Over the past four years, hope turned to disappointment over lost opportunities to "make agriculture less fossil-fuel dependent, re-localize food systems, and rebuild America’s food culture." Does a second term for Obama mean more of the same?
Tom Laskawy reviews the Obama administration's track record on food and farm policy as opportunities, and hope, for much needed reform fell by the wayside. "As Obama's first term wore on – despite First Lady Michelle Obama's
aggressive initial push on her Let's Move anti-obesity campaign - it
became far more "business as usual" in food and farm policy than
reformers had hoped."
Disappointing decisions for reformers included White House intervention on genetically modified alfalfa, meat industry reform that was "stopped in its tracks," watered down junk-food marketing restrictions and delayed implementation of the Food Safety Reform Act.
So is there reason to believe things will change in a second Obama administration? "With the corporate Sword of Damocles no longer dangling above it, my
guess is the administration will return to a more reform-minded
position," posits Laskawy. "I've also heard rumors the administration will renew its push
for junk-food marketing restrictions."
"The president has a pile of food-related rules, regulations, and
initiatives that have spent the last year sitting on desks awaiting
action. As I see it, it won't take long for him to show us whether he
will."
FULL STORY: Will Obama’s second term bring food system wins — or more of the same?

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time
A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth
Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas
Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.
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 Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions