Discrimination

Chicago police car with blue lights on stopped on street in evening.

Study: Chicago Speed Cameras More Equitable Than Police

The city’s automated traffic enforcement cameras are issuing tickets at rates more aligned with the community’s racial makeup — unlike human police officers, according to a new analysis.

October 15, 2024 - The Conversation

A historic color-coded HOLC map of Milwalkee with sections in red, yellow, and blue.

Putting the Myth of the Redlining Maps to Rest

Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) maps have long been blamed for racial inequities in today’s Black neighborhoods, but recent research shows that’s misleading.

August 21, 2024 - Alan Mallach

Milwaukee, Wisconsin skyline with houses in foreground.

‘Growing MKE’ Zoning Reform Plan Would Expand Milwaukee Housing Options

Proponents of the plan say the changes would help reverse decades of discriminatory housing policies.

July 30, 2024 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

A leaf-free rusty street drain covered in a few inches of water.

Study: D.C.’s Poorest Neighborhoods Are Most Vulnerable to Stormwater

Lack of gray and green infrastructure in the city’s densest communities, particularly in historically Black Southeast D.C., has led to higher amounts of flooding in those neighborhoods.

June 9, 2024 - Phys.org

Smoke coming out of stack at petrochemical plant in Louisiana.

Judge Halts EPA Action in ‘Cancer Alley’ Civil Rights Case

EPA investigations into violations of the Civil Rights Act in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” were ruled as “federal overreach.”

January 26, 2024 - Common Dreams

Brick brownstone homes in Back Bay, Boston with green hedges in front.

Report: How Outdated Zoning Rules Still Shape Boston

Classist and racist zoning decisions from decades past reverberate in today’s neighborhoods.

November 10, 2023 - WBUR

Aerial view of homes west of downtown Chicago, Illinois

Assessing the Racial Home Valuation Gap

Research shows that homes in communities of color are consistently undervalued by, in some cases, over $1 million.

May 24, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Red bridge with arches over highway with white letters spanning bridge "Peachtree Corners" near Atlanta, Georgia

The Changing Geography of Housing Segregation

Racial segregation in housing is growing and shifting as affluent enclaves form new incorporated cities and options for affordable housing in cities become more limited.

May 11, 2023 - Joint Center for Housing Studies

“Moral & Political Chart of the inhabited world:  Exhibiting the Prevailing Religion, form of government, degree of civilization, and Population of each country.” In Woodbridge’s School Atlas, 1831.

The Pseudoscientific Foundations of Racist Planning Practices

Racist and colonialist narratives in old geography textbooks help explain the prevalence of segregationist and discriminatory policies and other nasty planning practices. It’s time to understand and reconcile.

March 28, 2023 - Todd Litman

White clapboard house with For Sale sign in front yard

The Racial Gap in Homeownership is Growing

Black families face bigger challenges when trying to buy homes, leading to a growing gap between Black and white homeownership.

March 9, 2023 - Madison 365

A sign announcing the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Facility in Jackson, Mississippi

Mississippi Investigated for Civil Rights Violations in Jackson Water Crisis

The NAACP has accused a pair of Mississippi departments of discrimination against Black Mississippians, leading to the loss of drinking water in the state's capital city at the end of the summer.

October 25, 2022 - Mississippi Free Press

A road sign reads "Welcome to City of Wheat Ridge Buckle Up and Drive Safely"

Denver Suburb Points Spotlight at Racial Covenants

A symbolic, but necessary, action.

August 10, 2022 - Thee Dever Post

A group of tents line a street in front of Los Angeles City Hall.

Analysis: California’s Bumpy Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Implementation

California took the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule and ran with it. Fully realizing the goals of the AFFH in California will require more work, according to a recent analysis.

June 8, 2022 - Policies for Action

A Black LIves Matter Protest, with a protestor holding up a sign that reads "Open Your Eyes: Systemic Racism Is Real"

Planning Directors Commit to Change on Racial Inequities

Planning directors around the country have acknowledged the historic role of the planning profession in furthering the causes of racial discrimination and have publicly committed to change that history.

October 13, 2021 - Next City

Houston Townhouse

Racial Bias Still Rampant in the Mortgage Industry

New research that controls for financial factors the industry said would explain disparities shows that race still plays a major role in loan decisions.

September 13, 2021 - The Markup

Black Likes Matter

White House Marks Juneteenth by Pushing for Zoning Reforms

On a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, the White House marked the occasion by discussion exclusionary zoning.

June 20, 2021 - WhiteHouse.gov

Redlining Map

Story Mapping the Racism in Planning History

A Story Map created by the Louisville Metro Office of Planning & Design Services offers a detailed, visual presentation of the history of racism and discriminatory in the planning and zoning of the Louisville and Jefferson County.

April 7, 2021 - Louisville Metro Office of Planning & Design Services

Boston

Boston to Require Fair Housing Review for New Developments

The Boston Zoning Code is one of the first in the nation to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.

February 23, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Washington D.C.

Environmental Agencies Failing at Civil Rights, Report Says

A report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General calls out state environmental agencies for a lack of civil rights enforecement and makes recommendations for resolving shortcomings.

October 15, 2020 - Grist

New York City Subway

Formerly Redlined Neighborhoods Have Higher COVID-19 Prevalence, Study Says

Add COVID-19 to the list of long-term consequences of the racist and discriminatory regulatory and lending practices of the 20th century.

September 14, 2020 - Next City

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.