A new study, released this week, reveals the connections between geography and life expectancy.
"For poor Americans, the place they call home can be a matter of life or death," according to a post by Neil Irwin and Quoctrung Bui. The article reports data from new research by the Health Inequality Project, released this week.
The conclusions of the study are sweeping and consequential for anyone working to shape the future of cities and towns. As Irwin and Bui write, "The right mix of steps to improve habits and public health could help people live longer, regardless of how much money they make." A further implication of that conclusion is that local solutions—rather than the "broader, multidecade problem of income inequality"—can improve public health outcomes. Raj Chetty, the study’s lead author, is quoted in the article: "You don’t want to just think about why things are going badly for the poor in America. You want to think specifically about why they’re going poorly in Tulsa and Detroit…"
The article provides in-depth coverage of the study, its implications, and also includes a lot of infographics to illustrate the findings of the study.
FULL STORY: The Rich Live Longer Everywhere. For the Poor, Geography Matters.

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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