USC experts call for flexibility in defining boundaries as the new Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) begins creating neighborhood councils.
The authors suggest that "...instead of establishing detailed criteria for the creation of the councils, the plan should include a clear process that permits negotiations to clarify neighborhood boundaries, reaches out to stakeholders, reconciles overlapping boundaries and promotes inclusion of economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Experience with successful neighborhood councils in other cities suggests that this will be an extended process." Terry L. Cooper Is a Professor and Juliet A. Musso Is an Assistant Professor at Usc's School of Policy, Planning and Development. They Are Co-founders and Alicia Kitsuse Is Manager of the Usc Neighborhood Participation Project, Which Is Studying the Establishment of the Neighborhood Council System in L.a
Thanks to Laura Krafft
FULL STORY: Neighborhood Councils Aren't Made in a Day

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.

In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet
With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.
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