Legal and community groups in St. Louis align to curb ill-effects of the city's many vacant properties.

Vacant or neglected properties drive down property values, and tax revenue and can be sites for arson and other crimes, so it's a serious problem for the city of St. Louis that there are over 25,000 such properties within city limits. "On Tuesday a coalition of neighborhood, city, and non-profit agencies announced the 'Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative' at a press conference at Saint Louis University's School of Law," Melody Walker reports for KWMU.
The group includes neighborhood associations, the St. Louis Development Corporation, and the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri group. The Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative hopes to leverage the resources of these groups to better deal with the legal and social problems around vacant properties.
FULL STORY: Coalition aims to ease city of St. Louis' vacant property issue

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses
The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund
A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards
Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.
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.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service