The freedom to move remains unevenly distributed between people of different backgrounds.

In an op-ed in Streetsblog USA, Ruth Rosas connects the immigration debate to mobility, arguing that the freedom to move extends to more than just physical infrastructure; “It’s also about whether people can exist in public without fear.”
For many immigrants and people of color, moving about in American cities and towns is a fraught proposition.
Many immigrants rely on buses, trains, walking, and biking because they cannot obtain a driver’s license. But relying on these modes of transportation can increase vulnerability in these public spaces. Walking and biking aren’t always safer, and jaywalking laws, biking citations, and over-policing in immigrant and communities of color mean that simply existing in public space can be a liability.
According to Rosas, “Mobility justice demands that we confront the surveillance, policing, and xenophobia embedded in our transportation systems. It demands we stop asking people to prove their worth before they can move without fear. It means acknowledging our streets, sidewalks, and bus stops are not neutral but political.” Until everyone can use them safely and equitably, Rosas notes, transportation remains political.
FULL STORY: Freedom to Move: Why Immigration Belongs in the Mobility Conversation

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

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

House Moves to Rescind California’s Emissions Standards
The state has been allowed to set its own emissions goals, including a mandate to transition to electric or zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.

Portland Proposal Would Suspend Development Fees to Spur Housing Construction
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced their policy plan Thursday, with the goal to jumpstart housing construction.

Honolulu Community College Celebrates Culture and Sustainability
Honolulu Community College brought together more than 320 students, staff, and community members for a day of Hawaiian cultural activities, music, and sustainability-focused learning at its annual Hoʻolauleʻa celebration.
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New York City School Construction Authority
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