Heavy fines on cars without city stickers have fueled a spike in bankruptcies in Chicago, especially in black neighborhoods like Lawndale and Englewood where households received many times more tickets than households in white neighborhoods.

Sticker violations are sending poor Chicagoans into debt or bankruptcy. Reporting from ProPublica found that a decision in 2012 to increase the price of tickets for cars that didn't have city stickers was intended to raise an additional $16 million for the city, it didn't. What's worse, it has driven significant growth in Chapter 13 bankruptcies.
Enforcement of city stickers, like enforcement of the city's biking laws, has not been equal. "Black neighborhoods are hit with sticker tickets at a higher rate per household, than other parts of the city, according to an analysis of tickets from 2011 to 2015. Tickets issued by police drive the disparity," Melissa Sanchez writes for ProPublica. South and West Side neighborhoods like Lawndale, Englewood, and Austin were among the neighborhoods hit hardest.
These tickets played a prominent role in bankruptcies around the city. "Unpaid sticker tickets have contributed to an explosion in Chapter 13 bankruptcies in Chicago, a trend ProPublica Illinois reported on earlier this year," Sanchez reports.

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

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip
Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont