Another cautionary tale of a planning commissioner that went too far during the social upheaval of the coronavirus pandemic, and has since been removed from their civic position.

Judith Prieve reports on a controversy surrounding a planning commissioner in the city of Antioch, California that resulted in the ouster of a planning commissioner who made controversial remarks about the effects of Covid-19 on high-risk residents.
"At a special meeting [recently], the Antioch City Council unanimously removed Ken Turnage from the planning commission for declaring on social media that nature should 'take its course' as the coronavirus kills the weak, the old and the homeless," reports Prieve.
In the special hearing, Turnage stood by those remarks, and some of the numerous calls and 92 emailed public comments expressed support for Turnage's opinions on the matter. A statement by Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts, however, said that Turnage's comments had done too much damage to members of the community to remain on the commission.
Antioch is located on the fringe of the East San Francisco Bay Area, not too far from Vallejo, where another planning commissioner resigned from that city's planning commission in April after throwing a cat and drinking a beer during an online commission hearing.
FULL STORY: East Bay council ousts planner who said let coronavirus take the weak, old and homeless

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and harrowing close calls are a growing reality.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)