Government / Politics

Legislature Set To Challenge Schwarzenegger On Global Warming

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is hoping for a major accomplishment on global warming, while the Democratic legislature is ready to challenge him by passing a tougher bill than the he currently advocates.

April 12, 2006 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Is Annexation 'Smart Growth'?

Cities call annexation an effective tool for managing growth at the local level. Counties disagree. Who's really in control?

April 9, 2006 - The Baltimore Sun

Anaheim, CA's 'Anti-Kelo' Approach

Anaheim, California, serves up an alternative to Kelo in the form of promoting competition, loosening business restrictions and lowering taxes, writes Steven Greenhut.

April 7, 2006 - The Wall Street Journal

California's Economic Development Support MIA

Since the state dismantled its economic development agency, its piecemeal efforts compare poorly to other states' coordinated strategies, as shown in the state's poor showing at the biotech industry's largest trade show.

April 6, 2006 - San Francisco Business Times

Nagin Reneges On FEMA Trailer Park Site

Just months after approving the FEMA trailer site, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has riled federal officials by halting all construction in the Algiers neighborhood.

April 6, 2006 - The Boston Globe

India Approves National Urban Transport Policy

The policy features sustainable development and public transit.

April 6, 2006 - Business Line

Can Community Networks Save Lives?

In the event of a flu pandemic, the federal government will be largely unavailable to cities across the country. Municipalities should prepare for a long disruption, relying on schools, churches and other social networks to develop response plans.

April 6, 2006 - The Sacramento Bee

Small Cities' Tax Systems Kowtow To Developers

Through reliance on tax revenue and tax increment financing (TIF) projects, small cities must attract developers to sustain themselves, according to this op-ed.

April 5, 2006 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Sprint, Fire Officials Team Up For Cell Tower

Despite protests from the local community, the unusual alliance and 130-foot tower will benefit both cell phone users and emergency officials looking for fewer dropped calls.

April 5, 2006 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Yosemite, Sponsored By Target?

Controversy erupts over a plan to let corporate donors display their names and logos at attractions like Yosemite.

April 4, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

How Congress Is Subsidizing Big Oil

Lobbyists helped the oil industry secure billions in subsidies from the U.S. Congress for oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

April 3, 2006 - Democracy Now

FEMA Trailer Backlash Continues

In one of the few areas in New Orleans that was not ravaged by Hurricane Katrina flooding, neighborhood residents gathered to protest against the recent placement of a FEMA trailer park.

April 3, 2006 - The Times-Picayune

Indian Planning Terminology 'A Mess'

New Delhi architect Sudhir Vohra outlines problematic and antiquated municipal land use laws in India.

April 2, 2006 - Express Estates

The Price Of Parking On Great Streets

March 29, 2006 - Donald C. Shoup, FAICP

Do Street Names Matter?

Chicago has erupted in controversy over the potential naming of a street after a Black Panther; what have street names meant to different people in different cities?

March 29, 2006 - The Chicago Tribune

The First Homeless Mayor?

Mayor Mackie Choice of the I-45 overpass homeless city in Dallas has a few choice words for Dallas Mayor Laura Miller and her plan to end homelessness as soon as possible.

March 28, 2006 - The Dallas Observer

Is New Orleans Being 'Killed'?

Official neglect, prejudice, cronyism and political inertia are crippling reconstruction efforts in the Gulf states, writes Mike Davis.

March 26, 2006 - The Nation

China Attempts To Reduce Population, Consumption

First there was the "one-child" rule. Now China attempts to do to consumption what it did to population growth -- stem it, in this case by raising the "consumption tax".

March 25, 2006 - BBC News

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.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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.