Border controversies now have a northern front, too.
Todd Spangler reports on a new chapter in the battle by the Moroun family, "which owns and operates Detroit's Ambassador Bridge," to keep a rival bridge from being built to bridge Detroit to Canada.
The Morouns have spent years "arguing that a Canadian-built, Canadian-financed rival bridge makes no economic sense, violates the law and will unfairly hurt its business," according to Spangler.
Now the Morouns are pleading patriotism, and appealing to President Donald Trump with a new television commercial aired on Fox & Friends and was posted on Vimeo but has since been removed.
The advertisement comes against the backdrop of a trade spat between the Trump Administration and Canada as well as ongoing human rights concerns at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Trump Administration's trade policies have already been blamed for making infrastructure projects more expensive. Earlier in the Trump presidency, it seemed like the U.S.-Canada border would remain a great deal more permeable than the U.S.-Mexico border.
To follow up the news about the new commercial, John Gallagher writes a column criticizing the Moroun family.
FULL STORY: Moroun TV ad asks Trump to pick America, reject Gordie Howe bridge
Judge Clears the Way for Gordie Howe International Bridge in Detroit
The Michigan Department of Transportation ran into a powerful obstacle when acquiring land for a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, but a county judge sided with the state.
Canadian Government Permits Another Privately Owned Bridge From Detroit
Soon there could be a second cable-stayed bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Canada, running alongside the existing Ambassador Bridge and owned by the same private entity.
One Bridge on the Way, Another Still Possible on U.S.-Canada Border
With a request for qualifications for a new bridge, connecting Detroit with Windsor, Canada, and a proposal for another bridge on the table, it'a bridge building time on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago
A before-and-after of one of the bus stops with a new bench. The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association