California
Foreclosure Crisis Taking Toll on Public Health
Officials and advocates in Oakland California are warning that the foreclosure crisis is not only leading to evictions, but also growing public health problems and community blight.
Should Cities Regulate Library Internet Use?
The city of San Jose decides against adding filters to public library computers to block websites with pornography.
Fed Money Announced for CA's National Parks
Twenty-two national parks in California will get a portion of $97 million to repair historic buildings, install solar panels, and fix trails.
How Green is Your Neighborhood?
San Francisco residents will get their first peek today at an inventive Internet-based tool that lets them track their personal carbon footprint and gauge how green their neighborhood is compared with the rest of the city.
Berkeley Mayor Goes Car-Free
In order to reduce his carbon footprint, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates is providing an excellent example for all municipal leaders by giving up his car.
Petaluma's Planning Department Given Pink Slip
Last week, with a $4.5 million budget deficit and no development activity, the Petaluma City Council took the drastic step of eliminating its entire planning department.
Water Shortage Makes State Tense
Farm workers are getting laid off and other consumers face strict water use limits. The current drought, exacerbated by environmental restrictions on pumping from the San Joaquin Delta, has made Californians competitive for the resource.
A "No Exceptions" Approach to Banning Billboards
An outright, carefully worded ban on new signage is the key to ending Los Angeles' billboard drama, according to this op-ed.
Inside L.A.'s High-Tech Traffic Control System
Streetfilms goes behind the scenes at Los Angeles' Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control office, which monitors and actively controls L.A.'s signalized intersections.
Prepare Now for Altered Coastlines
A disturbing new report on sea-level rise projections for California warns that the state must start planning now for the anticipated flooding of its coastline, which could wipe out over $100 billion worth of built infrastructure.
Luxury Replaces Local Goods and Services in Malibu
As a new luxury retail center replaces a decades-old hardware store in upscale Malibu, California, many worry about the troubled future facing local businesses and services.
Funds Promised to Ease Water Troubles
The state's water supply is in trouble, and its beat-up water system can't hold up much longer. On Wednesday the federal government has promised to step in and help California rebuild its water system.
Southern California Landscape Proves the Golden Rule
The old saying is that he who has the gold, rules. The fact that Orange County motorists have a toll road carving through a magnificent canyon while rich folks in Malibu get to live next to scenic hillsides proves the rule, writes Bill Fulton.
Where's the Middle Ground?
Downtown Los Angeles' Figueroa Corridor is getting two new high-rises, the "all" in the area's seemingly "all-or-nothing" approach to development, says Christopher Hawthorne.
LA's Density Bonuses Thrown Out
A judge has ruled against parts of SB 1818, a density bonus law that allows taller building limits in exchange for affordable housing units.
Zoning Update in Oakland?
An antiquated set of zoning laws has been at the heart of a debate between preservationists and developers in Oakland for years, though a compromise in the form of new zoning rules may be in the city's near future.
Hooking Up Gardeners and Backyards
Wait times for a plot of land in one of Santa Monica's community gardens have grown so long that officials are instituting a new program to connect gardeners with homeowners willing to share their backyards.
HUD's Dollar Program Misses Mark, Benefits Contractors and Investors
An L.A. Times investigation reveals that HUD's 10-year-old Dollar Homes program provided little lasting benefit to the intended recipients and significant rewards to investors and contractors.
CA High Speed Rail Authority's Hopes Could Be Dashed
While the HSR Authority hopes to get at least half of the $8 billion ARRA funding, it has yet to market any of the $10 billion in bonds passed by the voters because of its budget problems. Criticism abounds.
Health and Human Services Hit Hard in San Francisco
The recession is causing San Francisco to tighten its belt. Budget cuts are falling heavily on the city's health and human services.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority
