This week featured good news on the economy like it was pre-2008.

The studies about the housing market and the U.S. economy were plentiful this week, and to the surprise of many of us who have been watching for awhile, there was plenty of good news to go around.
Headlining the week's data dump was new income and poverty data from the Current Population Survey report by the U.S. Census. Speaking of good news, that data reveled that between 2014 and 2015, 3.5 million Americans were lifted out of poverty. Other studies included a new way of analyzing sprawl, accounting for the low-density development that happens in existing urban areas. That new study raises tough questions about how the country builds housing that's affordable for more of the population. And because all good news is worthy of some skepticism, there is also new evidence of anxiety among many Americans about their housing security.
Finally, Brookings examines the use of federal subsidies for professional sports stadiums—otherwise known as how the taxpayers of Alaska helped finance the new Yankee Stadium.
For more information on the stories discussed in this video, see the articles below.
- U.S. Census Has Good News About Income and Poverty
- If Housing Affordability Is Top Concern, Let Metro Regions Sprawl
- Survey: Housing Anxiety Growing in the United States
- Federal Subsidy for Private Sports Stadiums Since 2000: $3.2 Billion
FULL STORY: Planetizen Week in Review: September 10, 2016

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

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)