Government / Politics
Canada's Cities Facing Fiscal Crisis
A new report from the Conference Board of Canada says that Canada's cities are neglected and disempowered, and need more taxing power of their own and more direct investments from other levels of government.
Georgia Lawmakers Look To Block Rail Line
In an effort to stop the creation of a 26-mile commuter rail line connecting Atlanta to numerous suburbs, Georgia lawmakers are hoping to pass a bill requiring voters in each city and county along the proposed line to individually approve funding.
Shortage Of Planners In Iraq Reconstruction Efforts
The U.S. State Department is having trouble filling positions in reconstruction teams in Iraq. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says there is a shortage of city planners and engineers on the ground in Iraq, and getting more may be difficult.
Will Commuter Rail Happen In Southeast Michigan?
In order to alleviate congestion and auto-dependency, mass transportation proponents are working diligently to develop southeast Michigan's first commuter rail line.
How To Build Support For Sustainable Planning And Development
Liberal Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has been successfully building support for smart growth during his seven years at the helm of this conservative city. Grist sits down with the Mayor to learn the secret of his success.
GOP Strategist Outlines Communication Failures Of Environmentalists
In this interview from Grist, GOP strategist Frank Luntz discusses why environmentalists fail to get their message across to their opponents.
Many Factors Delay Disbursement Of Gulf Recovery Funds
This report from NPR looks at the many factors that are delaying the disbursement of recovery and housing funds to hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast region.
Rebuilding America's Cities
It's not just New Orleans: cities across America need help. What's needed is the political will to do it.
California's Golden Opportunity To Reshape Growth
With $40 billion dollars of bond money for transportation, housing and parks at his disposal, Governor Schwarzenegger could reshape the state's growth patterns and make good on his promises to reduce greenhouse gases, argues William Fulton.
Homeless Housing Subsidy Program Under Fire In New York
A housing rights advocacy group in New York has released a report accusing the city of placing homeless people into substandard housing as part of a rent-subsidy program.
Market-Based Incentives To Cut Greenhouse Gases
Garrett Gruener and Daniel M. Kammen propose letting individual taxpayers decide how to curb global warming.
A 'Climate Change' On Capitol Hill
Politicians are "scrambling" to keep up with public opinion about climate change. Bipartisan efforts to curb global warming are gaining momentum.
Scientists Say White House Misled Public On Climate Change
Hundreds of government scientists accuse the Bush administration of interfering with their work and misrepresenting their findings about climate change.
Amid Abuse, Maryland May Ban 'Ground Rents'
A bill is being pushed forward in Maryland that would ban all new "ground rents" -- a housing ownership situation in which one owner owns a house and another owns the land beneath the house. Some say the system is being used in a "predatory" way.
Original Measure 37 Case May Reach Settlement
The land rights battle that spurred the passage of Oregon's Measure 37 may come to an end, with a county-approved expedited process that would divide 22-acres of land into 8 lots.
California High Speed Rail On Life Support
California's governor supports infrastructure funding and fights global warming, but he has no love for high speed rail. His proposed budget may kill a high speed rail agency, and he wants a $9.95 billion rail bond removed from the 2008 ballot.
Squaring the Eminent Domain Circle
Writing in Land Lines, Professors Amnon Lehavi and Amir N. Licht offer a new conceptual approach to land assembly problems that attempts to circumvent the problems that arise in using eminent domain for private development.
Nagin Tells Senate He Doesn't See Federal Will To Rebuild
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin testified to a Senate committee recently that a lack of local control over federal funding is severely limiting the Gulf Coast recovery. He says he doesn't see the federal government's will to rebuild New Orleans.
Changing Laws To Help Orlando's Homeless
A city ordinance in Orlando, Florida, does not allow social service groups that help the city's homeless population to expand or renovate their facilities, out of fear that development will be hindered. Many groups are looking to change this law.
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
