California

Air Board Approves Diesel and Climate Protection Plans

In back-to-back rulings, the Californian Air Resources Board approved the nation's strongest climate protection plan and the strictest on-road diesel emissions plans that will mean the oldest, most polluting trucks and buses will soon be no more.

December 17, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Understanding San Francisco's Congestion Pricing Study

In this op-ed, the executive director of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority makes a case for congestion pricing in the City, though he is quick to indicate the SFCTA is only studying the concept to see if it could be applied there.

December 17, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Personal Rapid Transit for San Jose Airport?

The City of San José, CA is reviewing proposals from 18 companies to create a PRT system connecting the airport to other transportation modes.

December 16, 2008 - ABC KGO TV 7 - San Francisco

Blocked Church Expansion into Greenbelt Challenged

Church officials in Ventura County, California, are challenging a decision barring them from expanding into protected open space, arguing that federal law allows them exemptions from zoning controls.

December 15, 2008 - Ventura County Star

Greenhouse Gas Plan Punts On Land Use Issue

In a surprising last-minute change, a new plan that outlines how California will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions does not include a concrete target for reductions attributable to less-sprawling land use patterns.

December 14, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

The Future Isn't What It Used To Be

P.J. O'Rourke tours Walt Disney's 'Innoventions Dream Home', and concludes that we've descended into a deeply unimaginative period in history. The dream home is the successor to 1957's House of the Future, built entirely of plastic.

December 12, 2008 - The Atlantic

Submerged Ghost Towns Re-emerge

The site of the Lexington Reservoir for the last 56 years, two ghost towns in Santa Clara County, California have re-emerged since the water level was temporarily lowered.

December 11, 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

Totally In My Backyard

A Corona del Mar couple have been battling the Coastal Commission over the placement of their shower, tables, and barbecue, all right on the sand. Even though those and other items are within the property line, the Commission isn't having it.

December 11, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Air Resources Board Weighing Climate Plans

At a crucial two-day meeting, the California Air Resources Board may adopt, reject or modify two separate, landmark, controversial plans - one on climate change, the other on diesel emissions from trucks and buses.

December 11, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ethnic Integration Up in Greater L.A. Suburbs

Many residents can still recount when their neighborhoods were far less ethnically diverse than their are now, which is backed by new census data showing that in most cities, the white population is down.

December 10, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Teamsters And Enviros Unite

The Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports’ new Clean Trucks program is the object of a legal battle pitting Teamsters, environmental and public health groups, the NAACP, and community groups demanding clean air against trucking companies and shippers.

December 8, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Subway Approved for San Francisco

A proposal to run a light rail subway through central San Francisco passed environmental scrutiny at the federal level, green lighting the project to move forward. Now all the $1.3 billion project needs is some federal funding.

December 8, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Best Cities to Find Jobs

CNN argues that the best cities to find a job right now aren't the usual suspects. Using low unemployment rates as their guide, the network points to Bismark, ND, Casper, WY, and Logan, UT as jobhunting meccas.

December 8, 2008 - CNN

Urban Design Studio To Transform Glendale

Glendale, California, has recently established an Urban Design Studio within its planning department to help developers create more appropriate, aesthetically appealing projects.

December 5, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

Draft EIR on SF's Bike Plan Released

A court order prohibits new bicycle infrastructure in San Francisco, but its Municipal Transportation Agency and Planning Department have crafted a 1,353-page Draft Environmental Impact Report to make a case against it.

December 5, 2008 - Streetsblog

The Budget and Billy the Elephant

Los Angeles' budget shortfall could mean sending its zoo's only elephant to a Northern California sanctuary. Over time, funding for city services are also predicted to get slashed.

December 5, 2008 - The Wall Street Journal

The Urban Shortcomings of 'L.A. Live'

L.A. Live, the city's new megadevelopment, does little to engage the growing downtown area and ends up being little more than another separate commercial enclave in a city desperately needing closely-knit urbanism, according to Christopher Hawthorne.

December 5, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

Effect of California's New Anti-Sprawl Law Uncertain

Clearly it has aroused enormous excitement and hope amongst California's smart growth advocates, but the new anti-sprawl, greenhouse gas-reducing law, SB 375, may do more in the tone it sets than in the changes its supporters hope it makes.

December 4, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Mayor Takes Message To YouTube

The mayor of San Francisco delivers his annual state of the city message in ten 45-minute segments on YouTube rather than in person.

December 3, 2008 - NPR

Could Vagrants Doom A Rebounding Downtown?

The issues posed by homeless people in downtown Riverside, California, are not out of the ordinary. But they definitely do not help the city's efforts to revitalize downtown.

December 3, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

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.