The New York Times explores the Bay Area housing crisis through one woman’s three-hour commute.
In a feature that connects the dots between housing and transportation, New York Times writers Conor Dougherty and Andrew Burton join "standard American office worker" Sheila James on her commute from Stockton, California to San Francisco.
"Long commutes are a byproduct of the region’s tech boom, which has given rise to a full-blown housing crisis," the Times writes, noting that James initially moved to Stockton after a developer bought her building and evicted the tenants.
"As home prices have escalated beyond middle-class reach, areas far inland have become an oasis of (relative) affordability ... Prices are so high, and people are commuting so far, that gentrification has moved well beyond prime city neighborhoods to secondary cities and even far-reaching suburbs. As more people move inland, home prices are rising faster in the Central Valley than anywhere else in the state."
FULL STORY: A 2:15 Alarm, 2 Trains and a Bus Get Her to Work by 7 A.M.
Bay Area Displacement Spreads to Sacramento
A new study finds evidence that the ripple effect from the San Francisco Bay Area's housing affordability crisis has reached all the way to Sacramento.
A Comprehensive Examination of the Bay Area Housing Crisis
The Google Bus protests got the media’s attention, and the Ellis Act has politicians' attention, but the Bay Area’s current tech-housing-gentrification crisis is a big, complicated mess.
Louisville Launches ‘Anti-Displacement Tool’
After a years-long, tenant-led effort, Louisville will use a new tool to analyze whether a proposed housing development can meet a neighborhood’s housing needs and income levels. If it doesn’t, the city won’t subsidize it.
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.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie