While the 2024 budget plan invests in housing and social programs, city leaders warn the city will face a shortfall of almost $250 million in 2025.
A post on the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog outlines the city of Seattle’s ‘largest-ever investment into affordable housing,’ which the city passed as part of its 2024 budget, which allocates $600 million over a period of two years to housing efforts. “The administration’s 2024 spending plan also emphasized affordable housing plus a boost for treatment and diversion to join a crackdown on public drug use while also including spending for the city’s existing first responders at Seattle Police and the Seattle Fire Department to be maintained at status quo levels.”
Much of the revenue comes from the city’s JumpStart tax on the largest employers. However, the 2025 budget may be a harder fight as the gap between revenue and expenditures is expected to grow to over $247 million with no new funding sources planned yet. According to a report on the 2024 plan, “Our city values do not align with a budget that assumes this level of coming austerity. The future of our city and the sustainability of our community is too important to gamble on.”
Museum of Public Housing Opens in Chicago
The museum highlights the history of public housing in the United States using displays intimately woven with family artifacts.
Houston Reopens Affordable Housing Wait List
For the first time in almost five years, Houston residents can apply for housing assistance.
Opinion: Biden's Housing Plan is 'Both Necessary and Excellent'
The housing programs proposed in the reconciliation bill could help millions of Americans who desperately need housing assistance and begin to mitigate the damage of a stagnant housing supply.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)