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.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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