California

Bike Commuting: Point-Counterpoint

As part of a week-long series, Randal O'Toole and blogger Will Campbell discuss and debate bike commuting and what cities should or shouldn't do to encourage it.

January 11, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Environmentalists May Delay High Speed Rail In California

With the $10 billion bond slated for the November ballot in California, the latest twist in the long saga of delays is that environmentalists, unhappy with the proposed route into the Bay Area from the Central Valley, threaten to litigate the EIR.

January 10, 2008 - East Bay Express

L.A.'s Public Squares Leave Much To Be Desired

This piece from the Los Angeles Times Magazine looks at the recent trend of including public squares in high-profile L.A. projects, and examines why they don't really work in the traditional sense.

January 8, 2008 - Los Angeles Times Magazine

Interest Groups To Determine Future of More Than 140,000 Acres

Following PG&E's bankruptcy, the private nonprofit Stewardship Council was assigned the task of conserving and reorganizing PG&E's 140,000 acres located in the Sierra Nevada and Upper Cascade Mountains.

January 8, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Simple Solutions To California's Water Shortage

Years of low rainfall are causing many in California to think hard about diminishing supplies of water. In this commentary, author Peter Gleick argues that wise water use and management -- not big-scale infrastructure projects -- is the solution.

January 7, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

L.A.'s Subway Plans Should Look To Public-Private Partnerships

L.A.'s regional transit system needs a spine, and the "Subway to the Sea" from downtown to the westside could be that spine. But to make it happen, the city needs to think about a public-private partnership, according to this commentary.

January 6, 2008 - The Daily News

Wi-Fi Plans Revived in San Francisco

A private firm has announced a proposal that would create a free wireless Internet network in the entire city of San Francisco.

January 6, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

The Evolution of San Francisco - Winners & Losers

San Francisco is in flux - more than just the sky-line is changing. Middle-class families, blacks, even Latinos may be in flight while whites and Asians are on the rise, and the young and old rich fill the new high-rises.

January 5, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Friday Funny: Land Use and Love Lost

California Planning and Development Report's Morris Newman looks at the land use issue that caused the break-up of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former TV news reporter Mirthala Salinas.

January 4, 2008 - California Planning & Development Report

An Expert's Look At L.A.'s Congestion

Los Angeles City Beat talks with traffic expert Martin Wachs about congestion pricing and L.A.'s traffic problems.

January 4, 2008 - Los Angeles City Beat

California Is Defined By Cultural Changes Accompanying Its Enormous Growth

Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters examines both state and Census Bureau growth figures for California, concluding that the significant difference is less important than what the huge growth means for the future of the nation's most populous state.

January 4, 2008 - The Sacramento Bee

San Francisco's Historic Gem Returned To Life

San Francisco's latest and perhaps most glorious restoration is the 1890 De Young Building that was the original home of The Chronicle has now been converted to a Ritz Carlton after having been an undignified office building for the last 43 years.

December 31, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

New Year To Bring $10 Toll To Southern California Commuters

In 2008, $10 tolls will be awaiting some Inland Empire commuters to Orange County who use the 91 Express Lanes of the Riverside Freeway, depending upon what day and time they travel home.

December 31, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

America's Global Warming-Fighting Attorney General

California Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown may be to global warming what former NY Attorney General (now Governor) Elliot Spitzer was to corporate reform, as his widely watched lawsuits, and threats of lawsuits, have gained fame.

December 29, 2007 - ASSOCIATED PRESS via San Diego Union-Tribune

The Path To Preserving L.A.'s Industrial Lands

Preserving industrial land in Downtown L.A. is the focus of a broad city report to be released in January. The city recommends classifying specific areas into four land use categories to guide development in the area increasingly sought by investors.

December 29, 2007 - L.A. Downtown News

California's Land Use Stories Of The Year

The sudden end to a hot housing market and planners' response to climate change were the top land use stories of 2007, according to California Planning & Development Report.

December 28, 2007 - California Planning & Development Report

Urban Renewal Plan Translates To Job Loss And Gentrification

This editorial from the Orange County Register bemoans the urban renewal process proposed in a new specific plan for the city of Santa Ana that some say will gentrify the city's downtown and eliminate many industrial jobs.

December 28, 2007 - Orange County Register

California Experts on 'Establishing a Framework for Equitable Growth'

California's population is not only immense, it's incredibly diverse. Building the infrastructure to serve the state's current residents has proven a difficult task -- one that won't get any easier.

December 27, 2007 - The Planning Report

California Growth Slows As Out-Migration Continues

Far more residents left the Golden State than arrived from other states, but births and foreign in-migration kept the state growing to 37,771,431 residents, with 3/4 of total population increase resulting from births alone.

December 26, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Transit Fare By Phone?

A new trial in the San Francisco Bay Area has riders using their phone to pay for transit fare.

December 26, 2007 - Banking Unwired

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.

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.