An interview with environmentalist journalist and author David Helvarg about hurricanes, coastal development, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and Bush administration policies.
"...hurricanes are natural phenomena, but they're being unnaturally intensified by our failed policies...It's very disturbing what hasn’t been done in response to last year's hurricane activity, which is we've thrown tens of billions of dollars at contractors in the Gulf region [but] Congress hasn’t committed dollar one to wetlands restoration...which act as natural storm barriers. Every two-and-a-half miles of wetlands reduce storm surge by a foot."
"...no good science goes unpunished in this administration. So, for example, there are a lot of administration people pushing the idea that climate change wasn't linked to last year's hurricanes. In fact, it reflects their inability or unwillingness to hold two thoughts at once...Right now, our government’s in denial. The best available science is creating some of the worst imaginable scenarios, and we have a government that fails to respond."
"It’s foolish to have federal flood insurance that subsidizes people to move in harm's way, that allows people to build second homes on barrier islands. There’s a reason they call them 'barrier islands.'"
"...crisis also is opportunity...150 years ago, some of the leading wealthiest people in this country would have said, 'Getting rid of whale oil is insane. It's the lubricant of the machine age'...Well, we went from whale oil to rock oil. Guess what? The economy expanded. You know, we’re at another moment...I’ve been on the oilrigs...It’s like being on a whaling ship 150 years ago."

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?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont