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Los Angeles River Kayak

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A Playful Approach to Activating Spaces along the Los Angeles River

An interview with two of Project 51's co-founders, John Arroyo and Catherine Gudis, on the collective's recent "Play the LA River" card deck, a playable guide which invites participants to discover 56 unique sights along the entire Los Angeles River.

December 4 - Maayan Dembo

San Jose Enacts 'Pedestrian Safety Zone'—Bans Bikes from Sidewalks

The city of San Jose has responded to concerns of seniors in the community by banning bikes from sidewalks a large swath of downtown near the convention center, City Hall, and San Jose State.

December 4 - San Jose Mercury News

Parking Meter Revenues Donated to Santa Claus Fund for Low Income Families

A small town in Northern Ontario, Canada, annually gives its parking meter revenues over a two-week period to a fund providing aid for low income families over the holidays.

December 4 - The Kapuskasing Times

Brazil's Insight on Climate Change Adaption

A new report from the World Resources Institute illustrates how Brazil is preparing its cities to deal with climate change.

December 4 - The City Fix

Akron-Cleveland Covered Bridge

The 20 Cities with the Deepest Roots

Cities with long-time residents develop their own character—a recent analysis by Governing identified data to rank such distinct cities.

December 4 - Governing


Calatrava Bridge, Dallas

35 New Cities Named as 100 Resilient Cities Members

After its 2013 announcement of support for the first 33 of the 100 resilient cities, the Rockefeller Foundation has announced its next round of member cities: 35 cities, including six from the United States.

December 4 - 100 Resilient Cities

Designing Permeable Cities for Drought Resilience

Take a kayak trip on the Los Angeles River with KQED science reporter Amy Standen to understand why cities were built on the premise of endless potable water and how we can build cities sustainably in regions that receive low rainfall.

December 4 - KQED Science


California Fuel Consumption Rises—First Time in Eight Years

For the first time since 2006, gasoline consumption in California increased from the prior fiscal year. From July 2013 through June 2014, consumption increased 1 percent.

December 4 - The Sacramento Bee

Food Deserts Won't be Quenched by Mobile Markets

While mobile food markets can bring healthy produce to neighborhoods without grocery stores, their current model for driving food around cities is not financially sustainable.

December 4 - Fast Co.Exist

Op-Ed: Billionaire Philanthropy Defeats Democratic Process

Following the splashy announcement of media mogul Barry Diller's plans to finance a $170 million park at Manhattan's Pier 54, a New York Times column renews the call for more equity in open space around New York City.

December 4 - New York Times

San Francisco Planners Study Extension of Central Subway to Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco is hard at work on a Central Subway project expected to open in 2019 with a terminus in Chinatown, but planners have already been hard at work studying an extension of the subway to Fisherman's Wharf.

December 3 - San Francisco Chronicle

Detroit's Latest Power Outage: The Dark Before the Dawn?

Earlier this week a massive power outage struck Detroit. But that type of embarrassment might soon be a thing of the past because Detroit will soon undertake a $200 million upgrade of its electricity grid.

December 3 - Detroit Free Press

Eight 'PlacePlans' for Michigan Cities

The PlacePlans project—led by the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan State University School of Planning, Design and Construction—recently released plans for placemaking efforts in eight Michigan communities.

December 3 - Holland Sentinel

El Paso Approves Second 'SmartCode' Development

The El Paso City Council approved a $100 million SmartCode development.

December 3 - El Paso Times

The United Nations Studies Urban Emissions Monitoring

Urban emissions researchers have been invited to speak at the UN Climate Conference in Lima. Their findings: through focused and networked monitoring, cities can make real inroads on cutting carbon.

December 3 - Next City

Los Angeles Arts District Residents Resisting Plans for More Density

The Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles has seen plenty of chic newcomers in recent years—high-end cafes, restaurants, and expensive lofts. But a recently revealed plan that would allow new, dense construction has sparked controversy.

December 3 - Los Angeles Times

Mexico's High Speed Rail Plans Hits $3.75 Billion Contract Snag

Mexico's planned high-speed rail project looked like tit was full speed ahead until the country rescinded the original construction contract, awarded to the China Railway Construction Corp. A new round of bids is expected soon.

December 3 - Reuters

How Images Shape our Understanding of Places

An article by Ben Campkin, Marina Mogilevich, and Rebecca Ross examines how images shape ideas about cities—from "John Snow’s Cholera map to Le Corbusier's plan for a contemporary city and Moose's 'clean graffiti.'"

December 3 - Guardian Cities

Argyle Street Lane Configuration

Details on Chicago's First Shared Street

Planners are crafting the details of Chicago's first shared street, where pedestrians will rule.

December 3 - Chi.Streetsblog

Exposé: the $4 Billion World Trade Center Transportation Hub

Now that 1 World Trade Center has opened for business, more attention will go to another building with conspicuous civic purposes—the Oculus pavilion at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

December 3 - New York Times

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