Government / Politics
Oregon's Property Rights Debate Offers Lessons to Nation
Oregon's property rights issues should serve as a cautionary tale for the rest of the country, according to this article from Metropolis.
Affordable Housing Bill May Hurt Affordable Housing In Vermont
A bill intended to expand the stock of affordable housing in Middlebury, Vermont, is coming under criticism for actually making it harder for developers to build affordable housing.
New York's Congestion Pricing Plan Enters Final Stretch
Officials in New York are pleading their case for a congestion pricing plan before city councilors as the April 7 deadline for approval approaches.
Planning in Venezuela's Communal Councils
This article from Progressive Planning looks at the communal councils being set up in Venezuela and the progress they have made in local planning efforts.
Review Halted for Major L.A. Housing Project
Review of a project that would have added more than 5,500 homes to the fringes of Los Angeles has been halted after a recent City Council vote. Many expect this to be the death knell for the project.
San Francisco's Little-Known Public Spaces
A policy requiring new commercial developments to include public spaces has created more than a dozen new public places in downtown San Francisco since the 1980s. Some say more effort is needed to make these public places known by the public.
Who's Ready for Peak Oil?
Report ranks largest 50 US cities by their readiness for $4+ a gallon gas and $100+ a barrel oil prices
Locals Apprehensively Excited About Sydney's Big Transit Plans
A recently announced $12.5 billion metropolitan rail system plan for Sydney has many in the region excited about finally getting a good mass transit system. But they are also wary, as many other proposals promising similar services were never kept.
Ballot Measure to Weigh Eminent Domain in California
Two ballot measures on the June ballot in California will challenge the state's eminent domain and rent control rules.
Viewing L.A.'s Density Debate From the Passenger's Seat
A Los Angeles Times columnist hears about the Los Angeles density controversy and sees its implications during a recent drive around town with County Commissioner Zev Yaroslavsky.
Army Corps of Dysfunction
Dysfunctional and wasteful practices have defined the army Corps of Engineers for years. Despite being caught in the act many times, the Corps continues to propose and push forward unnecessary projects, according to this article.
Long Beach Cruisers
The city of Long Beach, California, has initiated a bike sharing program for city officials. The program consists of 16 shared bikes, usable by city employees for short trips and errands around the city.
'Make My Day' Meets 'Hasta La Vista'
In a classic Hollywood showdown that could only happen in California politics, Gov. Schwarzenegger axed actor-director-former Carmel, CA mayor Clint Eastwood from the Parks Commission at the expiration of his term after his 'no-vote' on a toll road.
Comprehensive Tolling Idea Meet Criticism in D.C.
A proposal to place tolls on many of the highways around Washington D.C. is being blasted by critics, who say planners should place more emphasis on providing better transit services than charging commuters left with few options.
Congestion Pricing Approved for Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge District, in agreeing to apply congestion pricing to the bridge, has saved the $158 million Urban Partnership grant for the Bay Area in the nick of time, but has created turmoil with S.F because of where the revenue goes.
Planning System Revamp May Speed Development in Santa Cruz
Bureaucratic red tape has slowed the development process for years in Santa Cruz, California. Now proposed changes look to speed up the process, but critics say the changes could open the door to under-controlled development.
Public Art Prompts Protests as Phoenix Faces Tight Budget
Phoenix's public art program is widely touted as one of the best in the country. But a proposed floating sculpture has elicited criticism from an otherwise uninvolved public, mainly due to the fact that the city is facing a large budget deficit.
Philadelphia Affordable Housing Organization Alleges HUD Vendetta
Officials in D.C. have sought to punish Philadelphia's Housing Director for not selling a vacant property to a friend of the HUD Secretary. The city was then found in violation of rules, and could now lose $50 million in housing funds.
Taking Another 'Big Look' at Oregon's Planning System
A state task force looking at improving the Oregon state land use and planning system is going back to work.
D.C. Plans Crackdown on Abusive Landlords and Condo Conversions
City councilors in Washington D.C. have proposed a plan to throw out exemptions that allowed hundreds of landlords to evict residents with little or no notice so they could convert buildings to high priced condos.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
