Los Angeles County

Much of Future Measure R Money to Pay For "L.A. Roadworks"

Mayor Villaraigosa plans to borrow against future Measure R money to fund one massive, two-year road improvement project before he leaves office.

November 11, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

New West Hollywood Library At The Fore Of L.A. Civic Architecture

West Hollywood's new library returns to the California Mid-Century tradition with floor to ceiling glass windows providing plenty of natural light, and a walkable link to Santa Monica boulevard a new park signals a new civic focus.

September 29, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

While Others Struggle, L.A. County Moves On Transportation Projects

While cities throughout California and the rest of the nation struggle to afford even their most basic services, L.A. County's moving ahead with more than $4 billion in transportation projects.

May 19, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Strife in the City of the Future

Joel Kotkin describes the plight of a Los Angeles economy that has lost "one-fifth of all its employment since 2004." Once a hopeful generator of new jobs and technology, the area has suffered the most of all the Sunbelt metros.

June 16, 2010 - New Geography

Study Shows Shelter Reduces Costs

A four-year study by United Way of Greater Los Angeles has shown that stable housing provides benefits to taxpayers as well as the homeless.

October 14, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Failure of Palmdale Airport Frustrates Regional Planning In SoCal

Once the object of grand plans, L.A. county's Palmdale Regional Airport has tried in vain to sustain regular service and ease congestion at LAX. United's pullout in December leaves the future of regionalization in doubt.

March 13, 2009 - California Planning & Development Report

Ethnic Integration Up in Greater L.A. Suburbs

Many residents can still recount when their neighborhoods were far less ethnically diverse than their are now, which is backed by new census data showing that in most cities, the white population is down.

December 10, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Transit Sales Tax Passes...Barely

Los Angeles County voters narrowly approved Measure R, a half-cent sales tax measure, by 67.4% (2/3 was necessary) to fund rail and road projects, including the Subway to the Sea. The victory is seen as a huge coup for LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

November 6, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

What L.A.'s Transit Tax Proposal Would Mean

L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne and transportation reporter Steve Hymon look at a proposal to raise the sales tax in L.A. to fund public transit. They call it a good opportunity for the city's urbanism, but also a tough sell.

October 31, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

East L.A. Bids for Incorporation

For the fourth time, the unincorporated area of East Los Angeles is making efforts to become a city. This article examines its colorful history and what East L.A. hopes to accomplish in gaining cityhood.

October 2, 2008 - Newsweek

Half-a-Penny for Your Transit?

After being signed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a half-cent sales tax increase will appear on the November ballot in Los Angeles County, where it would create a fund for public transit projects.

September 26, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

L.A. MTA Puts More Transportation Funding on Nov. Ballot

After more than three hours of public comment and debate at Thursday's MTA Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved placing a half-cent sales tax on the November ballot, pending approval of a companion Assembly bill.

July 27, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

L.A. Transit Chief Calls for Highway Tolls

In this opinion piece, Roger Snoble of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority discusses why the region's mobility would benefit from toll lanes on highways.

May 6, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

L.A. Offered Funding, With Toll Road Ultimatum

The federal government is tempting officials in Los Angeles County with more than $200 million in transportation funding -- but only if the county converts some highway lanes to congestion pricing toll lanes.

April 25, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Taco Trucks in Trouble

Mobile taco trucks in Los Angeles may face tougher fines for parking in any one place for too long if proposed restrictions are passed by the county.

April 16, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Public Buildings with a Side of Art

Included in the budget of any new county building in Los Angeles County is a 1% line item for the creation of public art -- part of a public art program initiated in 2004. The first building to utilize this line item has just been completed.

March 13, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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