California

New Report: Latinos Disproportionately Impacted By Air Pollution

One out of every two Latino's live in the nation's top 25 most ozone-polluted cities according to a new report. KQED's California Report interviews one of the co-authors, the Director of Latino Outreach for NRDC, in this radio report.

September 23, 2011 - The California Report

Ambitious Transit Village Back On, City Says

A waterfront development in Hercules, California which includes a multimodal bus/train/ferry facility, will be built, say city officials and the developer. This despite the fact that where half the cash is coming from has yet to be determined.

September 22, 2011 - The San Jose Mercury News

Enviros Not Happy With San Francisco's World Cup Plans

The America's Cup, the worlds fastest yacht race, is destined for San Francisco in 2013. But local environmental groups are not pleased with the current plan to manage the environmental impacts of the event.

September 22, 2011 - USA Today

CA High Speed Rail: Litigation Bonanza

If the lack of funding doesn't kill it, lawsuits in northern, southern, and now central California might just do it. California Watch analyzes the lawsuits facing the CA High Speed Rail Authority in the three regions of the state.

September 20, 2011 - California Watch via SF Chronicle

Cut Here, Army Corps of Engineers

A dam near Ojai, California built in 1947 attracts almost unanimous disapproval. Getting the dam demolished though is a long and frustrating process, one an unknown graffiti artist commented on this week.

September 20, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

The Dutch Touch

Leah Shahum returns to San Francisco from a 7-month sabbatical in Amsterdam with a new perspective on making cities bike-friendly the Dutch way.

September 20, 2011 - Streetsblog

L.A. Suing Billboard Magnate Over Supergraphics

Michael McNeilly of SkyTag covered building sides across Los Angeles with multi-story advertisements, disregarding laws prohibiting them. The city is suing SkyTag for millions in penalties.

September 19, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

Three Controversial Bills To Reform CEQA

The CA Environmental Quality Act: you either love it or hate it. The 1970 law either protects the environment or stifles smart growth, depending upon your perspective. Three bills lie on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk that address different aspects of it.

September 19, 2011 - Legal Planet

Posh Hollywood 'Hood Allowed Temporary Gate to Keep Out Partiers

Solar Drive, deep in the Hollywood Hills, is a ritzy block of expensive homes. But over the past year, an empty mansion was overrun by squatters and partiers. Permission for the gate is temporary, but hikers are upset by blocked routes.

September 18, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

What do Californians Want From Government?

CA Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez discusses the current challenges faced by government in California, drawing particular attention to the struggle for consensus on how the State should support economic development at the local level. (VIDEO)

September 17, 2011 - The Planning Report

Planning Suffers From Malaise, Stagnation

Veteran planner Bill Fulton looks back on a quarter-century of planning in California and finds distressingly little energy or spirit.

September 16, 2011 - California Planning & Development Report

Clean Cars May Lose Express Lane Privilege in LA

Single occupant electric vehicles retained access to carpool lanes in California, while hybrid owners lost it on July 1st.

September 15, 2011 - Los Angeles Times: Environment

A Gradual Approach to Improve a Busy San Francisco Street

San Francisco has made steps to avert cars from Market Street, but the next steps to alleviate congestion are vague. A gradual rollout of trial experiments to gauge a method's success seems the most likely answer, reports Rachel Gordon.

September 14, 2011 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bev. Hills Officials Lend a Hand to Struggling Bell, CA

Bell is infamous for being sucked dry by a handful of corrupt politicians. Now that the officials have been removed, Bell is struggling to find its footing. Wealthy Beverly Hills and Santa Monica have stepped up to help.

September 13, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

Parking Privatization Key To Arena Financing

Sacramento desperately wants to hold on to its professional basketball team, the Kings, who have threatened to leave. A just-released financing plan points to privatizing city-owned parking spaces as key to providing funding for the new arena.

September 13, 2011 - Sacramento Bee - Sacramento City News

New CA Attorney General Joins EJ Lawsuit On Diesel Truck Pollution

A warehouse and distribution center adjacent to a low-income community that would generate 1,500 additional daily diesel truck trips from the Ports of LA and Long Beach is the subject of an environment lawsuit that will be joined by AG Kamala Harris.

September 12, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Apple's New HQ Actually Works, Says Critic

John King makes it clear - the 4-story ring iCon (or doughnut, by some) would not work in urban San Francisco, but could be quite fitting for sprawling, suburban Silicon Valley.

September 11, 2011 - San Francisco Chronicle

Downtown Stadium Will Be "Sea of Billboards"

Gov. Jerry Brown will soon be asked to sign a bill that would loosen environmental regulations on a downtown L.A. stadium, which would also be smothered in LED billboards.

September 11, 2011 - LA Weekly

Sprawl vs. Farms

Jonathan Lerner reports from Fresno, where sprawling development has clashed with agriculture, the region's bread and butter. A new regional plan hopes to preserve farmland and ease tensions.

September 11, 2011 - Miller-McCune

Bank-Owned Foreclosures Cause Problems for Cities

As bank-owned homes become a source of blight and crime, cities struggle to effectively hold banks accountable for their maintenance. Large banks tend to be the worst offenders, often failing to remove trash and weeds or paying fines.

September 10, 2011 - Contra Costa Times

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.

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.