As the ranks of Mexico's rich swell, the haves and the have-nots in Mexico City are living increasingly separate lives. Walled cities are being built to separate the upper and lower classes in Mexico's capital, while bullet-proof evening wear is selling briskly.
"While poor migrants to the United States grab most of the headlines, the ranks of Mexico's rich are growing at a rapid pace. In a country where the disparity between rich and poor is greater than ever, the rich live in surreal but safe mini-cities of gleaming, geometric towers."
"The disparities between rich and poor haven't closed in Mexico, despite the promises of outgoing President Vicente Fox's administration. The economic inequalities are still among the highest in Latin America. In Mexico, 47 percent of the population lives on less than $4 a day. Physical separation is a hallmark of wealth in Mexico, where high walls often form a barrier between rich and poor."
"With extreme wealth comes extreme security. A couple of blocks from the dealership is Mexico's first bulletproof boutique...In recent weeks, anti-explosive clothes were flying off the shelves after guerrilla groups bombed a bank and the electoral court that declared Calderon president."
FULL STORY: Life surreal for rich among Mexico poor

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

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.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Charlottesville Temporarily Has No Zoning Code
A judge ordered the Virginia city to throw out its newly revised zoning code, leaving permitting for new development in legal limbo.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
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