London's new Mayor Sadiq Khan joins a growing list of mayors who have become ardent advocates for their city's nightclubs.
A thriving nightlife is finally getting recognition as part of a city's cultural backbone. Michael Scott Barron of Thump writes that newly elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan is one of the latest "nightlife mayors" who have pushed for greater support and recognition of nightlife as generators of cultural and economic benefits—including attracting visitors and jobs. Barron reports that Khan has advocated for "agent of change" legislation that would require developers to acknowledge the presence of nightclubs in the neighborhood when they build, and sometimes pay for the soundproofing of new residential units. Khan joins mayors from Paris to San Francisco in their support for local nightlife.
Similar support for nightclubs was passed in San Francisco in 2014, when Mayor Edwin M. Lee launched an initiative to support nightlife and entertainment industry by providing easy-to-access resources for owners of nighttime institutions. "Our City's world-class nightlife and entertainment industry helps make San Francisco a unique and great place to live, work, play and visit," said Mayor Lee. "The range of tools we are deploying provides our nightlife and entertainment businesses with valuable resources and guidance so they can start, stay, and successfully thrive— keeping San Francisco a premier nightlife destination."
FULL STORY: How Mayors Like Sadiq Khan Nourish Their Cities' Nightlife
The 'Night Mayor' Phenomenon Spreads
Managing cities' sometimes-turbulent relationship with their nightlife, "night mayors" help cities capitalize on an industry that has become a marker of urban prestige.
Orlando Approves New Nightclub Rules
The city ended a temporary moratorium on new nightclubs, replacing it with a rule limiting them to roughly one per every city block.
Evaluating the 2011 'Twitter Tax Break' Along San Francisco's Troubled Market Street
The 2011 "Twitter tax break" was controversial at the time, and remains so to this day. New offices and employees have filled the corridor of Market Street where the tax break is in effect, but massive challenges persist.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association