Social / Demographics

Unlocking the City with Context Keys
The human memory is so powerful that a place on pavement suddenly can trigger a stream of imagery from the distant past, or a meaningful story of something that once happened there. We should champion such keys to the context of a place.

Return to Normal: CDC Releases Initial Post-Vaccination Guidance
Millions of fully vaccinated Americans who have been anxiously awaiting new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on what they can now do safely were given initial recommendations that apply only to private settings.

Stories of Resilience From 2020
A year of intense challenges also offers a chance to break from the unsustainable, inequitable status quo.

Where Have All the Metropolitan Statistical Areas Gone?
A total of 144 metropolitan statistical areas might lose their federal designation if a proposal under discussion at the Office of Management and Budget is approved.

Pandemic Watch: We've Been Here Before (but at Lower Case Levels)
The White House COVID-19 Response Team explains why governors are wrong to lift mask mandates and ease restrictions by putting the current level of coronavirus infections in the country in perspective, i.e., comparing it to the two prior surges.

Newark Launches Land Bank to Revive Long-Vacant Properties
The land bank will assess proposals for the sale and redevelopment of 100 city-owned properties in neglected neighborhoods.

Opinion: Stop Paving Seattle Playgrounds for Parking Lots
Seattle schools are often forced to reduce their playground space in favor of parking and circulation for private cars, but altering the city code could change that.

'By the Numbers': California Shows How to Reopen Safely
Unlike other states that lifted restrictions statewide after coronavirus cases plummeted, California replaced its regional stay-home order with a county-based blueprint, permitting counties to advance based on performance in three health metrics.

Bozeman's 'Only Racially Diverse Neighborhood' at Risk
Thanks in part to an influx of remote workers, the Montana town faces soaring housing costs and practically non-existent vacancy rates.

L.A. Metro Will Pilot Free Fares for Most Riders
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will let low-income residents and K-12 students ride for free starting in January 2022.

Texas Lifts Coronavirus Restrictions, Ends Mask Mandate, Despite CDC Warning
Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he is reopening Texas 100% and lifting the state mask mandate, as is Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of a variant-induced fourth surge.

Massachusetts Reopens, But Too Early?
Many coronavirus restrictions were lifted on Monday in Massachusetts by Gov. Charlie Baker due to falling COVID cases and hospitalizations, but many experts feel the move is too hasty and could lead to a resurgence in the virus.

Comprehensive Plan Update Stokes Controversy in D.C.
Complex political dynamics are mustering for a showdown over D.C.'s comprehensive plan.

New Healthy Regions Planning Exchange Targets Health Inequities
A new Regional Plan Association initiative is assessing potential solutions to historic inequities in planning policy.

What Is Redlining?
Redlining is the practice of restricting investment in areas deemed high-risk by banks. The term refers to the red color used to denote undesirable areas on maps used by lending institutions to determine loan eligibility.

A Fourth Coronavirus Surge is Likely
The plunge in daily new coronavirus cases has ceased and may be climbing again, but the news is brighter when looking at the summer. Most of the public health experts interviewed by The New York Times believe a surge is likely but not inevitable.

Noise Pollution Harms the Heart, Too
New research shows that excessive noise levels have significant negative impacts on heart health.

How to Fix Racist Housing Policies: Sue the Suburbs
Strengthening U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's civil rights enforcement could send a powerful signal to communities resistant to changing discriminatory housing rules.

Boston Leaders Want A Dog Park in Every Neighborhood
City leaders want to build more off-leash dog parks, partly as a response to the trend of "pandemic puppies" that has led to a sharp spike in urban dog ownership.

Rents Rising Despite the Pandemic
The latest data from CoreLogic from December 2020 shows that despite headlining-grabbing rent declines in San Francisco and New York, some rents are continuing and even surpassing pre-pandemic trends.
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