Social / Demographics

Land Grab in Africa

In what The Guardian calls "the greatest change of ownership since the colonial era," enormous swaths of African land is being sold to foreign countries seeking agricultural lands to feed their growing populations.

March 12, 2010 - The Guardian U.K.

Cities Take Reins in Census Marketing

While it's typically states and the federal government that spend most of the money on marketing the decennial census, cities have been taking the lead in 2010.

March 11, 2010 - Governing

Understanding Mega-Cities

A new book explores the disconnect between how a "mega-city" region is portrayed through statistics, demographics, etc., and how it is perceived by the public.

March 11, 2010 - re:place Magazine

Major Shift in Canadian Cities Towards Diversity

According to the latest census data projections, Canada will become a remarkably diverse nation in the coming decades, with increasing ethnic and racial mixing being concentrated in the nations' cities.

March 10, 2010 - The Globe and Mail

Google Gets Bike-Friendly

The latest addition to Google Maps is a bicycle service, helping cyclists plan routes, find bike trails, and avoid hills.

March 10, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Can Cities "Remix" America?

Carl Anthony suggests that emerging land use policies (such as high speed rail) could threaten to exacerbate trends towards racial segregation, unless there is broader participation from people of color in planning processes.

March 10, 2010 - Yes! Magazine

Inchvesting in Detroit

$1 will buy you one square inch of a vacant lot in Detroit, and membership in Jerry Paffendorf's club of "inchvestors." It may sound like a scheme, but Paffendorf calls it a way to network, invest in Detroit, and attract entrepreneurs.

March 10, 2010 - NPR

Infrastructure Spending, Policy Benefit Suburbs and not Cities

Harvard economics professor Edward L. Glaeser argues that the United States has a long, pervasive pattern of anti-urban behavior that needs to change.

March 9, 2010 - The Boston Globe

Urbanites Make the Case for Goats as Pets

The don't bite. They don't need much space. They follow kids around like a dog. We're talking about miniature goats. Planning commissions across the country are being asked to moved the hooved animals into the "pet" category.

March 9, 2010 - USA Today

Can Urban Design Alleviate the Need for Cops?

A look at public space as a "community living room" and the role of police within the context of Los Angeles.

March 8, 2010 - Examiner

Census a Challenge in Abandoned Neighborhoods

Cincinnati's Tract 16 is the neighborhood deemed hardest to count in Ohio by census takers. As the Enquirer puts it, "high numbers of abandoned buildings, low literacy rates and urban poverty make it a people-counting quagmire."

March 5, 2010 - Cincinnati Enquirer

Federal Government Redefines Poverty

The federal government is rewriting the way it defines poverty. As a result, city poverty levels are expected to see major shifts.

March 4, 2010 - NPR

Designing Happiness into Cities

This piece from Shareable looks at the urban work of Enrique Penalosa and how it emphasizes the importance of happiness in cities.

March 4, 2010 - Shareable

The Most Obese Cities

Gallup looks at the body mass index of American cities to see which metro areas are the most overweight. Flint, Michigan and Stockton, California come out on top.

March 3, 2010 - Gallup

Johannesburg's BRT Controversy Underscores Class Issues

Treehugger takes a look at the new bus rapid transit system in Johannesburg, South Africa, and explores some of the controversy and tension that surrounds it.

March 2, 2010 - Treehugger

San Diego Looks At Density to Meet Projected Housing Demand

With population estimates adding an additional 1.2 million people to the San Diego region in the next 40 years, planners say the region will need nearly 400,000 additional housing units to meet the demand.

March 2, 2010 - San Diego Union-Tribune

In Land Of Hi-Tech, Why Do Newspapers Flourish?

Palo Alto is where Silicon Valley started, yet locals eagerly pick up the Daily Post, the Daily News, as well as read PaloAlto-Online. The New York Times investigates why print media flourishes here while regional and national papers struggle.

March 1, 2010 - The New York Times - U.S.

America's Path to 400 Million

The New York Times reviews a new book by Joel Kotkin about the role of immigration and minority populations in America.

February 27, 2010 - The New York Times

Poverty Heads to the Suburbs

The migration of America's low income population is spreading to the suburbs. But the suburbs aren't ready to handle the influx, according to this piece.

February 26, 2010 - Next American City

The Biggest Misconceptions About the Census and Demographics

The Brookings Institution lists out the five biggest myths and misconceptions about the Census and the way demographics change in the U.S.

February 25, 2010 - The Brookings Institution

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.