Government / Politics

Friday Funny: Buried Sea Lion Carcass Reeks of Retaliation to Nudists

A group of Southern California nudists is criticizing parks officials who buried a dead sea lion near their controversial stomping grounds -- a stinky development in the long battle between nudists and officials over the contested beach.

January 8, 2010 - The Orange County Register

Hundreds of Counties Likely to Violate New Smog Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is releasing new air quality standards that will likely place hundreds of additional counties nationwide in violation.

January 8, 2010 - The New York Times

Preservation Office Delaying Stimulus Projects in California

California stimulus projects and job creation are being delayed by a state office tasked with reviewing federally-funded construction projects to prevent adverse affects on historic sites, according to a new report.

January 8, 2010 - The Sacramento Bee

London to Open City Data Streams

London is making public more than 200 streams of city data, joining a host of world cities in sharing city-collected data with its citizens.

January 8, 2010 - BBC

FasTracks Funding Gap Grows to $2.5 Billion in Denver

The Denver Regional Transportation District is forecasting an increasing gap between what it will cost to complete the region's FasTracks light rail system and how much taxpayer money will be available to fund its construction.

January 8, 2010 - The Denver Post

See, Click, Fix, News

This article looks at how a Connecticut journalist used the online nuisance reporting tool SeeClickFix to get locals involved in his newspaper's newsgathering and storytelling.

January 8, 2010 - The New York Times

Arizona Eyes a Nuclear Future

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has come out as a strong proponent of bringing nuclear power back into the state's energy fold.

January 7, 2010 - The Arizona Republic

Initiative Launched To Protect CA Transportation Funds

CA's chronic budget deficit has taken its toll on transportation funding, be it public transit operations or fixing potholes. An initiative has been launched to prevent diversion of transportation funds just as the Gov. proposed another scheme.

January 6, 2010 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Texas to Study Per-Mile Gas Tax

Transportation officials in Texas are recommending a fresh look at the prospect of taxing the state's drivers by the mile.

January 6, 2010 - The Houston Chronicle

NASA Says Agriculture Is Draining Groundwater in California

NASA satellite imagery reveals that two of California's main groundwater sources are being rapidly depleted by agriculture and exurban development.

January 6, 2010 - The Christian Science Monitor

Federal Foreclosure Prevention Plan Shows Underwhelming Numbers

A federal plan aimed at helping 3 to 4 million homeowners on the verge of foreclosure has fallen far short of expectations, enabling only about 31,000 loan modifications.

January 6, 2010 - The Washington Independent

Embattled Cape Cod Wind Farm Hits Spiritual Speedbump

After lobbying from two Native American tribes, the Nantucket Sound has been made eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, creating a possible further delay of a proposed wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod.

January 6, 2010 - The New York Times

African 'Statue of Liberty' Angers Senegalese

A new monumental statue being built in the Senegalese capital of Dakar is seen by some as an African Statue of Liberty or Eiffel Tower. But for many of the nation's poor, it is a waste of money and an abuse of presidential power.

January 5, 2010 - NPR

Residents Upset About New FEMA Flood Maps

Flood maps redrawn by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are causing thousands of Southern California residents to buy mandatory flood insurance, even though they say flooding is rare and barely an issue.

January 5, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Editorial Urges NYC Reattempt Congestion Pricing

Mayor Bloomberg has joined an elite group of NYC members serving three terms. In this editorial, the Times suggests key planning and environmental issues that he should address if he is to make that term successful.

January 5, 2010 - The New York Times - Opinion

French Carbon Tax Dead

France's highest court dealt an 'unexpected and embarrassing blow' to French President Nicolas Sarkozy by ruling his carbon tax, set to take effect on New Year's, unconstitutional on Dec. 30.

January 4, 2010 - The Guardian U.K.

New London's Big Gamble and Big Loss

New London, Connecticut was dealt a major blow when pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced plans to pack up and leave the heavily city-subsidized building New London had lured the company with. Bill Fulton looks at the impact of the move.

January 4, 2010 - Governing

Urban Planning in Los Angeles, 2009

Curbed LA takes an amusing look at the urban planning proposals that bubbled up in L.A. throughout 2009.

January 3, 2010 - Curbed LA

Pushing Public-Private Partnerships in San Francisco Parks

Parks officials in San Francisco look to mimic New York City's approach to funding parks through public-private partnerships.

January 2, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bureaucratic Structures and the Collapse of Modern Society

Triple Canopy interviews architectural historian Kazys Varnelis about the importance of city data, the difficulty of building new infrastructure and how best to react to a stiflingly complex society.

January 1, 2010 - Triple Canopy

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.