Government / Politics

Embracing Congestion May Save County Money

Facing a transportation funding shortage, a county supervisor in Washington has proposed letting some roadways get more crowded and congested to save the money that would have been spent to improve them -- money the county doesn't have.

July 9, 2007 - The Columbian

Power To The People

The British government is working on the details of a pilot program that will create small neighborhood councils that would control public money and make decisions on various infrastructure and civic projects.

July 9, 2007 - BBC

Ex-Official Says Seattle Stopped Listening

Seattle's public participation process has served as an example for cities across the globe, but the former city official who was instrumental in creating that reputation says the city's current leadership has moved away from that model.

July 9, 2007 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

From Parking To Parks

The city of Chicago has leased four parking garages to generate more than $122 million for improvements to the city's parks.

July 7, 2007 - The Chicago Tribune

Friday Funny: Babysteps To Global Domination

New mapping has revealed that part of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is actually intruding on Mexican land, usurping between 1 and 6 feet of Mexican soil for more than a mile. The U.S. insists it was a mistake, but Mexico wants its land back.

July 6, 2007 - Associated Press

An Endangered Act

The bald eagle has made a heartening recovery from the brink of extinction. But hundreds of other species are now in grave danger due to slashed budgets, Bush administration policies, and political interference in science.

July 6, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

The New Orleans Conspiracy

NOLA human rights lawyer Bill Quigley outlines what he believes were thirty-three deliberate actions on the part of the federal government to undermine recovery in New Orleans.

July 5, 2007 - Truthout

New Noise Code For The City That Never Sleeps

New York City has approved tighter regulations on noise in the city, an effort officials hope will improve the quality of life for residents in the notoriously noisy city.

July 4, 2007 - NPR

Bogotá vs Curitiba

UCLA Professor Randall Crane blogs about his observations on the differences between Curitiba, Brazil and Bogotá, Colombia.

July 3, 2007 - Urban Planning Research

Five Questions With Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk discusses Miami 21, the City of Miami's effort to rezone the entire city using the principles of the new urbanism.

July 3, 2007 - The Miami Herald

How Cheney Undercut Environmental Rules To Benefit Businesses

How the vice president intervened on behalf of businesses in cases such as the Klamath River dispute, the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, Clinton-era land protection measures, and the resignation of former EPA chief Christine Todd Whitman.

July 2, 2007 - The Washington Post

Closing The 'Hummer Tax Loophole'

Members of Congress seek to close a loophole that enabled those buy gas-guzzling SUVs to claim a tax deduction of up to $25,000. Auto makers and dealers oppose the idea calling it a "tax increase".

July 2, 2007 - ABC News

Mayors' Influence Going Beyond City Limits

Mayors are becoming more active -- and more visible -- beyond their jurisdictions. This article looks at how the role of the mayor is changing.

July 2, 2007 - The Economist

Minneapolis Neighborhoods Wrestle With Mansionization

Several neighborhoods in the southwestern corner of the city are hoping that the city will clamp down on monster homes, but builders and Realtors aren't going down without a fight.

July 1, 2007 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

State Will Use Traffic Fines To Fuel Road Projects

As of July 1, Virginia drivers have lots to fear if they break traffic laws –- huge traffic fines, so as to help pay for the roads they drive on.

June 30, 2007 - USA Today

Man Recieves First 'Mississippi Cottage'

David Biggs, a lifelong resident of Moss Point, Mississippi, is overjoyed with his new modular cottage, a marked improvement over FEMA trailers.

June 29, 2007 - Mississippi Press

Public Transit, Private Parking

High demand for parking spaces at a transit station has prompted one city to consider banning residents of other cities from using the parking lot.

June 28, 2007 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

Worries Over UGB-Splitting Bill And The Onslaught Of Sprawl

A powerful home builders lobby in Oregon helped push a bill through the state legislature that some say threatens the urban growth boundary for the city of Eugene, and essentially opens the flood gates for sprawl in the area.

June 25, 2007 - Eugene Weekly

Washington Needed After All?

Much has been made recently about how U.S. municipal and state governments aren't waiting for the federal government to act on climate change. Now it appears that these efforts can't succeed without Washington.

June 25, 2007 - The Globe & Mail

High Bottled Water Spending Prompts City Ban

Amid revelations that San Francisco City government had been spending almost half a million dollars a year on bottled water, the mayor has instituted a ban that would require all government water use to come straight from the tap.

June 25, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.