Government / Politics

Inside New York's Congestion Pricing Plan

In this four-part interview, Streetsblog's Aaron Naparstek talks with New York City's Director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability about the city's congestion pricing aspirations.

September 20, 2007 - Streetsblog

Castro's Brother Pushes Quality Of Life In Cuba

While the ailing Fidel Castro remains behind the scenes in Cuba's governing, his brother Raúl has earned popular praise for putting various quality-of-life projects on the fast track.

September 19, 2007 - CNN

Leadership Lacking As Coastal Erosion Spurs Community Relocation

Global warming is exacerbating the erosion of the Alaskan coastline, but no agency has taken the lead in addressing the issues of land depletion and community relocation. One village's struggles may set the rule for future relocations.

September 19, 2007 - Anchorage Daily News

Former Capital Seeks To Regain Title

Residents in the Bolivian city of Sucre are mounting an effort to have their city regain its status as the country's capital -- a designation is lost in 1899. But the costs of transferring the political infrastructure from La Paz would be immense.

September 18, 2007 - International Herald Tribune

Progress Slow For San Diego's 'City of Villages' Plan

The city's lauded framework plan for implementing smart growth practices has failed to deliver on its promises, say some residents and experts.

September 18, 2007 - Voice of San Diego

A Power Grab For San Diego Planners?

A proposal to combine the planning and development services departments could give San Diego's planning director the power to plan for the long-term -- or perhaps lead to more political scandal.

September 18, 2007 - San Diego Union Tribune

D.C. Mayor's Public-Private Partnership Criticized

A plan by city officials to trade public land to a developer in exchange for a new firehouse and library is under fire from residents and activists who believe the deal shortchanges the city.

September 17, 2007 - Christian Madera

A 'False Choice' For Boston's Back Bay

Planned construction on Storrow Drive yields a lose-lose situation for Boston's Back Bay neighborhood residents.

September 16, 2007 - The Boston Globe

The Politics Of Public Art

One Florida towns desire to promote works of art in public spaces demonstrates the challenges when government (and taxpayer dollars) get involved with art.

September 15, 2007 - The Orlando Sentinel

Outsourcing Pollution: The Dirty Side Of Clean Alternatives

Physicist and renowned environmental leader, Vandana Shiva, talks about globalization, emissions trading, and environmental justice.

September 14, 2007 - Democracy Now!

San Francisco Buses May Nab Double-Parkers

Motorists beware - if you double-park in a transit-only lane in San Francisco next year, that bus behind you could take your photo resulting in a $250 citation, if AB 101 is signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

September 14, 2007 - The Examiner

Senate Blocks Toll Road Conversions In Texas

The U.S. Senate recently approved a bill that prohibits the state of Texas from converting any of its existing highways into toll roads for at least one year.

September 13, 2007 - The Houston Chronicle

'Major Disconnects' Cited in Federal Disaster Planning

New federal guidelines for disaster planning are being panned by state and local officials, citing a poorly-defined chain of command and unnecessary duplication.

September 13, 2007 - The Washington Post

Late-Session Bill May Make L.A. Entertainment Complex Eligible For Housing Funds

A controversial bill approved at the end of the California State Senate's regular session may allow developers of a massive entertainment development in downtown Los Angeles to compete for millions of dollars in affordable housing funds.

September 13, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Ban On Truck Parking Ruled Unconstitutional In Florida

The city of Coral Gables, Florida, has tight regulations that keep its neighborhoods and homes beautiful. But a regulation that forbade residents from parking pickup truck on streets and in driveways at night has been ruled unconstitutional.

September 10, 2007 - The New York Times

Alaskan Community Considers Property Value Compensation Measure

A measure on the Alaskan ballot this October could require a local government to compensate landowners if new land use regulations hurt property values -- a measure similar to Oregon's controversial Measure 37 that is meeting similar resistance.

September 10, 2007 - Anchorage Daily News

Subdivision Residents Hoping For Permission To Pay For Road Maintenance

With little money available in county coffers, residents in an Indiana subdivision are hoping to create a special assessment district that will allow them to personally pay for road maintenance.

September 10, 2007 - The Detroit News

Billboard Ban Will Hurt Small Business

This column criticizes the recently-passed Kansas City ordinance that restricts billboard advertising within the city, claiming it will disproportionately harm local small businesses that are already having trouble getting noticed.

September 9, 2007 - The Kansas City Star

Controversial Legislation Tackles Land Use, Transportation, Regional Planning, & Global Warming

In what is arguably the most important environmental bill in California since last year's Global Warming Solutions Act, SB 375 attempts to reduce global warming by addressing land use and transportation through better regional planning.

September 8, 2007 - The Sacramento Bee

The Formula To Guarantee Your Project's Approval

For those developers and planners frustrated by not being able to push projects past local opposition, writer Garret Keizer offers his formula for getting nearly any project approved.

September 8, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

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.