The United States has been reborn. The election of Barack Obama has put – or reintroduced – the United States to the world stage as a beacon of hope for all people. We have proven that we believe and embody the ideals of equality and equal opportunity and that these ideals are the right of every citizen and not just a few. More importantly, this election is a ray of hope for our nation. We advanced the fight against racism to elect the first black president of the United States. Barack Obama’s election also gives hope to Americans as we witness and feel the stinging affects of the economic and housing crises, the energy crisis and two wars.
The United States has been reborn. The election of Barack Obama has put – or
reintroduced – the United States to the world stage as a beacon of hope for all
people. We have proven that we believe
and embody the ideals of equality and equal opportunity and that these ideals
are the right of every citizen and not just a few. More importantly, this election is a ray of
hope for our nation. We advanced the
fight against racism to elect the first black president of the United
States. Barack Obama's election also
gives hope to Americans as we witness and feel the stinging affects of the
economic and housing crises, the energy crisis and two wars.
Today, I could not wait to go to my Gateway Planning class
because I knew we would discuss the election and what this could mean from a
planning perspective. In my opinion,
this is a pivotal moment in planning history.
The need for planning might extends past the urban arena to the national
one. Americans across this nation in
cities, suburbs, and rural areas have been touched by – no – slammed by the
multiplicity of crises – economy, housing, energy and war. What was the general consensus? This election is definitely one for the
history books and celebration is in order; however, celebration is tempered by
the reality of the work that lies ahead.
Questions abound about what will happen next. Will the
momentum that brought change in the election process suddenly wane? What does Obama's election mean for the
economy, the housing crisis, and exit from Iraq? I question whether the political process,
which Barack Obama opened up to the American people during the campaign, will
remain open. In class, we have talked a
great deal about the political nature of planning, planning's failure to
include citizens in the planning process and the subsequent injustices and
inequalities that these citizens encounter.
Witnessing this new administration tackle the many problems that we
face, with what promises to be a fresh, new approach will be a planning
education next to none.

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

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

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.

Lakewood Celebrates Arbor Day and Strengthens Urban Forestry Legacy
Lakewood celebrated Arbor Day and its 43rd year as a Tree City USA community with a youth-led tree planting event at O’Kane Park, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to urban forestry and environmental education.

NYC Congestion Pricing Continues to Show Positive Results
While the Trump administration attempts to revoke the program’s federal approval, congestion pricing continues to reduce traffic, speed up bus travel times, and improve air quality in Manhattan.

Grassroots Dutch Movement Replaces Pavement With Green Space
Neighbors engage in a practice known as “tegelwippen,” picking up paving stones and replacing them with permeable surfaces, often with the support of local governments.
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.
City of Moorpark
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Tyler Technologies
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
