Social / Demographics

Two people riding bikes with helmets on paved park trail

‘Arrested Mobility’: How Transportation-Related Laws Impact Black Americans

A far-reaching new study highlights the disproportionate effect of biking and walking laws on the mobility of Black Americans.

March 29, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

The city of Duluth, Minnesota, pictured from Lake Superior.

‘Climate-Proof Duluth’ Is Changing

Climate refugees are already on the move in the United States. The New York Times recently conducted an exploration on of the most desirable locations to escape wildfires, drought, and sea-level rise.

March 29, 2023 - The New York Times

Miami Traffic Jam

The Cost of Driving Increasingly Out of Reach in the U.S.

New research stresses the importance of socioeconomic differences in U.S. transportation trends.

March 27, 2023 - Salon

A hypothetical map of the state of Idaho, expanded by annexing a large portion fo Oregon. The map is emblazoned with the words “Greater Idaho.”

The Nation's Most Advanced Secessionist Movement

Legislation supporting the Greater Idaho Movement, which would annex over half of neighboring Oregon, has advanced in the Idaho legislature.

March 22, 2023 - FOX News

Pedestrian stoplight with green 'walk' silhouette lit up and blurry city buildings in background

Historically Redlined Neighborhoods Have Higher Rates of Pedestrian Deaths, Study Says

The consequences of historic redlining continue to have consequences in the present day United States. Add another example to the list.

March 22, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Stockton Foreclosure

The Shifting Boomer Bulge: Major Short Sell Risk

Policy makers dealing with housing issues aren't fully absorbing the numbers. In the second of a series on the subject, Ben Brown and Dr. Arthur C. Nelson help clarify what's going on and what we can do about it.

March 21, 2023 - PlaceShakers and NewsMakers

Dirt walking trail with blue ocean on one side and green hillside on the other in Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Los Angeles County Parks Department Releases Five-Year Strategic Plan

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation recently completed a strategic plan which details goals, strategies, and actions that reflect the agency's commitment to advancing equity.

March 16, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation

View of back of moving van with back door open, loaded with boxes, next to a line of two-story apartment buildings.

Report: Pandemic Migration Accelerated Existing Trends

Despite some transformative changes and brief spikes in domestic migration, the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be exacerbating existing declines in internal mobility.

March 16, 2023 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Black pumpjack oil derrick with houses in background

Advancing Equity Through Conservation and Restoration

Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) makes the case that to be equitable, 30x30 efforts must include both conservation of additional natural lands and restoration of degraded lands.

March 13, 2023 - World Urban Parks Blog

babyt Boomer Homeowners

The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?

In the first of a two-part series, PlaceMakers’ Ben Brown interviews housing guru Arthur C. Nelson on the sweeping demographic changes complicating the housing market.

March 12, 2023 - PlaceShakers and NewsMakers

View down New York City alleyway at nighttime

Red Cities, Blue Cities, and Crime

Homicides rose across the nation in 2020 and 2021 but began to ebb in 2022 and 2023. Have these trends played out equally across all cities, or were they worse in cities controlled by one political party or the other?

March 12, 2023 - Michael Lewyn

UN and New York City, Climate Week NYC 2020 is kicked off with a "March For Climate Justice NYC" on September 20, 2020 in New York City.

Environmental Justice Advocates Criticize Federal Assessment Tool

A tool designed to guide federal grant distribution may not prioritize the highest-need communities, while conflicting grant guidelines create challenges for local agencies.

March 9, 2023 - Route Fifty

Concrete wall with crack running down the middle painted red on one side and blue on the other

Election 2024: Red vs. Blue States

In a speech on Sunday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, likely Republican presidential contender Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida said that the pandemic was “a great test in governing philosophies."

March 8, 2023 - The Washington Post

View down a Los Angeles street with cars and tall palm trees on both sides

Study: L.A.’s Wealthier Residents ‘Export’ Air Pollution to Poorer Neighborhoods

Residents of Los Angeles who drive less are exposed to higher rates of air pollution due to policies that have encouraged commuting through low-income neighborhoods.

March 7, 2023 - USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Coronavirus and Urbanism

Austin Scores Highest on Pandemic Recovery; Bay Area and Baltimore Lowest

The Bay Area Council and CBRE created an economic tracker to measure how well the nation's 25 largest metropolitan areas have recovered from the public health restrictions imposed on their regions at the onset of the pandemic.

March 5, 2023 - Bay City News Foundation

A speedometer showing Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers

Generation Z Is Driving Less, But History Indicates It Won’t Last

Think Generation Z will usher in the long-awaited post-car future of transit advocates’ dreams? Think again (about the example set by the Millennials).

March 2, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Black and white photo of Pike Place Market entrance in Seattle with "PUBLIC MARKET" and "Meet the producer" signs

A Chatbot Talks Regeneration and Recovery for Seattle

In his recent analysis of trends to watch for 2023, Managing Editor James Brasuell noted how ChatGPT might replace all the writers of Planetizen, and more. Chuck Wolfe decided to take literally Brasuell's “don't let it sneak up on you” admonition.

February 28, 2023 - Charles R. Wolfe

Elderly woman with short gray hair wearing blue surgical mask looks out window with wooden frame, a potted purple orchid on the windowsill

Study: Many American Seniors Can’t Afford to ‘Age in Place’

A lack of affordable housing and access to services and amenities make it difficult for many seniors to remain in their long-term homes or communities.

February 28, 2023 - Harvard Magazine

Resilience Matters: Collective Action For Healthier Communities

The Island Press Urban Resilience Project (URP) has published a new, free "Resilience Matters" e-book that contains fascinating articles, op-eds, and interviews that provide practical guidance for collective action to build a fairer, greener future.

February 27, 2023 - Resilience Matters: Collective Action for Healthier Communities

Aerial view of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at sunset

Milwaukee Sets Sights on a Million Residents

Zoning reform will be key to the Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s vision to almost double the city’s population.

February 27, 2023 - Wisconsin Public Radio

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.