Some of the effects of the Obama Administration will take years to appear, but a new book already begins the process of taking stock of the administration's efforts to support and improve cities.
"In 2008, Barack Obama ran for the presidency on a message of hope. And urban America felt it," according to an article by Tanvi Misra.
Obama had an urban pedigree, and they expected his presidency to usher in a new urban era in the United States. A new book, edited by James DeFillipis, takes stock of Obama's legacy as an advocate for cities while in the White House.
Misra interviews DeFillipis, who, in addition to writing the book Urban Policy in the Time of Obama, is an associate professor in the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. The interview ranges from giving Obama's urban policies a grade (B-), discussions of public housing, the Obama Administration's reliance on public-private partnerships, the slippery nature of the term "urban," and a quick look forward to the Trump Administration.
FULL STORY: Grading Obama's Urban Policy Legacy
Planetizen Week in Review: September 30, 2016
Welcome, President Obama, to the NIMBY wars.
Power Plants: A Win for the EPA
New rules from the US Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants survived an attempt by 25 Republican-led states to block their implementation while their case is litigated.
A Win for ‘Keep it in the Ground’
Coal mining in Wyoming will take a major hit as a result of a U.S. Department of Interior plan to cease future leasing of coal mines in the nation's most productive coal mining basin. The decision casts a spotlight on the presidential election.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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.
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JM Goldson LLC
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