Metro Atlanta's boom probably won't last unless state and local leaders tackle the worsening traffic and begin investing in public transit.
"Atlanta's renaissance as a vibrant urban core is nothing short of remarkable. Nearly every neighborhood close to downtown shows signs of commercial and residential vitality, including the once-neglected district near the old Atlanta-Fulton County stadium. With sidewalk cafes (heck, with sidewalks), loft conversions and an influx of middle-class residents, intown Atlanta exudes, at last, a certain cosmopolitan flair."
"Of course, this splendid revival hasn't come without a price. The influx of new residents has brought the area's familiar curse - more traffic. Given that the city's leaders have done so much right, it seems they ought to be able to do more to get the city on the road to better transit. They should be able to persuade the General Assembly to pass a bill allowing the Atlanta region to vote to increase its taxes to pay for transportation improvements."
"Unless the metro area can do something about traffic, the region will start to lose its appeal...Even those cute intown neighborhoods will be less charming if their streets are clogged with cars."
FULL STORY: We're headed for urban greatness — if we can tame traffic

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.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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