Renee DiResta uses Google's autocomplete feature to understand how Americans "really think about 'those people' in other states." Play with her wonderfully enlightening interactive map to view the top terms associated with each state.
By DiResta's accounting, it turns out Americans may be most concerned with the cost and health of their neighboring states. Stunned, right?
It's the qualitative searches, however, that provide the most interest to DiResta. "There are 12
unique terms that are classifiable as "culture/sentiment" queries, of
which ten are negative: backwards, bad, boring, crazy, dangerous, hated, racist, stupid, trashy, weird.
There were a few redeeming positive results; Colorado, Minnesota,
Texas, and Vermont are 'awesome,' and Montana, New Hampshire, and New
York are 'great.' But for the most part, it doesn't seem like we think
very nice things about each other at the very least, we're more inclined
to search for articles supporting (or related to) negative biases."
Check out DiResta's map to see what your state is known for.
Read the full story: Why are Americans so…
Cost of living too high? Planners to the rescue!
Excessive costs of living force many people to work more than optimal hours, leaving less time for family and fun. Local policies that favor affordable housing and transportation increase freedom, opportunity and happiness.
Santa Fe Becomes First US City to Tie Minimum Wage to Rent
The city’s minimum wage increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index and local market housing costs.
‘Residual Income’ Study Reveals Two-Thirds of Working Age Renters Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Half of U.S. renters are considered ‘rent burdened,’ but an even larger number of households have a hard time affording basic necessities after rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
HUD modernizes 50-year-old manufactured housing framework
The Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan establishes new energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes, and new guidelines for anchoring them.
New CA housing laws tear down development red tape
Recently-signed legislation makes building starter homes and ADUs cheaper and faster in California.
Metrolink finishes first expansion in 20 years
The transit agency is now one of very few in the United States to connect two major airports.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
One Hundred Miles
County of Mendocino
planning NEXT
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority