Government / Politics
Vancouver To Atlanta: 'Congestion Is Our Friend'
In their annual trip to cities that work better than theirs does, Atlanta leaders visit Vancouver to see first-hand the benefits of density, transit and regional planning.
Climate Protection & Land Use: California Begins To Address The Connection
Land use is finally being addressed in California as an intrinsic part of the state's global warming reduction strategy, thanks to passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act and a recent lawsuit by the attorney general against a sprawling county.
Sending Toronto's Mayor To The Chicago School
Toronto, Canada's largest city, could learn a lot by looking at Chicago, writes Margaret Wente.
Carbon Tax Vs. Carbon Trading
L.A. Times editorial compares carbon taxes and carbon trading schemes and argues that carbon taxes are the best way to combat global warming.
Berkeley's Green Blueprint
Strict guidelines have been proposed in Berkeley, California, that would require local residents and businesses to make broad energy efficiency improvements and to make other environmentally-conscious lifestyle changes.
Should A Katrina Memorial Be Built?
The Unified New Orleans Plan calls for a $3.5 million monument to pay tribute to the victims of Katrina and the celebrate the city's rebuilding -- but some are wondering if such a project should be a priority, or is even a good idea.
England Moves Forward On Pay-As-You-Drive Program
The British government has approved rules that lay the foundation for pay-as-you-go road pricing pilot programs. Critics worry the rules preface national control over the controversial systems.
Stagnant Federal Gas Tax Lies At Heart Of Transportation Funding Crisis
Congress' reluctance to raise the gas tax, as well as the President's refusal to approve an increase, lies at the heart of the transportation funding crisis, affecting both roads and transit.
Major Planning System Reorganization Proposed In England
Officials in England propose a massive reorganization of the country's planning system, including the creation of an independent commission that would be charged with approving major infrastructure projects.
Is Chicago Serious About Ending Homelessness?
With little progress having been made on Mayor Richard Daley's campaign pledge to end homelessness by 2012, some are wondering if the promise is just a pipe dream, or worse, a political stunt.
Funding Transit With Proceeds From Road Privatization
A proposed long-term lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike could provide close to $1.7 billion a year -- funding the state's transit and road needs without the need for additional taxes.
Fairfax County Moves To Limit Big-Box Retail
Fairfax County Supervisors have approved a new measure to restrict the development of stores larger than 80,000 square feet, against the protests of the business community.
George Monbiot: 'The Great Moral Issue Of The 21st Century'
British journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot talks about global warming, car fuel economy, electric vehicles, manipulation of science, biofuels, the "Axis of Evil" on climate change, and "the great moral issue" of our time.
The Politics of Urban Poverty
The divide between extreme wealth and poverty in America's cities is growing starker, at the same time it is becoming more politically invisible, writes Bob Herbert.
The Fight Against Billboard Pollution
Are billboard companies exploiting public roadways?
Cities Draft Laws To Limit McMansions
Local municipalities are drafting laws to crack down on McMansions by imposing strict building restrictions, a move that has sparked controversy between officials and homebuilders.
Following Curitiba's Footsteps
Jaime Lerner's bold actions helped convince Curitiba's residents to adopt change and created a model for the world to follow -- even as the city faces new challenges to its much lauded transit and waste collection programs.
Cleveland Struggles To Turn Talk Into Action On Regionalism
Following up on a series from three years ago, the Cleveland Plain Dealer finds that much hopeful talk on the benefits of regional cooperation have yet to translate into actual reform.
Are Cities The Key To Success In The 21st Century?
Bruce Katz of The Brookings Institution argues that the health and vitality of cities will determine which nations will prosper in this century -- which he has dubbed the 'Urban Age'.
Does Density Make You A Democrat?
A recent blog post discusses the correlation between urban form and political leanings.
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.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
