Social / Demographics

COVID-19 Test

CDC Director Expresses a Feeling of 'Impending Doom'

Dr. Rochelle Walensky sounded the alarm during the White House COVID-19 Response Team's press briefing on Monday, warning Americans that the pandemic trajectory in the United States is the same as in Europe. The latter is experiencing a third wave.

March 30, 2021 - CIDRAP News

Taipei, Taiwan Skyline

Californians Seek Normalcy by Relocating to Taiwan

As the pandemic continues to disrupt life in the United States, some Taiwanese Americans are rebuilding their lives abroad.

March 30, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Back to School September 2020

Reopening Schools: CDC Reduces Social Distancing Requirement

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now supports three-foot distancing in elementary school classrooms provided there is universal masking. For middle and high schools, it depends on the level of coronavirus transmission in the community.

March 29, 2021 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Little Tokyo Los Angeles

Los Angeles Passes New Rent Relief Package

The city will offer a new round of rental assistance to eligible families who owe back rent.

March 29, 2021 - KTLA

For Rent

As Luxury Rents Drop, Low-Income Tenants Pay More

With increasing pressure on the nation's supply of affordable housing, low- and middle-income renters are seeing their rents go up while higher-quality apartments drop prices to lure back remote workers.

March 29, 2021 - The Washington Post

Philadelphia Center City

A (Brief) Lesson in Planning For Psychologists

How can planners approach the emotions and psychology of urban stakeholders? Planning journalist Josh Stephens speaks with Psychology Today to give psychology professionals a glimpse into how planners think.

March 24, 2021 - Psychology Today

Homeless Encampment

The Homelessness Crisis Deepened, Even Before the Pandemic

New numbers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development show "devastating" growth in the number of unhoused people in the United States in January 2020.

March 24, 2021 - NPR

Mass Shooting Protest

'Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste' and Planning in the Pandemic

The latest in a series of compendia collecting news and commentary focusing on the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on communities.

March 23, 2021 - James Brasuell

Exclusionary covenant

New Mexico Communities Reflect on Racial Restrictive Covenants

Explicitly racist and exclusionary language remains embedded in many communities' restrictive covenants. State legislators and local leaders want to change that.

March 23, 2021 - High Country News

Bangkok, Thailand

The World's Highest Rates of Coronavirus Infections and Deaths

Brazil and the U.S. lead the world in daily COVID-19 cases and deaths. Western Europe is undergoing a third wave of infections, resulting in a new round of lockdowns, yet most of these nations are not among the 12 hotspots shown on a global tracker.

March 22, 2021 - Bloomberg News

Trees on Street

Research Shows Urban Trees Stave off Depression

A new study shows that regular exposure to trees and green spaces has a powerful impact on depression and mental health.

March 22, 2021 - The Guardian

Peninsula

Opinion: California Should Pass Aggressive Housing Reform

While some lawmakers oppose recent efforts to reform housing policies, others argue the state's affordability crisis calls for bold action.

March 19, 2021 - OC Register

Public Transit

Pandemic Watch: What's Going on in Europe?

A coronavirus resurgence is spreading across much of Europe, forcing Italy into a new lockdown a year after it became the first Western country to resort to the drastic measure. The coronavirus has returned in the form of more transmissible variants.

March 18, 2021 - The New York Times

Trump Sign

Partisan Clustering at the Neighborhood Level

Forget red state versus blue state: a new data analysis and mapping project by The New York Times shows that the political divides in the country can be mapped to the neighborhood level within metropolitan areas.

March 18, 2021 - The New York Times

Portland Cycling

Oregon DOT Studies Impact of Race and Income on Road Safety

The findings of a recent memo highlight the disproportionate effects of unsafe road conditions on low-income people and BIPOC communities.

March 17, 2021 - Bike Portland

Empty Swings

The Pandemic Baby Bust

The economic uncertainty of the pandemic has added to already declining birth rates in a troubling sign for the future of the American economy.

March 17, 2021 - The New York Times

Sao Paulo, Brazil, Marilia

The World's Worst COVID Outbreak

Brazil has surpassed the U.S. and led the world in the daily average of COVID-19 deaths and coronavirus infections during the last week. Experts point to a coronavirus variant and the lack of a federal strategy, leaving states without assistance.

March 16, 2021 - The Wall Street Journal

Social Distancing

Mask Order Standoff in Texas: Attorney General vs. Austin and Travis County

It's pandemic déjà vu in the Lone Star State, with local governments wanting to protect their constituents from an increase in viral transmission, a power preempted by Gov. Abbott's executive order. Attorney General Ken Paxton lost the first round.

March 15, 2021 - Austin American-Statesman

George Floyd

Oklahoma House Approves Protections for Drivers Who Hit Protestors

A heated debate and a party line vote in Oklahoma.

March 12, 2021 - The Oklahoman

Social Distancing

Experts: Fourth Coronavirus Surge Likely More of a Ripple

The worst appears to be over, say most of the more than 20 experts who spoke with NPR's science editor, Rob Stein. If there is going to be a surge, it will be more like a ripple, he suggested. Not everyone agrees.

March 11, 2021 - NPR

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

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