Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti is proposing much-needed changes to the way L.A. facilitates neighborhood development.
"Somebody from the Planning Department or the Department of Building Safety should be knowledgeable enough to check the project's tree plan. If we can boil down those 12 stops to two stops, at the Planning Department and the Department of Building and Safety, we will have a city that I believe will not only pro-business, but also pro-neighborhoods..."
"But I say to the departments, "Wouldn't you like to have an additional staff member back working on the core issues in your department?" If it's the Fire Department, shouldn't you be working on fire safety, fire prevention, or firefighting and emergency services? If it were Street Trees, wouldn't you love to have an extra body out there planting or trimming trees? We have a good case to take to departments: this will actually give you the resources back for your core job, and let Planning and Building and Safety do their core job."
Eric Garcetti goes on to discuss the critical role smart growth and affordable housing can play in revitalizing neighborhoods.
FULL STORY: L.A. Council President Garcetti Would ‘Plan by Neighborhood’

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?

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

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.
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