California

Close-up of lit burner on natural gas stove with blue flame and small yellow flame shooting up.

Berkeley Natural Gas Ban Remains Reversed

A court declined to revisit its decision to invalidate a city ban on natural gas hookups.

January 4, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

E-Z Trip gas station in Bakersfield, California with orange awning over regular gas pumps and Tesla superchargers with white Teslas charging in foreground.

California Poised to Lose Up to $4 Billion in Gas Tax Revenue

States must find other ways to fund transportation projects as the transportation sector moves toward decarbonization.

January 3, 2024 - Cap Radio

View of Rainbow Bridge over Lake Natoma in Folsom, California.

Proposed Senior Community Wants to Use Tech to Keep Aging Residents Healthy

A proposal from a California investor and the University of California, Davis envisions a seniors-oriented community complete with healthcare facilities and other ways to support older residents.

January 3, 2024 - KCRA

Aerial view of Salton Sea, California.

Report: Southern California’s Salton Sea Region Holds Vast Lithium Reserves

Imperial County, a quiet agricultural region in the Southern California desert, could become the nation’s leading lithium source.

January 2, 2024 - SFGate

Small plane on runway at Santa Monica airport with high-rise buildings in background.

Transforming the Santa Monica Airport Into a Great Park

The City of Santa Monica took a key step forward in the process of closing the airport, approving an agreement with Sasaki Inc. to assess existing site conditions, gather public input, and propose options for turning the airport into a park.

January 2, 2024 - Santa Monica Mirror

View of Hotel Hamlin SRO supportiveh ousing building in San Francisco Tenderloin district.

Hundreds of San Francisco SRO Units Still Vacant

It can often take months for unhoused residents to access supportive housing. When they do, conditions can be unbearable.

December 29, 2023 - Sfist

Blurred close-up of movers in blue coveralls unloading cardboard boxes from moving van.

Population Losers

California's population dipped below 39 million as of July, according to the Census Bureau, after seeing its net domestic migration loss this year exceed last year's. Only New York has seen a greater loss as a percentage of population.

December 28, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

Concrete basketball court with clear glass backboard and palm trees in background in Los Angeles, California.

LA Clippers Support Basketball Court Program

The Los Angeles Clippers Foundation (LACF) is working with the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation to upgrade indoor and outdoor basketball courts across the county.

December 27, 2023 - Los Angeles Sentinel

Aerial view of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant on the Pacific coast in San Luis Obispo County, California.

California's Lone Operating Nuclear Plant Gets Five-Year Extension

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant received approval from the California PUC to operate its two reactors until 2029 and 2030. Five days later, the NRC issued a temporary license renewal.

December 25, 2023 - The Mercury News

Bird's eye view of rainbow-colored crosswalk in the Castro district in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Fails to Achieve Vision Zero Pledge

The city wanted to eliminate traffic deaths by 2024. It didn’t.

December 24, 2023 - The San Francisco Standard

Vintage multi-story brick apartment building and modern concrete and glass apartment building separated by a steep public stairway in Los Angeles, California.

The State of Housing in California

Homelessness continues to rise, and recent legislation aimed at boosting housing production may be limited in its effect.

December 21, 2023 - CALmatters

Wastewater treatment ponds.

California Approves Wastewater Recycling Rules

The complex set of regulations will ensure recycled water makes it to taps safely.

December 20, 2023 - CALmatters

View of trucks on Interstate 15 with desert mountains in background in Southern California.

California Commission Rejects Highway Expansion Funding

The move to deny requested funds signals a shift in mindset away from rubber-stamping road projects.

December 18, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Google street view of vacant lot in South Los Angeles in 2022.

Creating a New Park Where It is Most Needed

Los Angeles County just celebrated the grand opening of its newest park. Located in the community of Walnut Park, Nogales Park offers a gathering space and recreational amenities long desired by residents.

December 18, 2023 - UNE News Express

Large solar panel field in the Mojave Desert with desert mountains in background.

AI-Powered Permitting is Speeding up Solar Deployments in California

AI-powered permitting is accelerating solar deployments in cities across California, automating compliance checks and approvals for efficient and rapid solar project installations.

December 15, 2023 - Canary Media

Amtrak train on Southern California coast.

State Leaders Warn of Risks to Southern California Rail Corridor

Coastal erosion and rising sea levels threaten one of the nation’s most scenic—and strategically important—rail corridors.

December 14, 2023 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Millbrae, California

Article 34 in Action: Bay Area Suburb Uses 1950 Initiative to Block Homeless Housing

Next year, California voters will determine whether to repeal a 1950 initiative that requires local voter buy-in for government-supported low income housing, but that hasn't deterred Millbrae from using it to sue San Mateo County.

December 13, 2023 - The Mercury News

Google street view of vacant fenced-in dirt lot in South Los Angeles with graffiti on wall in background.

A New Vision for a South LA Oil Drilling Site

A local land trust wants to transform the defunct drilling site with a park, community center, and housing.

December 12, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Red San Diego trolley in front of 1915 Neo-Spanish building at Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego, California.

San Diego Region Developing Long-Range Transportation Plan

The new plan, set to take effect in 2025, accounts for changes in mobility patterns brought on by remote work.

December 12, 2023 - Axios

Bird's eye view of moderately busy large freeway interchange in California.

Opinion: California Must Walk the Walk on Transportation Emissions

While state leaders tout their climate goals at COP28, residents back home continue to fight highway expansion projects that induce traffic and increase emissions.

December 11, 2023 - Streetsblog California

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.