Government / Politics
Awaiting the Mutant Storm(s)
Coronavirus infection, hospitalizations and most recently, deaths, are declining, but public health experts warn that more transmissible variant strains of the coronavirus threaten to overwhelm hospitals in the next few months.
Thank Indigenous Activists for the Keystone XL Pipeline's Demise
President Biden's executive order may put the final nail in the coffin of the controversial pipeline project, but it was unwavering local activists who kept the pressure on for a decade.
In Unprecedented Times, Nothing Less Than Universal Rent Relief Will Do
An intimate look at what it’s like fighting for meaningful state-level rent relief when the powers that be don’t believe everyone is worth saving.
Notes on the Buttigieg Confirmation Hearing
Takeaways from last week's Senate confirmation hearing for the nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.
CDC's New Face Mask Requirement on Transit Takes Effect Tuesday
Travelers will be required to properly wear a face mask when riding all forms of public transportation, e.g., ride-share, bus, train, ferry, or plane. The rule applies to transportation hubs and boarding platforms. Not just any face-covering will do.
How Democrats Can Fix the Affordable Housing Crisis
With Democrats taking back the Senate, can the Biden administration go beyond immediate-term rent relief to win more ambitious housing solutions?
The Impacts of Zoning Laws in Montgomery County
Historic zoning decisions have left a lasting legacy of housing inequality. Current leaders have the opportunity to change that.
Biden Administration Rules Out Gas Tax Hike
Shortly after Transportation secretary-nominee Pete Buttigieg told a Senate committee that all options were on the table to pay for federal transportation investment, a spokesperson ruled out a gas tax hike.
Planning Trends to Watch in 2021
The nation is now tasked with the challenge of changing course in the middle of multiple, global crises. The necessity of finding a way to overcome the failures of the past and lay the groundwork for a new kind of future has never been more clear.
State Preemption Hitting Home for California Cities
Recently approved laws that force cities to take a more proactive approach to the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment process are beginning to take effect in California.
Vancouver Might Allow Non-Profit Housing to Skip Rezoning Application
Vancouver is considering eliminating a rezoning application, which could save non-profit developers up to two years in the city's approvals process.
Opinion: Public Housing Won't Solve the Affordability Crisis
Seeking repeal of the Faircloth Amendment could be a needless distraction in the new administration's efforts to create more affordable housing, according to an article by Jenny Schuetz for the Brookings Intitution.
Outdoor Dining and Indoor Haircuts Return to California
With COVID infections plummeting, Gov. Gavin Newsom surprisingly lifted California's regional stay home order that had imposed the nation's strictest personal and business restrictions during the most deadly phase of the pandemic.
Detroit's Unique Climate Challenges
As climate change intensifies, Detroit could see more devastating floods and deadlier heat waves.
Biden: Masks, Not Vaccines, Are Best Defense in Near Term
President Joe Biden is calling on all Americans to wear masks for the next 100 days to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, issuing two executive orders that require wearing masks on federal property and in domestic and international travel.
Elon Musk Wants to Dig Tunnels in America's 'Sinkhole Capital'
Musk claims the tunnels could ease traffic and "be an example to the world," but experts caution that underground work in Miami is expensive and unpredictable.
Lawsuit Targets Granny Flat Law Compliance in California
A real estate group claims the city has been denying and delaying ADU permits in violation of city and state laws.
An American Lockdown
Words matter. Road safety advocates know that "crashes are not accidents." Similarly, calling coronavirus restrictions "lockdowns," fails to distinguish the severity among public health orders. On January 6, America experienced a true lockdown.
North Dakota's Mask Mandate Expires as Infections Plummet
North Dakota led the nation in COVID cases for months before Gov. Doug Burgum issued a mask mandate last November. Since then, active cases have dropped by 80 percent. The mandate was extended last month but was allowed to expire on Jan. 18.
Friday Funny: Bernie's Latest Meme, Anywhere and Everywhere
Next to the words of Inauguration poet Amanda Gorman, the most lasting impression from Inauguration Day might be an image of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
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
