Under the Trump Administration, federal employees dedicated to causes like climate change mitigation face uncertain prospects. They could turn to accommodating state governments.
There's a new boss in the White House, and it goes without saying that many federal employees are unhappy with plans to de-prioritize departments like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There's at least one place many of them can go when the going gets tough: California.
Recently, the president of California's Public Utilities Commission stood outside EPA headquarters to "recruit" new employees. According to Elizabeth Shogren, "Picker explained that he has 250 job openings and more on the way. California's Air Resources Board and Energy Commission also have opportunities for federal employees frustrated with the direction the Trump administration is headed." Picker also stood outside the Energy Department's headquarters.
Shogren writes, "Picker's recruitment drive is more than a publicity stunt: His agency is short-staffed already, and he's steadily losing employees to retirement." While there hasn't been a mass exodus (yet) from the EPA, the rhetoric of the president and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt isn't promising for federal workers dedicated to fighting climate change.
FULL STORY: California wants to give dispirited federal workers a job
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
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.