Government / Politics
Grants Pass Bans Outdoor Sleeping, Creates Designated Camping Areas
The Oregon city was at the heart of a controversial Supreme Court case that paves the way for the criminalization of homelessness.
Grants Pass Homelessness Ruling Brings Issues Into Sharp Focus
Advocates for unhoused people are rallying to protect homeless populations as new legislation criminalizing homelessness rolls out around the country.
Panhandling Bans Draw Free Speech Criticism
Civil liberties advocates say prohibitions supposedly based on safety unfairly target unhoused people.
We Must Relocate to Prepare for Climate Change, and We Must Do it Now
As flooding, sea level rise, fires, and other climate impacts increase, we’ll need to move about 20 million Americans by 2100. Here’s how we can rethink managed retreat to get ahead of the rising tides.
Florida Public Sleeping Ban Goes Into Effect October 1
The law allows citizens to sue cities for lax enforcement.
How Project 2025 Could Threaten Public Lands
If enacted, the conservative plan could ‘decimate’ public lands and protected habitats.
ACLU Sues Washington State for Anti-Camping Laws
In the first legal challenges since June’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that cities can enforce outdoor sleeping bans, the ACLU filed a lawsuit alleging Washington’s anti-camping laws violate the state constitution.
What Makes Affordable Housing Green?
There's no one way to determine what makes “green” housing. Here's a breakdown of the standards and considerations used by the affordable housing industry.
Making Voting Accessible to Everyone
Voters with disabilities often have a hard time getting to the polls. Mail-in voting helps, but some states are limiting it.
Balancing Act: 7 Strategies to Curb Overtourism
What’s a popular travel destination to do? From ice cream bans to “Stay Away” marketing campaigns, cities and countries across the world are getting creative in their efforts to curb the negative impacts of mass tourism and tourists behaving badly.
First Federal Funding for Hydrogen Hubs Awarded to California and Pacific Northwest
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on July 17 that the first grant to build the nation's seven proposed 'hydrogen hubs' would go to California. The ultimate goal is to decarbonize transportation fuels used in port operations.
State AGs Call for FEMA to Classify Extreme Heat, Smoke as ‘Major Disasters’
State and local officials say explicitly naming heat and wildfire smoke would give local agencies more certainty in developing their mitigation strategies.
In Upstate New York, the Fight for ‘Good Cause’ Continues
This week, Ithaca became the latest city to opt into New York’s new Good Cause Eviction Law. What are tenant organizers doing to make the law work better for their communities?
Urban Planning in Lima, Peru
For some people, ‘urban planning’ and ‘Lima’ do not go together. In fact, the Peruvian capital effectively highlights various facets of the urban planning world.
Cities, States Use AI and GIS to Make Permitting Less of a Pain
Across the country, state and local governments have turned to AI to optimize their building permitting processes. The efficiencies they’ve achieved are impressive and welcomed by applicants and government agencies alike.
Power Plants: A Win for the EPA
New rules from the US Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants survived an attempt by 25 Republican-led states to block their implementation while their case is litigated.
Senate Bill Proposes Federal Antitrust Review for Institutional Housing Investors
The bill would require private equity and other corporate investors to report housing purchases to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice for antitrust review aimed at stopping anticompetitive transactions that would increase housing costs and push homeowners out of the market.
L.A. County Expands Electric Vehicle Fleet to Combat Climate Change
Leading by example, the county is increasing its electric vehicle fleet to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.
Planning for Equity in an Ideologically Conservative Community
To support equity goals, planners must accommodate diverse ideological perspectives, including political environments that focus on functional fairness rather than demographic categories.
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Short-Term Rental Ordinance
A group of homeowners in Summit, Colorado, filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a local ordinance imposing short-term rental license caps and annual booking limits is unlawful and violates their rights.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
