California

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

California Energy Efficiency Program Could Be Much More Effective for Low-Income Residents

According to an analysis by the Energy Efficiency for All coalition, California's Energy Savings Assistance Program could be four times as effective for low-income renters if it were better deployed.

October 9, 2018 - NRDC

School Chlidren

San Jose Proposes Turning Schools into Teacher Housing, Faces Outcry

A San Jose Unified School District plan to relocate several schools and build affordable housing in their place has sparked controversy. The district says teachers increasingly can't afford to live in the area.

October 9, 2018 - The Mercury News

Bay Area Rapid Transit

BART Rolls Out Upgraded Earthquake Alert System

The new sensor technology gives riders up to a minute to drop, cover, and hold on.

October 9, 2018 - Mercury News

Urban Solar Power

To Incentivize Clean Energy, California Commits $800 Million

Recently signed by Governor Jerry Brown, a new measure has increased the funds California sets aside to incentivize energy storage systems to over $1 billion.

October 8, 2018 - The New York Times

Gas Pumps

California Doubles Carbon Intensity Reduction Requirement for Transportation Fuels

California regulators have found that transportation emissions are the most difficult to reduce, unlike those from electricity generation. The state just took a major step by approving significant changes to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard program.

October 8, 2018 - NGT News

Uber Jump bike

Uber Wants to Make Urban Mobility More Sustainable

Uber plans to support sustainable mobility by funding advocacy efforts, sharing data, and offering bike-share service.

October 7, 2018 - Curbed

High Speed Rail California

Proposed California Ballot Measure From Gas Tax Opposition Goes After High-Speed Rail

A follow-up initiative to Proposition 6 would put the brakes on high-speed rail in California and funnel gas tax funds to roads.

October 7, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Lafayette BART

City's Opposition to BART TOD Bill Factors into City Manager's Retirement

Steven Falk, city manager for 22 years of the East Bay enclave of Lafayette, expressed frustration with the city's resistance to infill development, calling it incompatible with addressing "the most significant challenges of our time."

October 6, 2018 - SF Gate

Housing Construction

California's Housing Package, One Year Later

It's too early to gauge the long-term effects of California's housing package signed a year ago. But with a $4 billion bond on the ballot this November, some facts (and some dramas) have already made themselves known.

October 6, 2018 - CALmatters

California

California to Regulate Security of IoT Devices

A recently approved California bill will set a legislative standard in the U.S. for basic Internet of Things security.

October 5, 2018 - Iot Times

Nightime view of San Diego skyline

Not All of San Diego's Inclusionary Zoning Funds Going to Affordable Housing

San Diego finds itself having to explain how its inclusionary zoning program spending diverged from expectations.

October 4, 2018 - Voice of San Diego

Volvo to Sell All-Electric Heavy Trucks in North America in 2020

Volvo gained attention last year by announcing it would stop making new internal combustion engine models. Now it plans to electrify its 2020 truck models as well. A demonstration program will be launched in Southern California next year.

October 4, 2018 - Transport Topics

Vote

San Jose City Council Supports New Billboards

San Jose, California is suddenly taking a much more permissive approach to large billboards.

October 4, 2018 - The Mercury News

Stahl House Los Angeles

Los Angeles Launches Wave of Community Plan Updates

With a promise to update all 35 of its community plans by 2024, Los Angeles took a big step toward that goal this week by launching new planning processes in nine community plan areas.

October 3, 2018 - Los Angeles Department of City Planning

Silicon Valley, facing Downtown San Jose

Two Sides of the California Rent Control Debate, in Silicon Valley and Beyond

In California, rent control continues to be a hotly contested issue at both the local and state levels.

October 3, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Bus Rapid Transit

Another Bus Rapid Transit Planned for L.A.—Connecting North Hollywood to Pasadena

More details have emerged for yet another large transit project in Los Angeles County.

October 2, 2018 - Urbanize LA

Vinod Khosla

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Case Threatening the California Coastal Act

A conservative and partisan court handed a victory to public access and California's environmental law by refusing to hear an appeal sought by billionaire Vinod Khosla.

October 2, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco, California

Open for a Month, San Francisco's Transit Terminal Shut Down Due to Cracked Beams

The $2.2 billion Salesforce Transit Center, which opened to much celebration on Aug. 11, closed down abruptly Sept. 25 after workers found a cracked steel beam. A second cracked beam was later found. Work began Sunday to shore up the structure.

October 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

BART Station

BART Development Law Signed

Under a law signed today by Governor Jerry Brown, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) gains the power to rezone its properties. It's a decisive victory for state preemption over local control in the face of California's housing crisis.

October 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Jose, California

Downtown San Jose Could Get Taller

In the Bay Area's biggest city, the debate over density pits two economic drivers against each other.

October 1, 2018 - Mercury News

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.