Tax Deductions

California House

Op-Ed: It's Time for a Weakened Mortgage Interest Deduction To Go

Last year's tax reform bill seriously curtailed the mortgage interest deduction, despite its reputation for untouchability. Perhaps lawmakers should get rid of it entirely.

May 4, 2018 - Slate

Los Angeles Skyline with houses

California Spends $6.5 Billion on Homeowner Subsidies, 15 Times Less on Renters

A new report from the California Housing Partnership "revealed a wide gap between state support for homeowners and renters."

March 12, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Mansion

Home Ownership Subsidy Takes a $250,000 Hit in Final Version of Tax Bill

The current mortgage interest deduction is $1 million. The House version of the tax bill called for a $500,000 cap while the Senate left it untouched. They split the difference and capped it at $750,000. Congress is expected to pass H.R. 1 this week

December 20, 2017 - The New York Times

Quito BRT

End the Transit Commuter Benefit, And Replace It With This

If we really want more people to use transit, and we think it's a worthwhile goal to subsidize people's commutes, why go through all the trouble of tax deductions and employer control? Why not just subsidize transit passes directly?

January 29, 2014 - Shane Phillips

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.

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.