Culture War
Court Ruling Overturns Texas’ ‘Death Star’ State Preemption Bill
The Texas government’s attempt to keep bluer local governments in check has been delt a setback by the state’s judicial system.
Majority of Americans Prefer Larger Homes and Longer Trips, Survey Says
The percentages have fluctuated on either side of the pandemic, but most Americans prefer to live in communities with larger houses, located farther away from schools, stores, and restaurants, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
When Planning Issues Become ‘Culture Wars’
‘Commonsense’ urbanism projects are being painted by opponents as sinister plots to limit movement and erode property rights.
New York Suspends Land Use Reviews for Shelters
The Adams administration in New York City will relax the review process for homeless shelters to create new space for arriving asylum seekers.
Berkeley’s First-in-Nation Natural Gas Ban Overthrown by Court Ruling
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Berkeley does not have the power to mandate electric hookups in new development because a federal rule preempts the local regulation.
Texas Legislation Would Add More Roadblocks for Transit Funding in Austin
A former Austin city councilmember, now at the Texas State Legislature, is trying to make it harder for Austin Transit Partnership to borrow money to fund Project Connect, the Austin region’s big, ambitious transit investment plan.
Walt Disney World No Longer a Self-Governed Special District
The culture war is determining the powers of special districts in Florida, as exemplified by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing HB 9-B, thus rescinding a special district created 50 years ago to manage land and infrastructure around Disney World.
The Slow Retreat of Pandemic-Era Outdoor Dining Programs Continues
It’s been almost three years since the political dynamics of outdoor dining in the United States shifted, suddenly and overwhelmingly. Increasingly, the status quo is being restored.
Chain Drugstores Are Closing, But Not Because of Shoplifting
Massive chain drug stores have become integral members of the urban fabric, for better or worse, but widespread store closures and security practices have come to symbolize urban decline. The dynamic must be monitored.
Minnesota Republicans Kill Passenger Rail, Freeway Cap Projects
Republicans in the Minnesota State Senate blocked the planning of a proposed passenger rail route between Duluth and the Twin Cities in addition to a plan for a freeway cap in a historically Black neighborhood in St. Paul.
Year in Review: Urban Planning in 2021
Part one of two of Planetizen's review of 2021—re-assessing failed predictions and daylighting the biggest planning stories of the year.
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.
3 Takeaways From 2020 Census Apportionment Data
The U.S. Census Bureau yesterday released its first set of apportionment population and resident population counts for the nation and each state.
How Trump's Version of the Suburbs Gets it Wrong
Analysis of Trump's favorability ratings with suburban voters and the demographic trends of recent years could doom his recent messages regarding the Democratic agenda for the suburbs.
The Anti-Urban Streak of Hallmark's Christmas Movies
The culture war episode sparked by a recent commercial aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel shouldn't surprise anyone who has noticed the anti-urban themes consistent in the channel's Christmas movies.
Friday Funny: Satirizing the War on Cars
A new voice in the wilderness of YouTube: the War on Cars.
The New Enemy of the Alt-Right: Modern Architecture
Are the iconic symbols of modern architecture a new front line in the new era of culture wars?
Battle Cry of the Suburban Majority
According to Joel Kotkin, the next culture war will be fought over how and where Americans choose to live. It's suburbs vs. cities, again.
Bikes Become Target of Conservatives' Vitriol
Is biking a partisan past time? If you listen to conservative leaders, you might think bikes were created as part of a liberal mission to spread socialism and curtail personal freedoms. Cycling is the unlikely new front in the culture wars.
How Mass Transit Became a Focus of the Culture Wars
Delving into the psychology behind the House transportation bill, Will Doig investigates the reasons why the Tea Party have turned their attention to mass transit as the next culture war battleground.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
