Government / Politics

Affluent Community Torn By Housing Allocation Numbers

In Palo Alto, California, -- one of the country's most affluent and least affordable cities -- the City Council and residents are now wrestling with a regional housing allocation assigned by the Association of Bay Area Governments.

October 17, 2007 - Palo Alto Daily News

UK To Ditch Road-Pricing Plans

Plans to roll out a nationwide road-pricing system in the UK may be dropped.

October 17, 2007 - The Guardian

Congress To Look At Chicago's Olympic Bid And Transit Needs

At a time when funding is a major concern, a congressional hearing later this month will look at the transportation needs of Chicago as it tries to win hosting duties for the 2016 Olympics.

October 17, 2007 - The Chicago Tribune

Desperate Times As Drought Diminishes Supplies

The most severe drought in the last 100 years has states and municipalities scrambling to conserve what little water they have left.

October 16, 2007 - The New York Times

Bigger Homes May Lose Out On Mortgage Interest Deduction

A proposed graduated scale based on the size of homes would chop away at the federal tax deductions for mortgage interest that property owners are allowed to claim. The cutback would affect all homes larger than 3,000 square feet.

October 16, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

European Cities Move On Climate Change

Cities in Europe are not letting the lack of an international compact on climate change stop them from taking efforts to reduce their impact on the planet.

October 16, 2007 - ABC

Miami's Botched Foreign Trade Zone Development

What could have been an economic development homerun for Miami's Wynwood neighborhood has turned out to be a miserable failure. Nonetheless, hope remains that new ownership can restore the site's promising potential.

October 15, 2007 - The Miami Herald

Garbage Strike Creating 'Smugglers' In Vancouver

A strike in the city of Vancouver that has left residents without garbage collection for nearly three months has caused people to get creative -- and a little sneaky -- in how they get rid of their trash.

October 15, 2007 - The Vancouver Sun

Bike-Friendly Portland Seeks Citywide Rental System

Portland, Oregon, looks to follow the lead of Paris in instituting a bike rental system throughout the city. Bids are requested for a pilot fleet of 500 bikes.

October 15, 2007 - The Portland Tribune

To Military Planners, 'Cities are the Problem'

Nick Turse reports on the recent "Joint Urban Operations" conference, where participants discussed the highly advanced military technologies being contemplated for use in the slums of the global south.

October 12, 2007 - Tom Dispatch

Thirsty For A 'Green' Lifestyle? Drink Tap Water

A recent survey show that tap water outperforms bottled water, which bodes well for cities and citizens concerned about the environmental impacts of the billion dollar bottled water industry.

October 12, 2007 - The Miami Herald

Local Measures Downsize McMansions

Cities across the country are passing measures to limit the size of new homes -- an attack on the much-derided "McMansionization" of America. Restrictions range from outright bans to innovative cap-and-trade schemes.

October 12, 2007 - Architectural Record

L.A. OKs Sidewalk Sleeping

City officials in Los Angeles have come to a settlement with homeless advocates that will allow anyone to sleep on the sidewalk until the city builds 1,250 affordable housing units, which could take up to five years.

October 12, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Affordable Housing Bill May Face Veto

A Bill advocating the formation of an affordable housing trust fund will likely be vetoed by the Bush White House, which believes the program is unnecessary.

October 11, 2007 - Reuters

Toll Roads Struggle To Gain Political Consensus

Pressure is building to come to a decision about whether or not to toll roads in Massachusetts. But many politicians are opposed.

October 9, 2007 - The Boston Globe

Will New York Force Homeowners To Plant A Tree?

To help reach its goal of planting 1 million new trees by 2030, the city is contemplating a new rule that would force homeowners and developers to plant new street trees when buildings are remodeled.

October 8, 2007 - The New York Sun

Measuring The Impact Of Maryland's Smart Growth Plans

Though former governor Parris Glendening is often seen as the father of smart growth, studies indicate that even with the state's efforts, little progress has been towards reigning in sprawl.

October 8, 2007 - The Baltimore Sun

Planning Skakeup In Salt Lake City

Responding to pressure from neighborhood residents and a poor grade from a government audit, the city's planning department will be reorganized to ensure proper procedures are followed.

October 7, 2007 - The Salt Lake Tribune

San Francisco Bay Area Ponders Gas Tax Hike

With concerns about global warming at an all time high, the region's policy makers think the time is right for a 10 cent gas fee.

October 7, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Taking The 'Public' Out Of The Public Library

The public library system in Jackson County, Oregon, is part of a growing trend: outsourcing and privatizing public services.

October 6, 2007 - The Kansas City Star

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