In a week when the children of three separate members of congress revealed publicly that they are living in cities, lawmakers are shifting their ideologies about where federal resources should go and how to effectively target new policies.
"I used to think 'they're dirty, they're full of poor people, who cares?'" said Republican Congressman Richard Tremaine of Alabama, days after his son Nick announced that he had moved to Boston. "But now that my own son is living in a city, I just can't go on believing that they don't deserve the same rights and resources as more traditional places, like the suburbs."
Seven other House members and three Senators stood with Tremaine during his statement, offering support for what he called "a difficult soul-searching experience." He vowed to introduce a formal resolution in the House calling for the official recognition that "cities are places, too."
The shifts have trickled all the way up to the highest levels. Even President Barack Obama has had a personal change of heart on prioritizing urban issues.
"I had a long talk with my daughter Malia the other night and she told me how, even after we have to leave the White House, she wants to stay right here in the big city," the president said during a recent session with reporters at the White House Briefing Room. "As a parent, when you hear those words from your own kin, it really puts things in perspective."
President Obama ended the briefing by saying he had "a lot to think about," suggesting that "maybe it's time to revive that Office of Urban Affairs idea we came up with back in the early days."
Read the full story: Urban Issues Prioritized as Politicians' Children Come Out as City-Dwellers
Self-Driving Cars Still Can't Recognize the Difference Between a Wedding Planner and an Urban Planner
Pundits agree that planners need to prepare for self-driving cars. Self-driving cars still need to prepare for planners.
Florida Man Thought the New Comp Plan Included Zoning Changes
A Florida man is accused of not realizing an entirely separate process would be required to implement the zoning changes recommended in a recently approved comprehensive plan.
April Fool's Headlines That Didn't Make the Cut
"Who's the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him?"
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Malls are becoming the midtowns of the future
Mall and office park redevelopments are a generational opportunity to create new nodes of urbanity.
NYC breaks ground on anti-flooding infrastructure project
New York City's new system will reduce stormwater flows to local sewers by 90%.
One Kentucky town’s secret to affordable housing
The Smoketown Community Land Trust has already built seven affordable homes for community members.
Houston gains petal-shaped cooling infrastructure to make streets more ‘delightful’
The city has installed the pavilions along 15 blocks in Houston.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority