With the departure of department head Adolpho Carrion, the role of the new Office of Urban Affairs is in question. With a small budget and a staff of four, can Urban Affairs make an impact?
Matt Chaban talks to Harry Moroz, a policy analyst at the Drum Major Institute, about the Department of Urban Affairs. Moroz believes that the successes of other agencies like HUD and DOT on the urban front has undercut the work of the newer department:
"I know there are people very committed to urban affairs in the White House," Moroz said. "Attention will be paid to urban policy, but will it be in this office? I think that's an open question."
Chaban also talked with Aaron Naparstek, founder of Streetsblog:
"I do actually think Carrión was a problem,"Naparstek said. "He just didn't seem to be able to articulate a vision for the office or a vision for what cities could or should be."
FULL STORY: Can Obama's Office of Urban Affairs Carrion?

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.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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