From stop-and-frisk to sugary sodas to popular pedestrian plazas, The New York Times reviews the positions of NYC's candidate pool on the important issues -- many of them planning-related -- facing the Big Apple's next mayor.

The candidates have weighed in on several major issues as the race has heated up. This feature from The New York Times runs the gamut of issues that the next mayor will have authority over.
Notably, Anthony Weiner has said that he would keep the pedestrian plazas implemented by Janette Sadik-Khan, but only if they do not add to congestion: "When Mayor Bloomberg and transportation officials introduced pedestrian plazas to the city's streetscape, they hailed the spaces for their ability to reduce traffic and cut air pollution. But Mr. Weiner appears unconvinced, saying that he would support more plazas, but not at the 'cost of additional congestion and pollution.'"
When it comes to parks, most of the candidates agree that leasing public land for a soccer stadium would not be a good idea, though the Republicans on the ticket and Anthony Weiner say they would consider it.
The city's popular bike lanes get the campaign trail treatment, as well. Most of the candidates say they would expand or maintain them, while the Republicans and Weiner on the ticket appear to have some hostility toward the lanes and the Citi Bike bike share program. Former MTA chairman Ray Lhota replied, "...that he would increase the number of lanes, though he called for 'common sense in their placement.' In the past, he has said that he 'could see' removing existing lanes that he deemed problematic, mentioning that some bus drivers along the B63 route in Park Slope, Brooklyn, had complained about sharing space with bike riders."
FULL STORY: Where the Mayoral Candidates Stand on Key Issues

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.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie