North America
Walmart is planning on delivering groceries autonomously in Houston at some point in 2020.
TechCrunch
Los Angeles County's Minh Le discusses the county's priorities for moving forward with recent technological advancements in solar and energy storage.
The Planning Report
Feature
The decade wraps up with another engaging crop of highly readable and recommendable books on the subject of urban planning. There's a lot to learn, on many related subjects, among this year's top planning books.
CEC Chair David Hochschild shares the commission’s strategy for improving the current grid system and how California has been, and will continue to be, a global leader in clean energy innovation.
VerdeXchange News
Amber Richane, Project Manager for the city of Santa Monica's new City Services Building, on the city's commitment to building the world's most sustainable public building.
The Planning Report
Using treated waste as an agricultural fertilizer is controversial, but the practice has several climate-related benefits.
Yale Climate Connections
The city of L.A.’s first city forest officer, Rachel Malarich, opines on her new role in facilitating cooperation between the city’s departments to achieve a more equitable urban canopy.
VerdeXchange News
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) offers perspective on the U.S. housing crisis, the scale and complexity of which he argues demands affirmative federal action.
The Planning Report
Architects are uniquely positioned to reduce global warming, argues the CEO of Urban Green Council—but first they need to rethink their role.
The Architectural League of New York
Los Angeles Department of Transportation General Manager Seleta Reynolds emphasizes the importance of riders' perspective on access when redesigning the transit system.
The Planning Report
New York is a great city that breaks many rules of urban planning. Here's what its imperfections can teach us about city building.
Congress for the New Urbanism
As cities across the U.S. commit to ambitious climate actions, they're seeking effective ways to engage with local communities.
Yale Climate Connections
Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson outlines Destination Crenshaw and highlights the economic development and community investment opportunities it brings to South L.A.
The Planning Report
Not one, not two, but three articles in the past week paint dire portraits of the world that cars have created.
The New York Times
Streets LA General Manager Adel Hagekhalil lays out his priorities and plans for transforming Los Angeles into a system of world-class streets.
The Planning Report
Feature
Thirty years after a seminal study attempted to connect increased density with decreased automobile use, several new studies are raising doubts about that central assumption of contemporary planning.
New research shows that some U.S. communities are much better than others at attracting grants and financing for community development—even after adjusting for relative need. The numbers are clear, but the reasons for the disparity may not be.
Shelterforce
Janet Marie Smith, famous for helping plan Camden Yards in Baltimore, discusses how Dodger Stadium's 'new front door' will optimize transit and pedestrian access while preserving the field's historic character and sweeping 'postcard views.'
The Planning Report
The pros and cons of fare-free transit involve a range of issues, from operations logistics and outcomes to costs and fiscal priorities.
Pedestrian Observations
The city of Ottawa, Canada has produced another goofy animated video. This one explains its efforts to encourage more Missing Middle multi-unit urban housing.
City of Ottawa via Youtube
