Barack Obama

How Infrastructure Investment Became Political Fodder

Andrea Bernstein traces how, in four short years, partisan politics have infected discussions about investment in infrastructure.

September 25, 2012 - Transportation Nation

U.S. Infrastructure Funding is a Bit Fuzzy

The newest U.S. stimulus proposal is aimed at improving infrastructure but could go farther, says Jonna McKone from TheCityFix.com.

September 10, 2010 - TheCityFix

The Return of Nuclear Power

Pres. Obama has come out in favor of developing more nuclear power plants, and the public is warming up to the idea because of the climate change benefits of switching from coal. Hendrik Hertzberg looks at the politics of atomic power.

March 22, 2010 - The New Yorker

Exploring Web 2.0 in Urban Planning

Last year I had the opportunity to teach a graduate course on "Web 2.0 for Policy and Planning" at the University of Southern California's School of Policy, Planning & Development. Although I am co-teaching a different class this year, I have updated my course website with a revised course syllabus and extensive reading list on Web 2.0 and planning, based on what I learned from teaching the course in Spring, 2009.

March 11, 2010 - Chris Steins

Obama on Urban Affairs

Via the White House, here are the President's opening remarks at yesterday's roundtable discussions with the Office of Urban Affairs and the Domestic Policy Council. He highlighted success stories in Denver, Kansas City, and Philadelphia.

July 14, 2009 - WhiteHouse.gov

Obama's High Speed Rail Plans

Neal Peirce looks at President Barack Obama's ambitious plans for high speed rail and the significant obstacles that stand in its way.

May 10, 2009 - Citiwire

Is Obama's Urban Policy Office DOA?

During the campaign, Obama promised U.S. mayors that he'd create an Office of Urban Policy. But indications so far are that the office is facing a significant downgrade, writes Dayo Olopade.

April 29, 2009 - The Root

2,000 Transportation Projects

That's how many projects the Obama administration claims to have launched with the stimulus money, countering detractors who argued that the funding couldn't be spent fast enough to have an impact.

April 13, 2009 - The Washington Post

Translating the Stimulus: What it Means for Energy

$16.8 billion of Pres. Obama's stimulus package is allocated to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Steve Coll of the New Yorker explains where the funding is going, and what it means.

March 16, 2009 - The New Yorker

Shovels Are In Motion, Says Obama

The President and V.P. addressed the Department of Transportation today, stating that the new investment in infrastructure "will create or save 150,000 jobs by the end of next year, most of them in the private sector."

March 3, 2009 - WhiteHouse.gov

Obama Seeks More Census Power

President Barack Obama is seeking greater control over the 2010 Census. This opinion piece from The Wall Street Journal looks at what it could mean for the upcoming count.

February 15, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Where Will the Money Go?

Now that the $838 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed the Senate, where will the money go? Stimulus Watch has a breakdown of every project by state, and by type. Here are links to the transit, roads, energy, and housing projects.

February 10, 2009 - Stimulus Watch

Stimulus to Nowhere?

John Norquist, President and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism, believes that President Obama should reconsider committing stimulus funds to decades-old freeway expansion projects and take transportation policy in a new direction.

January 22, 2009 - John Norquist

Obama Knows Jane Jacobs

Last summer in Toledo, former mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski handed Barack Obama a book, saying it is the most important book about rebuilding cities. Obama responded, 'Is it Jane Jacobs?'

January 7, 2009 - BeyondDC

LaHood a 'Spending Superstar'

The Wall St. Journal calls new transportation secretary Ray LaHood the "secretary of earmarks", and one of the biggest spenders in Congress.

December 29, 2008 - The Wall St. Journal

Suburbs Benefit From an Urban President, Too

In fact, says one planner, suburbs and exurbs can expect to see some of the biggest changes of all, at least from infrastructure and transportation funding.

December 22, 2008 - Marketwatch

How Will D.C. Cope with 4 Million Obama Fans?

Planners in Washington D.C. are bracing for the arrival of millions of visitors for President Obama's inauguration -- which they expect will overwhelm the parking supply and the public transit system.

December 16, 2008 - Salon.com

Obama's Infrastructure Spending Could be a "Tragic Waste", Says Kunstler

James Kunstler believes that President-Elect Obama's bid to boost the economy through repairing infrastructure could be more usefully spent on rail and harbors.

December 11, 2008 - James Kunstler's Blog

Obama Announces Energy Team

Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, will be the President-Elect's pick for Secretary of Energy, and Carol Browner (formerly head of the EPA) will take on the newly created role of Energy Czar.

December 11, 2008 - The Wall St. Journal

Obama Puts Focus on Public Works

President-elect Barack Obama has announced a promise to institute a broad-ranging package of building programs, from infrastructure to schools -- the nation's largest public works program since the post-war era.

December 9, 2008 - The New York Times

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An annual review of books related to planning.

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Planning apps for a brave new world.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.