Michigan to grant amnesty to 300,000 drivers whose licenses were taken from them because they were too poor to pay the "Driver Responsibility Fee."
"Last Thursday, Democrats and Republicans in the Michigan statehouse unveiled a reform package that could finally banish the Driver Responsibility Fee, a fee attached to traffic tickets that has claimed the licenses of nearly 350,000 drivers for nonpayment," Henry Garbar reports for Slate.
Michigan's fee represents a very regressive tax as it punishes those unable to pay tickets. To make matters worse, Garbar reports that public transit in Michigan puts the state among the worst in the country.
Some of these licenses were suspended for reasons that aren't even tied to driving. "Michigan also issues mandatory, indefinite license suspensions for anyone with unpaid court debt, with no consideration for the debtors ability to pay," Garbar writes.
FULL STORY: Michigan Leaders Move to Give Amnesty to 300,000 Drivers Who Lost Their Licenses Because They Were Broke
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.