current capital, is seen as too chaotic to serve as the new country's capital.

February 22, 2011 - Sudan Votes

Neal Peirce expounds on the increasing power and importance of cities, a dominant message in the new book "Triumph of the City" by economist Edward Glaeser.

February 21, 2011 - Citiwire

Scotia, California may be the nation's last remaining company town. The entire city could be headed to market this year.

February 21, 2011 - Newsweek

Maryland's Governor O'Malley, heading into his 2nd and last term, wants to leave behind a legacy of environmental improvement, including new smart growth policies to limit building in rural areas.

February 19, 2011 - Washington Post

Cities' financial challenges are leading directly to fundamental governance challenges, including questions that are not normally part of budgetary discussions. The consequences for city life and municipal functions may be substantial.

February 18, 2011 - Nation's Cities Weekly

As more and more people move to cities, they will be the focus of much policy and investment. But the suburbs should not be forgotten, argues Mary Newsom. They should be fixed.

February 18, 2011 - The Charlotte Observer

A grassroots online campaign has already raised more than $50,000 to build a statue of the science fiction character RoboCop in Detroit. The effort's organizers call it an art project with the goal of urban regeneration.

February 18, 2011 - The Detroit Free Press

The idea of a federal infrastructure bank has been floating around Washington for years, and has recently gathered significant support. But with debates underway about the federal budget, some wonder whether the idea stands a chance.

February 18, 2011 - National Journal

The city of Pittsburgh has released a new plan focusing on revitalizing the Allegheny Riverfront, with proposed new housing, retail and public spaces.

February 17, 2011 - The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Salt Lake City, Utah has rapidly expanded its public transit system. In this Q&A, Mayor Ralph Becker talks about making those investments and how well they have worked.

February 17, 2011 - U.S. News And World Report

A new book suggests that airports can be the driving factor that creates vibrant global cities in the future. This review from Metropolis holds some doubts.

February 17, 2011 - Metropolis