The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

BLOG POST

So we're hiring for two new positions at Urban Insight (the company that supports Planetizen). We're hiring a <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/jobs/item.php?id=4126">Web Designer/Developer</a> (with preference given to candidates with backgrounds in planning), and a <a href="http://www.planetizen.com/jobs/item.php?id=4174">Web Developer / Programmer</a>. <br /> <br /> I published the job announcements to several lists and also on a few online services that I've had success with in the past. I've received a fair number of responses, and, thank goodness, and several highly-qualified candidates (although not so many with backgrounds in planning/architecture/urban esign).

October 19 - Chris Steins

A new piece of legislation going before voters in New York would limit the amount of development in many low-density neighborhoods, and encourage planning over upzoning to encourage development.

October 19 - The Gotham Gazette

California's fastest growing region resorts to using the political strategy of 'recall' to slow growth.

October 18 - Los Angeles Times

As shelters close, trailer towns open for storm evacuees. FEMA opens the first of many such villages for those displaced by Katrina.

October 18 - The Christian Science Monitor

City of New Haven seeks innovative, cost-effective ways to curtail municiapl energy expenses and could be a model for municipalities across the nation.

October 18 - The Christian Science Monitor

Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley has outgrown it's reputation as 'America's Suburb' and become a high-density community -- now complete with its own dedicated busway, modeled after the system in Curitiba, Brazil.

October 18 - The Los Angeles Times

The Salton Sea Test Base could be used to build over 200,000 houses -- provided the area is fit for human habitation.

October 18 - The Los Angeles Times

In his second and third installments, columnist Steve Lopez meets the people who live and work on one of the city's worst corners on Skid Row.

October 18 - The Los Angeles Times

After calling the housing industry "corrupt" during an earlier interview with Donald Trump, O'Reilly Factor television show, Bill O'Reilly offers a nearly unprecedented apology, but still gets in a dig about the industry.

October 18 - Nation's Building News

At more than 2,300 acres, Orange County's new park on the site of a former marine base, will be the second-largest in California, about the size of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

October 18 - The Los Angeles Times

Oregon's land use laws were thrown into new controversy as a Marion County Circuit Court Judge ruled last November's property rights initiative invalid.

October 18 - The Oregonian

BLOG POST

<img src='http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//20051017castrategicplan.jpg' alt='California State Information Technology Strategic Plan' align='right' />While not strictly relevant to planning, it's always interesting to compare plans prepared by planners with plans prepared by other branches of government, in this case the California CIO and the IT Council Strategic Plan Committee have prepared the new <a href="http://www.cio.ca.gov/PDFs/101405_ITStrategicPlanUpdate.pdf">California State Information Technology Strategic Plan</a> (PDF, 220KB)<br /> <br /> The plan lists six impressive strategic goals:<br /> <br /> <li>Make Government services more accessible to citizens and State clients.<br /> </li>

October 18 - Chris Steins

Edmund Bacon, Philadelphia's most influential planner, died on October 14th, leaving behind a legacy of public service.

October 18 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

An animated cartoon comments on economic and social impact of big box stores.

October 17 - Jib Jab

New York has been remarkably successful and it remains the nation's premier metropolis. Edward L. Glaeser evaluates what accounts for New York's rise and continuing success in this academic discussion paper.

October 17 - Harvard University

Three design finalists have been selected for the Orange County Great Park; a debate on the merits of each ensues.

October 17 - The Los Angeles Times

In the first of a five-part series, columnist Steve Lopez takes readers on a tour of Los Angeles' skid row, through the eyes of a paramedic.

October 17 - Los Angeles Tiems

A study's conclusion that coastal erosion contributes more sand to beaches could be used by environmentalists to fight oceanfront development and seawalls.

October 17 - The Los Angeles Times

Connecticut's cities' zoning codes -- many based on MuniCode's bolierplate code -- make sprawl ineveitable.

October 17 - The Hartford Courant

Citing numbers from AAA, Albert B. Crenshaw argues that switching to public transportation for some trips may not result in substantial savings unless you get rid of your car completely.

October 17 - The Washington Post