Observers hope L.A.'s next planning director will elevate the importance of the department to be on par with the city's police department.
"In the past, the selection of a planning director has barely registered as a blip on the public's radar. This time around, however, community stakeholders have seized on the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas. A coalition of nearly four dozen community groups, individuals and planners led by Occidental College drafted a letter to the next planning director called "Planning for a Liveable City." It contains a litany of requests, from creating transit-friendly development to exploring innovative planning approaches to creating a master plan for developing the Los Angeles River and adjacent Cornfield State Park at the northern tip of Downtown.
...Last week the city began vetting about a dozen strong applicants for the job out of 30 resumes received. Some candidates have been recruited internally, while others came from national posts; there is at least one international resume, according to Mayor Jim Hahn's office. Insiders say the final choice will likely come from out of state, someone with a fresh approach to planning and management far removed from the current department."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: A Plan of Attack

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.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets
The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena
Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs
The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.
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 Clovis
City of Moorpark
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