Food desert-busting is one of the cross-over opportunities between planning and public health, but it's unclear how effective bringing healthy foods to underserved neighborhoods has been.

Mac McCann writes an op-ed in response to a story from earlier in July about a $3 million program designed to attract grocery stores to Southern Dallas.
The problem, according to McCann's argument, is a lack of evidence that the program will work. "The government has tried over and over again to address the problems of food deserts — without much to show for it," explains McCann. In fact ""Food store access, particularly as measured by proximity, has a limited impact on food choices," according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture study published in May 2016.
On another line of argument, McCann notes that the city of Dallas "approved a $3 million grant for Costco — which made $2.38 billion in profit in 2015 — to build a store in northern Dallas." To McCann, the results of these investments don't justify their expense—especially when the city has so many other pressing issues to address.
FULL STORY: Subsidizing grocery stores won't make Dallas healthier

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.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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