California

Pedestrian-Only Zone Proposed for San Diego

With the centennial of the Panama-California Exposition that created San Diego's Balboa Square approaching, the city is considering turning back the neighborhood to its former car-free glory.

September 8, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Southern CA MPO Snubs Air Board By Reducing Emissions Targets

The Southern California Association of Governments rebuffed the CA Air Resources Board by deliberately setting lower targets for greenhouse gas emissions per SB 375, the 2008 law intended to reduce GHG emissions from transportation.

September 8, 2010 - LA. Streetsblog

HSR Opponents Vow To Continue Litigation

Contention over how California's high speed rail train from Los Angeles should access the Bay Area appears to be the dispute that won't go away. Having just lost their case in court only 2 weeks ago, approval of the Pacheco Pass may continue.

September 7, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

'Greening the Ghetto'

Low income housing can also be green housing. A new trend in home design and community activism is giving even inexpensive housing a green sheen.

September 7, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

"Temporary" Parks Get Approved Easier

Heather Smith talks with urban designer Andres Power about his work creating parklets within the San Francisco Planning Department.

September 3, 2010 - Metropolis Magazine

Could Your Next Tomato Come From A Former Best Buy?

Gene Fredericks wants to turn empty big box stores into hydroponic and aquaponic growing centers using the latest technologies.

September 2, 2010 - Grist

Curbing Corruption

Rick Cole, City Manager of Ventura, California, says the recent scandal over inflated city staff salaries in Bell could have been easily avoided with a few simple precautions.

September 2, 2010 - Citiwire.net

Redefining a Planning Department

The L.A. Department of City Planning is experiencing radical changes in leadership, planning process, and organizational structure. The leaders--past, present, and, future--of planning in L.A. gathered in August to discuss a vision for the future.

September 2, 2010 - The Planning Report

Bus Riders Union Blasts L.A.'s 30/10 Plan

A proposal in L.A. to use recently approved funding to push 30 years of transportation projects into the next decade has elicited a protest from the city's Bus Riders Union.

September 1, 2010 - Streetsblog L.A.

Google Creates Affordable Housing Fund

Google has invested $86 million in a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit fund to create 480 affordable rental housing units for low income families.

August 31, 2010 - TechCrunch

Smart Meters Facing Resistance

Some California residents complained that their energy bills spiked after smart meters were installed, while others are concerned about the antennas. Can these fears hinder the growth of smart meters in the state?

August 30, 2010 - Grist

Californian Official Fights Proposed Death Row Project

Bids are open for a new Death Row facility in California, but local lawmakers opposed to the project say that companies shouldn't even waste their time bidding on a project that won't be built.

August 30, 2010 - Correctional News

The Legacy of L.A.'s Former Planning Director

Gail Goldberg recently left the helm of the City of Los Angeles' City Planning Department. AIA Los Angeles takes a look back at her four-year tenure and the positive impacts she made.

August 29, 2010 - AIA Los Angeles

The Tangibility and Viability of L.A.'s 30/10 Plan

The Brookings Institution's Robert Puentes reports back on a recent discussion about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's 30/10 plan -- the idea to cram 30 years worth of transit investments into 10.

August 28, 2010 - The New Republic

With $46 Million Price Tag, MTA Turnstiles Remain Unlocked

As Los Angeles MTA's plan to fully implement its TAP card program stalls, so does the plan to lock the turnstiles that the agency had installed to deter riders from not paying.

August 27, 2010 - LA Daily News

Bridge's Congestion Pricing May Extend to Entire City

Peak period pricing on the Bay Bridge, enacted by the regional Bay Area Toll Authority on July 1, is the first application of congestion pricing for driving in the Bay Area. Officials in San Francisco feel the outcome is favorable for their project.

August 26, 2010 - San Francisco Bay Guardian

Interactive Map Documents Road Quality

A new interactive map shows wear-and-tear on city roads, color-coding where work needs to be done and where smooth rides can be found.

August 25, 2010 - Treehugger

L.A. To Test Variable Parking Prices

Los Angeles is planning to undertake a year-long experiment in demand-based pricing on parking in its downtown. The dynamic parking system will be put in place next summer.

August 24, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

How The Golden Gate Bridge Got Into Transit

Unlike the nearby Bay Bridge that was built to accommodate the Key System streetcars, the Golden Gate displaced existing ferry service. Carl Nolte, the Chronicle's historian, provides the background for the 40th anniversary of its ferry service.

August 22, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

Creating Smart Cities and Replicating Silicon Valley

Google CEO Eric Schmidt discusses what makes a city smart and successful in this interview with Foreign Policy.

August 21, 2010 - Foreign Policy

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.