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Elections
Feature
Thinking beyond the presidency: Here's an Election Day 2020 roundup of election issues related to planning, urban design, and the built and natural environments.
This month's election yielded mixed results on housing. The pros: a solid victory for pro-housing Mayor London Breed and two affordable housing measures. The con: likely more anti-housing sentiment on the Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco Chronicle
It's not suburbs vs. cities but inner vs. outer suburbs that determined the outcome of elections in Virginia last Tuesday that flipped the General Assembly from red to blue.
The New York Times
Washington voters' approval of Initiative 976, which put a limit on car tab increases as well as repealing many motor vehicle fees, will have far-reaching consequences for funding road maintenance, transit, and bike and pedestrian projects.
The Seattle Times
Blog post
Many states and cities around the country voted on November 5, 2019 to decide matters related to the future of the built environment.
The executive director of Environment Texas makes the case for public transit as a key tool in improving air pollution in and around Houston. Houston voters will vote on the MetroNext bond referendum today.
Houston Chronicle
In sharp contrast to France's yellow vest demonstrations against fuel tax hikes, Madrid residents took to the streets to keep them free of motor vehicles after new leaders were elected who vowed to rescind the driving ban enacted last November.
CityLab
On June 27, the Supreme Court didn't just rule on the Census Bureau's citizenship question. It also decided that it wasn't their business to consider how congressional districts are drawn, which will likely reduce the influence of cities.
The New York Times
In the run-up to a municipal primary scheduled for May 21, Philadelphia's City Council has introduced a range of bills to address housing affordability and tenants' rights.
Next City
The most recent citywide election in Chicago was considered a referendum on the old way of operating the city. The $6 billion Lincoln Yards project, on the brink of approval, could be included in that referendum.
Chicago Tribune
Nationwide, voters approved nearly 70 percent of transportation ballot measures on the ballot.
Eno Center for Transportation
A political feud over the image of the bicycle has just been resolved in the state of Uttar Predesh.
The New York Times
Today's suburbs have changed dramatically from a generation ago. Younger, more diverse, and more liberal, they are "trending more Democratic." The PBS News Hour explores this critical demographic shift five days before Election Day.
PBS NewsHour
Spokane, Washington may be at a crossroads as voters consider expanding the city's urban transportation system. Some say it's key to attracting young workers and building a walkable urban environment. Others see it as a waste of money.
The Spokesman-Review
A look back at a controversy from this month's Virginia State Senate election, which produced some seriously misleading rhetoric about "toll roads" (i.e., the proposal was for HOT lanes, not a toll road).
Vox
This week, voters in Philadelphia will decide on a ballot measure that could realign city government to create a new Department of Planning and Development.
PlanPhilly
Urban planning is front in center in Nashville, with a general plan update underway and a mayoral election looming on August 6. One candidate took to the editorial pages of The Tennessean to lay out a housing and transit agenda.
The Tennessean
There is little, or no, evidence that offering free transit on election day improves voter turnout. Today the Twin Cities will do it anyway for the sake of, hopefully, improving the democratic process.
CityLab
Stepping away from campaign rhetoric, what must the next mayor focus on to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for the largest city on the West Coast? Civic, business, labor, and intellectual readers offer advice to the next Mayor of Los Angeles.
The Planning Report
Blog post
This morning over at Atlantic Cities, Richard Florida aptly refuted an opinion piece by Kevin Meagher that appeared in the Guardian last week advocating for doing away with the position of Mayor in London. Florida lays out several strong arguments in favor of a strong elected mayor who can act as an advocate for his or her city.
