In a _Chicago Tribune_ Op-Ed, Gail Schechter, of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, challenges Illinois policymakers' definition of "affordable housing."
"We cannot demand the services of the low-wage worker, then refuse them a place to live in our communities. Instead, we must reclaim the concept of affordable housing to again include those for whom it was always intended: low-income people. Likewise, we cannot siphon jobs from communities (such as some city neighborhoods and south suburbs) and not expect to juxtapose extreme poverty, separated by gridlock, from extreme wealth. What's required is an equitable jobs-and-housing strategy.Further, we would do well to say 'no' when municipalities permit every piece of available land to be littered with luxury housing or big-box retail,'no' to senior-only housing as a bone thrown to affordable-housing advocates, and 'no' to communities that use zoning to get rid of housing for the poor."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Whose recovery?

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions