Government / Politics

More Transit Agencies Propose Cuts; Congress Finally Takes Notice
The stakes in the economic stimulus package under consideration on Capitol Hill this week are incredibly high.

We Are (Sort of) Less Polarized Than in 2016
After moving toward Democrats for decades, central cities moved toward Republicans in 2020.

82 Votes: The Difference in a Local Election of Direct Relevance to Questions of Planning
One candidate is seen as combative to developers during a housing crisis, and the other is a real estate agent. The race to lead a section of Reno that includes the city's oldest, most historic neighborhoods came down to 82 votes.

The Top Urban Planning Books of 2020
The public health crisis of the coronavirus pandemic upended all the normal day-today routines this year. At least there are plenty of great urban planning books to read.

SCOTUS: Freedom of Religion Trumps Public Health in a Pandemic
In a late-night 5-4 ruling on the eve of Thanksgiving, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a governor's executive order to stem the spread of a contagious virus can not impede the right of people to gather in a church.

Trump's Legacy: Climate Change
The Biden administration and effects of time will erase some of the consequences of the Trump administration's methodical dismantling of the nation's environmental regulation. But climate change will be around longer than any of it.

Social Media Bots and the Community Planning Process
Recently published research examines the "Role of Artificial Intelligence in Community Planning"—that is, the role of automated bots on social media in corrupting participatory planning processes.

The Legacy of Structural Poverty in Alabama
In rural Alabama, a long history of racial inequality and poverty has left people struggling to survive in uninhabitable housing.

El Paso Update: 'On the Brink of Disaster'
Among the nation's more populous counties, El Paso continues to suffer the most severe coronavirus outbreak. One out of nearly every 30 residents currently has COVID-19. Four additional mobile morgues, on top of the existing six, have been ordered.

Biden-Harris Transition Covid Task Force Announced
President-elect Biden made clear during the campaign that he will "follow the science" in tackling the number one priority of his administration—gaining control of the coronavirus. The 13-member task force with three co-chairs was announced Monday.

Uncertain Times for Trade Shows and Conferences
Expecting a dark winter, conferences are being canceled worldwide, putting millions of jobs at risk.

What Biden's Win Could Mean for Land Use, Transportation, and Climate
Campaign in poetry and govern in prose, the saying goes. Now that the reality of a Biden presidency is settling in, what does it mean for how the United States plans its future?

E-Scooters Are Coming to New York City
Major micromobility comapnies and lesser known competitors are stating their interest to take part in a New York City e-scooter pilot program slated for Spring 2021.

Cash-Strapped Wyoming Towns Face Existential Threat
With the decline of the fossil fuel industry and the economic effects of COVID-19 further gutting the state, Wyoming and some of its small cities are facing dire fiscal consequences.

Election Post-Mortem: Politics Trumps Public Health
An analysis by the Associated Press found that voters in counties that are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus were far more likely to support President Trump's reelection than voters in less-impacted counties.

Progressives Tally Major Victories at the Local Level as the Blue Wave Came Up Short
Progressive agendas on transportation and housing won big in the November 2020, even if a "Blue Wave" failed to materialize on the national level.

Republicans, Democrats, and Transit
Depending on how the issue is phrased, support for public transit can be bipartisan.

England Begins Second Lockdown to Protect the National Health Service
The day after Election Day in America, the U.K. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to impose a 4-week lockdown in England to ensure that nation's prized healthcare system doesn't collapse due to treating mounting coronavirus infections.

U.S. Officially Withdraws From the Paris Climate Accord
An even set in motion years ago by the Trump administration came to fruition on November 4 while most Americans were paying attention to the election.

Housing Advocates Gain More Allies on Capitol Hill, by Way of New York City
A growing number of congressional representatives serving the city of New York support aggressive public investment in housing programs.
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