Social / Demographics

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Getting Around New York in a Wheelchair (Still) a Struggle

A transit rider offers a powerful perspective on what it's like to use a wheelchair in New York City.

December 12, 2018 - New York Times

Stony Island Arts Bank Chicago

Theaster Gates Brings Together Planning and Art to Empower Communities

His work in Chicago has created spaces that protect and celebrate black lives and experience.

December 12, 2018 - Forbes

Metro Bus

The State of the D.C. Region's Bus Network

The Bus Transformation Project recently released its findings on the state of bus transit in the Washington, D.C. region.

December 10, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

Child on Train

Public Transportation Is Good for Kids

Using transit gives children experiences, skills, and perspectives that they won’t get riding in a car.

December 10, 2018 - Apolitical

Rural Utah

When Cities Prosper, Rural Areas Are Better Off

The pitting of cities and rural communities against one another is the wrong approach. Instead, policies that help cities thrive will benefit rural areas in the long run.

December 9, 2018 - Brookings

Paradise

Aging in Place in Margaritaville

A Jimmy Buffet-branded 55-plus community in Daytona, Florida is wildly popular. The New York Times Magazine gained early access and ponders its deeper significance.

December 9, 2018 - The New York Times Magazine

Front Porch

The Front Porch: A Space of Deep Meaning for African-Americans

Much more than just an extension of a house, the porch has long been a place of safety, intimacy, and communality.

December 7, 2018 - The New York Times

Washington

Mapping the Pacific Northwest's Changing Population

The Oregonian has published a new interactive mapping feature that allows users to map demographic changes to the Census tract level through Oregon and Washington.

December 7, 2018 - The Oregonian

Greenwich Village

Planning for Crime Reduction

Few issues are more emotional, and therefore vulnerable to bad analysis, than urban crime risk. Solid research indicates that more compact and mixed development tends to increase neighborhood security. Jane Jacobs was right!

December 7, 2018 - Todd Litman

Macron Protest

President Macron Acquiesces to Yellow Vests' Demands on Fuel Tax Hike

Despite statements to the contrary just a week ago, Macron reversed position and caved to the demonstrators' demands that upcoming fuel tax hikes be suspended.

December 5, 2018 - CityLab

Hill District

Inequality Found in the 'Unstudied Neighborhoods' Too

A new journal article calls out the academic community of planning and urbanism for relying too much on the usual suspects when researching marginalization and inequality, and assuming too much about what makes a neighborhood "normal."

December 4, 2018 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research: The Urban Edge

Race and ethnicity 2010: New York City

Report: 'Segregation Tax' Depresses Home Values in Majority-Black Areas

According to a study, residential segregation and anti-black bias combine to devalue properties in majority-black neighborhoods by an average of $48,000 per home.

December 3, 2018 - Curbed

Emergency Sign

U.S. Life Expectancy Continues Downward Trend

Drug overdoses and suicides caused American life expectancy to drop in 2017 for the second consecutive year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most notable is the gap between the urban and rural suicide rate.

December 1, 2018 - The Washington Post

Macron Protest

France Drops Road Tolling Plans Amid Fuel Tax Protests

Controversial London-style congestion pricing won't be coming to French cities due to concerns sparked by the 'Yellow Vest' protests over an upcoming fuel tax hike, but President Macron stated the fuel tax increases will go forward in January.

November 30, 2018 - Reuters

Los Angeles Bus Stop Sign

L.A. Bus Stops Improved by D.I.Y. Additions

A bench is a basic bus stop amenity, but many stops on Los Angeles’ Eastside lack them. One resident took on the task of putting in benches himself.

November 30, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Compass Columbia comprehensive plan

Getting Started on Inclusive Planning

A toolbox for local governments to address inequality.

November 29, 2018 - Nate Baker

Street Food

Los Angeles Approves Sidewalk Vending Ordinance

The new ordinance brings long-awaited legal legitimacy to sidewalk vending in Los Angeles.

November 28, 2018 - Streetsblog LA

Seattle Public School

Neighborhood and School Integration Don't Always Go Hand in Hand, Study Finds

In cities across the U.S., the relationship between residential and school segregation isn’t always clear.

November 27, 2018 - Chalkbeat

Macron Protest

Fuel Tax Hike Revolt Threatens French President Macron's Leadership

Anger at fuel tax increases planned for January, part of a pro-Green agenda espoused by President Emmanuel Macron, has sparked a populous movement involving hundreds of thousands of protestors that have taken to the streets, erupting into violence.

November 26, 2018 - CityLab

Nashville Tennessee

Nashville Scored an Amazon Prize, But the Long-Term Outcomes for the City Are Less Clear

Critics say the new operations facility will make some of the city’s problems even worse.

November 26, 2018 - Curbed

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.

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.