Do planners have any responsibility for maintaining a fair distribution of income in the U.S.?
"America was once a place of substantial intergenerational mobility: Sons often did much better than their fathers... The distribution of income in the United States has gone right back to Gilded Age levels of inequality... Over the past generation upward mobility has fallen drastically. Very few children of the lower class are making their way to even moderate affluence... As a general rule, once they've reached their 30s, people don't move up and down the income ladder very much... Business Week attributes this to the 'Wal-Martization' of the economy, the proliferation of dead-end, low-wage jobs and the disappearance of jobs that provide entry to the middle class."
Thanks to The Practice of New Urbanism
FULL STORY: The Death of Horatio Alger

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
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City of Portland
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