A thriving natural environment creates opportunity for private developers and local economies, an economist argues.

In the New York Times, economics professor and former Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee urges the Trump administration to embrace environmental conservation as an economic growth strategy. Environmental regulation can benefit the private sector while helping to revitalize struggling rural towns, he argues.
"Accessible public lands and vibrant wildlife bring people to small towns and rural areas," Goolsbee writes. "They attract tourists and give residents a reason to stay, and give an enormous boost to the private sector in the very places the administration is trying to help." In 2017, visitors spent $50 billion on recreation in federal lands.
Moreover, "cleaning up pollution or protecting public spaces can unlock value in the private sector and allow it to grow." Without regulation and cleanup efforts on the Chicago River, for example, "billions of dollars of economic value would never have existed"—including the Trump Hotel and Tower.
FULL STORY: Preserving the Wealth That Conservation Built

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.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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