The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

This point-counterpoint from <em>Building Design</em> debates whether the British can design good public spaces.

February 14 - Building Design

A new book pulls back the glitz of Los Angeles and uncovers the complex infrastructure of the region.

February 14 - The Los Angeles Times

A special transit pass meant to promote the annual Philadelphia Beer Week accidentally used the Manhattan skyline in the background.

February 13 - USA Today

Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma pasted an amendment into the stimulus package banning it from funding museums, arts centers, theaters, stadiums, parks, casinos or golf courses. James S. Russell says, 'starving the arts is suicidal.'

February 13 - Bloomberg.com

Target Field is the forthcoming ballpark for the Minnesota Twins, and the team and their sponsor recently unveiled their plans for the public space in front of the park. Designs include 40 ft. topiary and a giant bronze glove.

February 13 - Minneapolis Post

In this thorough piece from <em>The Atlantic</em>, Richard Florida looks at the economic crisis facing the world, how it's affecting cities and regions, and how it will have a lasting effect on the U.S. -- in both good and bad ways.

February 13 - The Atlantic

Daniel Sperling, author of "Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability" talks to Jon Stewart about the future of plug-in hybrid, fuel cell and electric vehicles.

February 13 - The Daily Show

Downtowns can be designed to both reduce driving and boost the economy. But they're still going to need parking, according to urban designers George Crandall and Don Arambula.

February 13 - Smart City

In this episode of the <em>KunstlerCast</em>, James Howard Kunstler looks at New Urbanism, compares it to regular urbanism, and argues that criticized New Urbanist developments will get better with age.

February 13 - KunstlerCast

A BBC story on Paris's groundbreaking bike-share system greatly exaggerates the threat posed by theft and vandalism.

February 13 - Streetsblog

Responding to an opinion piece that claims there is no proof that transit-oriented development works to reduce auto use and emissions, writer Eric De Place catalogs the significant body of literature that proves it.

February 13 - WorldChanging

Peter DeFazio and others on Capital Hill are concerned that the funding going towards highway construction and transit in the stimulus package may mean delays or worse for the upcoming $600 billion surface transportation bill.

February 13 - CQ Politics

In a speech in Houston on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi expressed concern that too much emphasis on alternative energies would mean lack of funding for oil investments.

February 12 - International Business Times

David Giles explains the economic extremes that now characterize New York City and offers four suggestions on how to retain and strengthen its middle class.

February 12 - City Limits

A Las Vegas hotel-condo project's height is nearly cut in half--not due to budget cuts, but faulty rebar installation. Experts are reportedly unable to recall "such a drastic midconstruction downscaling."

February 12 - The New York Times

The woes of the automobile industry--and the prospects for a federal bailout--must be seen in terms of the need to transform not just the industry, but our entire automobile-oriented society, writes Emma Rothschild.

February 12 - New York Review of Books

This report takes a local perspective on CA's new land use law, in the context of two preceding environmental laws, CEQA and AB 32. While the former enabled activists to fight new growth, the pendulum has begun to swing toward developers.

February 12 - The Berkeley Daily Planet

The spike in farms can be seen statewide. They are more diverse than they used to be, and probably a response from young people who "want to know where their foods comes from" and have taken direct action.

February 12 - Brattleboro Reformer

This article's author reports his and economist Matthew Kahn's recent findings on metropolitan areas and carbon emissions. As it turns out, living in a high density area is one of the best things one can do for the environment.

February 12 - The DC Examiner

It may come as little surprise to some that the tech-heavy city of San Jose has more males than females. But in other parts of the Silicon Valley, just the opposite is true.

February 12 - San Jose Mercury News