California

Aerial view of downtown Stockton, California with brick church in foreground.

Will This Resident Group Get Full Control of the Complex They Helped Fix?

A group of Cambodian immigrants took partial control of an affordable housing property in the 90s, and since then, they’ve made big changes to the complex. But they haven’t been able to get full legal control of the property for decades. Why?

August 15, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

View looking down indoor concourse at Los Angeles Union Station with “To Union Station East” and “Passageway to Trains and Patsaouras Bus Plaza” signs.

Can LA Achieve a ‘No-Car’ Olympics?

The city’s mayor promises all Olympic venues will be reachable by transit, but the city’s ability to finish its transit projects on time is coming into question.

August 14, 2024 - Associated Press

Close-up of white pedestrian and bike symbols painted on concrete path.

California Bill Promotes ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Solutions

The bill is part of an effort to reverse entrenched patterns in traffic engineering and speed up the adoption of safer infrastructure for people walking and biking.

August 13, 2024 - CalBike

Tent City Bay Area

The Fight Continues Against Criminalization of Homelessness

Though disappointed in the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing sleeping bans, homeless advocates are energized and organizing around other solutions.

August 13, 2024 - Shelterforce Magazine

Intersection with stoplight and "no right turn on red" sign in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Officials Call for Citywide Ban on Right Turns on Red

A proposal to prohibit turns on red at some downtown intersections prompted calls for a blanket ban for the entire city.

August 12, 2024 - CBS News

Close-up of silver sign indicating 'no smoking' with cigarette inside circle with line. Sign is sitting on patio table outdoors.

SoCal City Bans Smoking on Multifamily Properties

The law prohibits smoking tobacco or cannabis in both indoor and outdoor spaces, prompting backlash from residents.

August 8, 2024 - CNN Newsource

View looking up at stone entrance arch with name and Olympic rings at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Will LA’s Transit Plan Cross the Finish Line Ahead of 2028 Summer Olympics?

The latest report from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the 2028 Summer Olympics host city is falling behind on its transit improvement plan and likely won't catch up in time for the Games.

August 8, 2024 - NBC 4

Los Angeles transit bus passing in front of LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

LA to Launch Bus Lane Enforcement Cameras

Bus-mounted cameras will identify vehicles that block designated bus lanes to help prevent delays and maintain reliable transit operations.

August 7, 2024 - KTLA

Front entrance of Berryessa BART station in North San Jose, California.

South Bay BART Extension Gets $5.1 Billion in Federal Funding

The grant brings the project closer to reality, but delays and cost overruns are putting a completion date more than a decade away.

August 5, 2024 - KQED

Google street view of two-story white apartment building in Los Angeles, California with "Key West 1940" text above entrance.

LA Officials Struggle to Enforce Short-Term Rental Rules

Hundreds of rent-controlled units are being illegally rented out as short-term rentals, pushing out long-term renters and exacerbating the city’s housing crisis.

August 5, 2024 - ProPublica

Aerial view of Wasco viaduct built for California HIgh-Speed Rail project.

50,000 California State Fairgoers Visit High-Speed Rail Exhibit

An interactive exhibit offered visitors a glimpse into the future rail system.

August 2, 2024 - Newsweek

View of San Francisco from top of hill with Victorian houses in foreground.

San Francisco Bans Rent Fixing Software

The Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a bill that bars landlords from using software that critics say facilitates collusion between landlords.

August 2, 2024 - San Francisco Examiner

Older man riding e-bike with cargo trailer with small white fluffy dog looking at camera on paved bike trail.

An Update on California’s E-Bike Incentive Program

The e-bike rebate program, first funded in 2021, is still a failure to launch.

July 30, 2024 - Streetsblog California

Aerial view of San Fernando, California.

ADU Construction Flourishing in Los Angeles County

The boom is happening in some unexpected areas.

July 30, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Aerial view of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum entrance arch with name and Olympic rings.

LA is Electrifying its Bus Fleet, but Olympic Transit Challenges Remain

The region is preparing its transit system to handle the more than one million visitors expected during the 2028 Olympic Games.

July 25, 2024 - Mass Transit

Homeless encampments on the Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk.

Study: ‘Sweeps’ Don’t Impact Homelessness

A study of three Los Angeles neighborhoods revealed that ‘cleanups’ of encampments don’t result in fewer people on the streets.

July 25, 2024 - Governing

Bike lane marked with white paint on asphalt street.

Zeroing in on California’s Incomplete Streets

A report highlights the lack of enforcement of Caltrans’ Complete Streets policy in projects around the state.

July 24, 2024 - Streetsblog California

Rendering of large 'lagoon' pool in California Forever planned development.

‘California Forever’ Withdraws Ballot Measure

The company will delay taking its high-tech planned community proposal to Solano County voters to conduct an environmental impact report and work with the city on zoning changes.

July 23, 2024 - KQED

Dense neighborhood of homes on a hillside on the water in San Diego, California.

San Diego’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance, One Year in

Since enacting a spate of regulations on short-term rentals, the city has removed over 7,000 illegal listings from online platforms.

July 23, 2024 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

View of people sitting in lightly sloped green lawn with Spanish colonial-style building and cityscape in background in San Francisco, California.

How Local Park Agencies Contribute to Decarbonization Efforts

Park agencies play an important role in decarbonization by creating and managing parklands, promoting sustainable practices, and engaging communities to combat climate change and enhance public health and biodiversity.

July 23, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

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.