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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pagination
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)