Voters in Northern California indicated support for higher taxes on the wealthy and big companies, rejecting increased property or sales taxes to support transportation projects.

Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area say they want the wealthiest residents and companies to pay for better public transit in the region, reports Ethan Baron in The Mercury News.
A poll taken in the region found that “Nearly six out of 10 poll respondents said they would support holding a future Bay Area-wide ballot measure that would hike income tax on high earners to pay for an affordable, coordinated network of bus, rail and ferry lines, and improved roads and pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.”
Respondents indicated they would support boosting transit funding through a 1 percent tax on people making more than $300,000 a year and higher payroll taxes on employers with over $4 million in annual revenue. However, “nearly half of all respondents wanted local officials to focus on improving roads and highways, while just under 40% wanted a focus on better transit.” Voters also ‘strongly rejected’ increasing sales or property taxes to fund transportation.
A proposed bill, SB 925, would allow the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to propose funding via a regional ballot measure. “The agency would like to see the funding measure raise $1 billion to $2 billion annually through methods that could include a sales tax, an income tax, a payroll tax, a parcel tax, a vehicle registration surcharge or a regional vehicle-miles traveled charge.”
FULL STORY: Bay Area voters support better transit, if rich people and companies pay: poll

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.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
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