In a tough month for Southern California, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky claims that infrastructure investment and land use policies lessened the damage of the fires in the county -- more so than in other Southern California counties.
"The reverse 911 system, which we have in Topanga, worked well. Coordination between fire and law enforcement officials worked out, mutual aid worked out, and our air support proved to be worth its weight in gold. We have invested millions of dollars in the aircraft-the ones we own and the ones we lease. And if you compare that to other counties in the region, we were able to respond quickly and overwhelmingly within the first hours of a fire outbreak, while providing mutual aid to do the job that we needed to do."
"We have been very careful in what we have permitted and where we permit it. Where we believe the property has sufficient resource value, we should keep it as open space for all time."
County Supervisor Yaroslavsky goes on to discuss the city of Los Angeles' implemantation of SB 1818, a density bonus program for affordable housing, and the planned development for Universal City.
FULL STORY: Yaroslavsky Discusses Affordable Housing, Fire Prevention, Universal City

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

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions