On an online forum, New Urbanism enthusiasts discussed if urban sprawl aided the Washington-area sniper. Is the allegation just suburbia-bashing?
"My colleagues were amused when I relayed the debate being waged on an online forum about whether suburban sprawl aided the sniper in his three-week rampage in Maryland and northern Virginia.In the three years I've been privy to debates on the Congress for the New Urbanism listserv, a forum frequented by enthusiasts for compact, walkable mixed-development communities, I've gotten used to the sometimes off-the-wall subject matter that is somehow tied to the "one-more-reason-we-should-all-live-in-predominantly-auto-free-neighborhoods" attitude. But really, this seemed quite a stretch.Or was it?"
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Lessons in suburban sprawl

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

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
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Oregon Approves Ambitious Framework for ’Microgrids’
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A Historic Investment in LA County’s Parks and Open Spaces
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San Diego Wins $14M for Affordable Housing
The funding comes via the state’s Regional Early Action Planning program and will help create close to 1,000 new housing units.
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