Government / Politics

New Jersey Might Be the Most EV-Friendly State in the Nation
Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Friday establishing an incentive program for purchasing battery electric vehicles, allowing up to a $5,000 rebate, the nation's highest, plus $500 rebates for home-chargers. EVs are already exempt from sales tax.

Future of Massive S.F. Bay Area Housing Project Uncertain Due to Labor Dispute
The $6 billion redevelopment project at the Concord Naval Weapons Station has stalled over labor issues.

Affordable Housing Challenges in Beltway Suburbs
More people are moving to suburban counties, but a lack of affordable housing in places such as Loudon County, Virginia, means the suburbs are not an option for a growing number of people.

EU Could Ban Facial Recognition Tech in Public
The European Union is preparing to take a strong position in the global debate surrounding privacy and data rights.

Houston Just as Expensive as New York City, Study Says
The extra costs of automobile dependency turn assumptions about affordability on their head, according to a recently published report by the Citizens Budget Commission.

Washington Attempts to Adopt a Cleaner Cars and Clean Fuels Programs
A Pew Stateline article tackles the challenges of reducing carbon emissions from transportation compared to electricity generation and looks at recent initiatives announced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee aimed at decarbonizing transportation.

Cuomo's LaGuardia AirTrain Plan has a High-Profile Skeptic
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed disappointment with a plan to build an AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport in a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Positive Thinking for the Environment
There have been wins. And there will be opportunities. All is not lost for the future of the planet.

Report Explores Future of Seattle Interbay Armory Site
The 25-acre site will be vacant after the National Guard relocates, and a new report says a public development authority should manage the property.

Wyoming Legislation Would Add Tolls to Interstate 80
A new bill would grant the Wyoming Transportation Commission the authority to impose tolls on all lanes of over 400 miles of I-80 to fund infrastructure needs on the roadway.

What Is Local Control?
State preemption and local control are two of the most controversial and contested concepts in land use. Understanding when and where one or the other takes precedence is key to understanding the politics and governance of planning.

Can Hydrogen Make a Comeback?
While hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are much less popular than their battery-powered siblings, California remains committed to the zero-emission technology, with three state agencies investing in and monitoring its progress.

S.F. Bay Area Driver Shortage, Canceled Trips and Routes
Amid a nationwide bus driver shortage, transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area haven’t been able to fill vacant positions fast enough.

New Jersey Has a Plan to Shift to Clean Energy, but Questions Remain
The state’s energy plan focuses on the move to renewable energy, but specifics about how that will happen and what the costs will be need to be pinned down.

What Is State Preemption?
State preemption and local control are two of the most controversial and contested concepts in land use. Understanding when and where each one takes precedence is key to understanding the politics and governance of planning.

States to Gain and Lose Congressional Districts After Census Identified
A reapportionment of House of Representatives will begin when the results of the Census 2020 have been finalized. A new analysis indicates that ten House seats will likely shift from the Northeast and Midwest to the West and South.

Short-Term D.C. Rentals Boosting Home Prices, Study Shows
In Washington, D.C., Airbnb has led to an increase in home prices, and the impact is more significant in neighborhoods with a higher density of short-term rental units.

A Closer Look Under the Sidewalk Scaffolding of New York City
A common part of the urban landscape, scaffolds are mostly ignored or detested. But these in-between spaces can also take on a life of their own.

Trump Administration Proposal Would Eliminate Fair Housing Protections
The Trump administration last week published its latest attempt to undermine a fair housing rule adopted during the Obama administration.

The Congressional Budget Cut Clean Energy Tax Breaks
The consequences of the Congressional budget approved at the end of 2019 can be measured in millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
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