The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

<p><em>California Planning and Development Report</em>'s Morris Newman looks at the land use issue that caused the break-up of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former TV news reporter Mirthala Salinas.</p>

January 4 - California Planning & Development Report

Many big cities' plans for free citywide Wi-Fi networks fell apart in 2007. But this column from Governing argues that cities should keep broadband Internet access as a priority to remain competitive.

January 4 - Governing

<p>New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine is pushing a bill that would offer tax credits of up to $75 million to businesses that locate within a half-mile of a transit station.</p>

January 4 - The Star-Ledger

<p><em>Los Angeles City Beat</em> talks with traffic expert Martin Wachs about congestion pricing and L.A.'s traffic problems.</p>

January 4 - Los Angeles City Beat

<p>In suburban Salt Lake City, Utah, plans are underway to replace an old strip mall with a mixed use, transit oriented development.</p>

January 4 - The Salt Lake Tribune

<p>In this video clip, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown discusses how presidential politics are unduly influenced by rural power, at the expense of the interests of cities.</p>

January 4 - AlterNet

<p>Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters examines both state and Census Bureau growth figures for California, concluding that the significant difference is less important than what the huge growth means for the future of the nation's most populous state.</p>

January 4 - The Sacramento Bee

The team chosen to redesign Toronto's waterfront has plans for updating the area with a better balance of car and foot traffic. Architecture critic Christopher Hume looks at the plans as a model of development the rest of the city should follow.

January 4 - The Toronto Star

<p>John Parr was one of the few people who could get narrow-minded local politicians, neighborhood organizers and business leaders to work together for the regional good. Tragically, Parr died in a highway crash just before Christmas.</p>

January 4 - California Planning & Development Report

<p>In this interview from <em>Land&amp;People</em>, author Richard Louv discusses his research into the importance of interaction with nature in child development, and explains his concept of "nature-deficit disorder".</p>

January 3 - Land&People

<p>TollRoads News reviews the "terminally inept Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff joint venture at the Massachusetts Turnpike's Big Dig project", and examines how the project is improving mobility -- estimated to be worth $168 million per year.</p>

January 3 - TOLLROADSnews

<p>The expansive Beltline transit and parkspace development planned for Atlanta is being hindered by one man's lawsuits over the legality of the funding used to build it.</p>

January 3 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

<p>Numerous foreclosures and vacant properties mean dramatically reduced property and sales tax revenues and hence significant budgeting shortfalls.</p>

January 3 - The Los Angeles Times

<p>At the World Trade Center and Pentagon, plans are underway for elaborate memorials to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. But what of the non-descript field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where another hijacked flight crashed that day?</p>

January 3 - The Next American City

<p>After some underwhelming proposals have come in for a project at New York's Hudson Yards, this editorial asks whether the public participation is even necessary for a project that will most likely evolve with little public interaction and oversight.</p>

January 3 - The Wall Street Journal

<p>Portland wants to expand its streetcar system, and is relying on federal funds to do it. But the Federal Transit Administration says it will give grants to only cost-effective proposals -- creating a heavy bias toward buses and away from streetcars.</p>

January 3 - The Oregonian

<p>The increasing populations of the world's cities have a large impact on energy use and global warming. These populations should be a major focus of efforts to address climate change, according to this article from <em>CNN</em>.</p>

January 3 - CNN

<p>This article from <em>Progressive Planning</em> calls on planners to more closely consider the way anti-terrorism planning affects the general practice of urban planning.</p>

January 3 - Progressive Planning

<p>Houston may lack zoning restrictions, but the city has taken a number of steps over the course of the year to limit the extent and flavor of development.</p>

January 3 - The Houston Chronicle

<p>Richard Florida's latest research shows that vibrant music "scenes" -- or a city's "audio identity" -- are good indicators of urban vitality.</p>

January 2 - The Globe & Mail