New Orleans city officials are outraged over FEMA's about-face that would have provided housing for over 6,000 displaced workers.
"Louisiana officials expressed outrage that FEMA was shuttering what many saw as the one program that effectively got evacuees into temporary shelter and back into the work force near New Orleans. The effort had placed about 6,000 Louisiana workers in nearly 2,400 travel trailers at industrial sites across hurricane-ravaged southeast Louisiana.
...Providing on-site housing to displaced workers has exploded into a huge issue in south Louisiana as companies across the region struggle to get back on their feet. Many of those businesses have lost access to suppliers and customers, and their work forces have been scattered.
By providing shelter on company-owned land, business owners are relying on the old, company-town model to get their operations moving again... The program is the brainchild of Louisiana's Economic Development Department, which sees the plan as the first building block in restoring the local economy."
[Editor's note: The link below is available to non-subscribers for a period of 7 days.]
FULL STORY: Agency Cancels A Housing Plan For Evacuees
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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