Tacoma, Washington is attempting to approach homeless encampments from a public health perspective.
In May, Tacoma declared homeless encampments a "public health emergency," which it sought to alleviate by supplying the camps with clean water and portable toilets. Now, city leaders hope that existing homeless communities will consolidate in a new encampment under the auspices of the city.
In addition to a perimeter fence and security guards, the new site is outfitted with a 100-by-70-foot tent to "shade, protect, and conceal" the camp, reports William James for KNKX.
Residents of existing encampments were required to clear out by June 30 regardless of whether they joined the new camp. In interviews with James, some said they were relieved to have a place where their property might be safer from theft. But there was also concern about what rules might govern the city-sanctioned site, and how they will be enforced.
FULL STORY: Tacoma Wants To Move Homeless People Into A Giant Tent. Will They Go?
Will Appeal of Landmark Appeals Court Ruling Allow for Clearing of Tent Cities?
If the Supreme Court hears an appeal of a landmark U.S. Ninth Circuit Court case settled in April, the ruling would have widespread implications for dealing with homeless encampments throughout the West, perhaps nowhere more so than Los Angeles.
Lawsuit Challenges Cincinnati's Homeless Encampment Ban
The ACLU will challenge Hamilton County's ban on tent cities in court.
New Phoenix and Oakland Homelessness Plans Prioritize Prevention, Permanent Housing
Phoenix’s unsheltered homeless population grew by 28 percent last year.
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.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
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