Social / Demographics
Are Hyper-Urbanizing Countries Experiencing Lower Vaccination Levels?
Urbanization may turn conventional thinking about vaccinations on its head, at least in India.
Street Art Tells the Other Side of the World Cup Story
In the many cities hosting the month-long FIFA World Cup tournament, street artists share their criticisms in vibrant, powerful murals located in public spaces.
Artists Feel Gentrification Pressure in Bushwick
The Brooklyn Brief attended the recent eighth edition oft the Bushwick Open Studios annual art event. There the blog heard from artists concerned about the growing expenses of living in the neighborhood.

The End of 'Slackerdom' in Austin (or Pittsburgh Rich vs. New York Poor)
Yes, that's a lot of cities in one headline. But recent urbanism media has included a lot of writers lamenting the rising cost of living in formerly bohemian locales while noticing former bohemians moving to more affordable regions.
The Demographics of Pedestrian Safety
While pedestrian safety affects all areas, it disproportionately affects cities with large minority populations because they are more likely to walk than whites. Santa Ana, Calif. a majority "minority" city, is taking steps to make walking safer.

Unsafe Streets: Report Finds Pervasive Harassment on U.S. Streets
A new report, the first of its kind, documents the pervasive harassment experienced by women, and many men, of all races, income levels, sexual orientations, and geographic locations. The report identifies the situation as an issue of human rights.

How Drinking in New Orleans Debunks Assumptions about Public Behavior
An out-of-towner's visit to New Orleans unravels imposed assumptions about conduct in public places.

Urbanists Soak Up Buffalo: PlaceMakers Empty Their Notebooks
Many of you attended CNU in Buffalo last week, but for those of you who couldn't make it, here's a quick collection of a few of the ideas shared.
Addressing the Challenges of Houston's Exceptional Growth
Houston's incredible rate of growth since 2000 has created a demographic and economic milieu that presents a unique set of challenges, and potential, that is often ignored by federal policies.
Homeland Security Data Reveals the Origins and New Homes of Naturalized Citizens
Dara Lind provides insight on new data on U.S. naturalizations released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In all, 779,929 immigrants became U.S. citizens in 2013.
Joel Kotkin Reveals the Secrets of Cleveland's Surprising Success
Joel Kotkin picks up on the findings of a study released in March from Cleveland State University about the city's net increase in young, well-educated population and recommends a regional approach to ensuring that the growth sticks.
How to Build Grassroots Support for Urbanism
Andrew Keatts interviews Benjamin Ross, of Maryland's Purple Line advocacy fame, about what it takes to build local support for transit and urban design.
'Seattle's Greatest Social and Economic Experiment Is about to Begin'
That's how USA Today reporter John Bacon concluded his video on the Seattle City Council's historic vote to increase the city minimum wage to $15/hour in 3-7 years depending on the business. The outcome was never in doubt due to prior deliberations.

Ranking the Health and Fitness of Metro Areas (Infrastructure Matters)
Melanie Haiken shares insight into the findings of the American Fitness Index (AFI), which assesses the "Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas."

How 'Hipster Economics' Romanticizes Blight and Compounds Inequality
A recent article refutes arguments used to defend gentrification, and in so doing identifies a culprit in glossing over the negative effects of displacement in areas both urban and suburban: hipster economics.

Life as a 'Hipster Homesteader' in Cincinnati
A writer examines what it's like to live in the suburbs and work in the city of Cincinnati—to "exist in the physical and social margins" yet still play an active role in shaping the city's identity.

Is Big City Growth Here to Stay?
In this opinion piece, Brookings demographer William H. Frey looks at three years of census data and discusses whether urban growth will stay through the decade or whether the U.S. will return to its traditional, post-War suburban growth patterns.
Community Gardens as Harbingers of Gentrification
Lauren Markham examines the value of community gardens to the bottom lines of developers—because one person's blighted back yard can easily become another person's veggie garden marketing pitch.

Mapping America's Homeless Populations
The Committee to End Homelessness in King County produced a helpful visualization tool that compares the size of homeless populations around the country as well as the type of housing support they receive.
Are Helicopter Parents Destroying Mobility for Young Americans?
A recent post by Paul Mackie takes inspiration from a new book called "It's Complicated" to explore how parents might be driving teens further into technology-enabled isolation and torpidity.
Pagination
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont