A piece from Anchorage, Alaska discusses problems that can arise when planners don't address gender-based safety. Walkable, populated, well-lit streets and transit are the best remedy.

Rates of gender-based violence tend higher in Anchorage, and better planning is key to reducing them: "robust public infrastructure is critical [...]. Many planning issues are framed as yuppie issues–wanting a dedicated bike lane to bike from yoga to Whole Foods–but planning is fundamentally a women's rights and human rights issue as well."
Specifically, mixed-use neighborhoods with vibrant local activity can cut into crime regardless of culture or socioeconomic class. "Typical places that cause fear and insecurity for women are dark doorways, parks at night, empty and badly lit streets, underground car parks, and pedestrian underpasses." The article continues, "Public spaces utilized by women increase the likelihood those spaces will be used more frequently."
To highlight gender differences in perceived urban safety, this might be worth quoting: "Margaret Atwood once asked a group of men why they feared women, and they replied 'we're afraid they might laugh at us.' She then asked a group of women why they feared men, and the women replied 'we're afraid they might kill us.'"
FULL STORY: We’re Afraid They Might Kill Us: Gender Violence and Urban Design

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.
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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