Government / Politics
Los Angeles Extends Outdoor Dining Program for Up to Three Years
An emergency ordinance signed by the city's mayor will allow restaurants to keep outdoor dining facilities built during the pandemic for at least one more year.
The Link Between COVID-19 Deaths and Overcrowded Housing
Overcrowding and housing insecurity among Black and Brown communities led to disproportionately high COVID-19 fatalities, research shows.
America's Expensive Infrastructure
The cost of building roads and transit projects has skyrocketed in the last 50 years, but the reasons behind the rise are complex.
New Data from Israel Brings Good and Bad News on Pfizer Vaccine Effectiveness
A spike in coronavirus cases, driven by the Delta variant in one of the world's most vaccinated countries, has resulted in the return of the indoor masking mandate dropped just ten days earlier.
Los Angeles County First to Recommend Resumption of Indoor Masking
Due to the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant, Los Angeles County's masking guidance goes beyond what the CDC and the state health department recommend for those who are fully vaccinated. St. Louis has joined them.
Harris County Will Use Toll Road Revenue to Pay for Flood Control
A new Flood Resilience Trust will create a permanent source of funding for flood control purposes, but the county still faces a shortfall for planned projects.
Small Cities Struggling to Pay for Infrastructure Projects
Towns with shrinking or stagnant tax bases can't keep up with the costs of aging infrastructure without state and federal support.
'Open Streets' Have an Accessibility Problem
The rush to utilize sidewalk space for outdoor seating and parklets has created new obstacles for people with disabilities.
HUD Secretary: Administration Must Restore Depleted Staff
To take on President Biden's ambitious housing goals, the agency needs to restore the staff lost during the Trump era.
Long Beach Gated Community Must Provide Public Access
The development never fulfilled its mandate to build a public walkway through its property. Now, the Coastal Commission wants it to open its gates.
Rescue Plan has Billions Available for Housing, Advocates Urge Officials to Take It
With relatively few strings attached to the $350 billion in funds states and municipalities will receive, the door is wide open for governments to make a dent in their housing needs. But will they?
White House: Clean Up on Aisle Infrastructure
President Biden attempted to clean up the confusion he created shortly after he endorsed the Senate bipartisan infrastructure plan last week by linking it to the passage of his American Families Plan. On Tuesday, he promoted the plan in Wisconsin.
Water, Affordable Housing on a Collision Course in California
Marin County, the wealthy county in the North Bay Area with a history of exclusionary land use and transportation practices, is using the shortage of water to justify blocking the development of an affordable housing project.
Op-Ed: Los Angeles Needs a Countywide Affordable Housing Agency
A bill in the California state legislature would create an agency dedicated to coordinating the production and preservation of affordable housing across the county's 88 cities.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Compromise Includes Cuts to Transit and 'Human Infrastructure'
An agreement laid out last week by the White House and Republican lawmakers makes dramatic cuts to funding for public transit, rail, and "human infrastructure" projects while leaving highway funding almost intact.
Coronavirus Litigation: Students Sue University's Mandatory Vaccination Policy
Eight college students have filed a lawsuit on June 21 against Indiana University's requirement that students, staff and faculty be vaccinated against COVID-19. The state attorney general supports the students.
Pittsburgh Launches Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
The plan lays out strategies for improving pedestrian infrastructure and eliminating traffic deaths.
Biden on Senate Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan: 'We Have a Deal'
The plan, initially proposed by five Democratic and five Republican senators, calls for $1.2 billion in spending over 8 years. Biden wants to see a much larger plan in a second bill, which could potentially sink the package.
Biden Administration Seeks More Protection for Wetlands
In a reversal from Trump-era policy, the Biden administration wants to reinstate protections that prevent the contamination of streams and waterways.
Boise Aims to Go Carbon-Neutral by 2050, Adopts New Climate Plan
City leaders expressed enthusiastic support for the Climate Action Roadmap, a detailed plan for reducing carbon emissions, protecting the environment, and meeting other climate goals.
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.
Tyler Technologies
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
