California

Wine Country Fires

In California, Struggles Over Insurance Regulation in the Era of Climate Change

Setting insurance rates by looking to the past to predict the future doesn’t make sense with increasing environmental uncertainties, argues the California insurance industry.

July 13, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

Hollywood Walk of Fame

New Master Plan for L.A.’s Hollywood Walk of Fame

The plan will detail $4 million in improvements to one of the city’s biggest tourist draws.

June 23, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

Transportation Network Company

Opinion: California Needs to Close Gig Economy Loopholes

A state bill would force gig companies to treat workers fairly and would stanch the flow of subsidies that keep customer costs artificially low.

June 23, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Visitation Valley Greenway

A Route Through the City, S.F. Crosstown Trail Opens

After five years of planning, a San Francisco trail now runs across the city linking neighborhoods and greenspaces.

June 15, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ford GoBike

A Bikeshare Showdown Between Uber and Lyft

Lyft may soon not be the sole bikeshare operation in San Francisco as the city looks to expand the system and open the market up to other companies.

June 10, 2019 - Streetsblog USA

Thailand

New on Netflix: How Street Vendors Create Vibrant Cities

Street vending has been a contentious issue in many places, but this part of the informal economy is important to the social and economic well-being of cities.

May 28, 2019 - CityLab

Washington, D.C. Apartment

Eleven Units of Affordable Housing Coming to S.F. Bay Area Suburb

A new apartment building is going up in Danville, California, but the affordable housing it will provide is a drop in the bucket compared to the state’s massive housing needs.

May 26, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Handcycle

Oakland's Adaptive Bike Share Program

The pilot program seeks to make bike share more inclusive by providing bikes designed to make biking easy and accessible for disabled riders.

May 20, 2019 - The Mercury News

Homeless Cars

Ban on Living and Sleeping in Vehicles Approved in San Diego

A recently reinstated ordinance prohibits people from living out of their cars. The city says it wants to people to use "safe parking lots" where other services are available.

May 20, 2019 - CBS News 8 (San Diego)

South Los Angeles

Nipsey Hussle Wanted Community Partnerships for South L.A.’s Development Future

Before his death in March, Hussle has plans for an opportunity zone investment fund that would ensure the community wouldn’t lose out in the development process.

May 16, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Biking Los Angeles

L.A. Failing to Reach Vision Zero Goals

The city has seen a rise in car crash deaths since implementing its Vision Zero initiative. Advocates say not enough action is being taken to make streets safer.

May 9, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Metro Bus

Many Lives, One Space on an L.A. Bus

A reporter rides the bus in Los Angeles and discovers the interesting, complicated, and sometimes heartbreaking stories that riders bring on board.

May 8, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

High Speed Rail California

The Consultants Behind the CA High-Speed Rail Debacle

The state's high-speed rail project is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. A major problem is that consultants have been running the show from the start, say critics.

May 6, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Bay Bridge

Tech Money Dominates S.F. Housing Market

The tech industry has created massive wealth, and the impacts on the real estate market are most dramatic in San Francisco.

April 27, 2019 - The Atlantic

Disabled Parking Sign

Putting a Stop to Disabled-Placard Fraud in L.A.

The fine for misuse of a placard will increase considerably, but not everyone agrees this is the right way to address a growing problem.

April 25, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Diego Beach Housing

California Bill Takes Aim at Vacation Rentals

Proposed legislation in California would limit short-term beach rentals in San Diego.

April 25, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADUs Offer Affordable Housing in California, but Challenges Persist

While accessory dwelling units have the potential to ease California’s housing crisis, homeowners still find the construction process difficult to navigate.

April 24, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Stanford

California's Upzoning Bill, SB 50, Would Allow Apartment Construction in Wealthy Communities

The proposed legislation would open up cities like Palo Alto to higher-density housing.

April 24, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles BRT

Transit Projects Would Provide Local and Regional Connectivity for L.A. Suburb

Two projects on the table in Glendale, California, a BRT line and a streetcar, would increase mobility options in the city.

April 23, 2019 - Glendale News-Press

Inglewood NFL Stadium

Residents Left Behind as L.A. Stadium Project Surges Ahead

Inglewood had fallen on hard times, but then plans for a massive sports and entertainment complex came along. While the city’s future is poised to change dramatically, the development is also displacing residents.

April 20, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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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.