California

Aerial view of Macarthur Park lake with downtown Los Angeles skyline in background.

What Has Measure ULA Achieved?

Los Angeles has imposed an additional tax on luxury home sales to generate millions for housing efforts in the city. Shelterforce checks in on where the money has gone, and what’s to come.

January 23, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

Smoky sky overlooking Los Angeles skyline during 2025 wildfires.

While California Fires Burn On, Residents Take on Rent Gouging

Residents have already seen online listings skyrocketing in price—despite laws against such hikes. With fires still raging, LA and Pasadena tenants are demanding protections against rent raises and eviction.

January 22, 2025 - Shelterforce Magazine

The historic San Diego City and County Administration Building in Southern California.

San Diego Housing Assistance, Homelessness Programs Facing Major Cuts

Programs supported by federal and state programs are on the brink of losing funding, putting thousands of homeless and at-risk residents in jeopardy.

January 22, 2025 - Governing

Aerial view of residential buildings in Koreatown, Los Angeles with downtown skyline in background

The Urban Heat Divide: Addressing LA’s Thermal Inequities

LA's thermal inequities leave low-income, minority neighborhoods disproportionately hotter and more vulnerable, prompting advocacy and policy efforts to address these disparities through green infrastructure and equitable climate investments.

January 21, 2025 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Two cyclists on a paved bike path overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Reveals New Bike Plan

The draft plan targets improvements on 385 road segments.

January 21, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Destroyed Altadena Community Church facade after Eaton Fire in Altadena, California.

UCLA Experts Offer Critical Support for LA Wildfire Response and Recovery

The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation offers expert guidance on LA wildfire response and recovery, addressing critical issues like water safety, air quality, equitable rebuilding, and climate adaptation to promote resilience and sustainability.

January 20, 2025 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Homes in Altadena, California with mountains in background on a sunny day.

Altadena’s Resilience: Restoring a Fire-Ravaged Community

The Eaton Fire has devastated Altadena, destroying homes, cultural landmarks, and community institutions, while residents rally to rebuild and preserve the town's rich history, diversity, and neighborly character.

January 19, 2025 - NBC News

Sign for Eaton Canyon Natural Area in Los Angeles County.

After the Fires: Challenges and Efforts to Heal LA’s Parks and Trails

The recent LA wildfires have devastated parks and trails, with recovery efforts requiring extended closures, collaborative restoration plans, and community support to address extensive damage and long-term risks like landslides.

January 17, 2025 - Los Angeles Public Press

Nighttime view of wildfire in Los Angeles hills.

'Place Shock' and the Ecology of Fear

How to conceive of rebuilding places amid sudden change in a region known for its “ecology of fear?” As the city embarks on the arduous task of rebuilding, the question arises: how do we reconcile the imperatives of safety and sustainability with the deeply ingrained human desire for continuity, for a sense of rootedness in the familiar?

January 15, 2025 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Eaton Canyon trailhead in Los Angeles County on a cloudy day.

Wildfires Devastate LA Outdoor Education Spaces and Schools

The current Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed schools and outdoor education spaces like Eaton Canyon, displacing families and disrupting vital learning and community resources while highlighting the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

January 14, 2025 - AP News

Japanese Garden section at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles.

Healing Together: LA County Offers Care Camps for Families Impacted by Fires

Los Angeles County Parks has launched free emergency care camps at four locations to support wildfire-affected youth and families with meals, activities, and emotional well-being resources while parents focus on recovery.

January 13, 2025 - Pasadena NOw

Emergency personnel responding to Post Fire in Los Angeles in June 2024.

Rebuilding After Disaster: The Role of Social Connections in Resilience

Dr. Lucy Jones emphasizes that resilience in the face of climate-driven disasters like wildfires relies on building strong social connections, which empower communities to recover and adapt to an increasingly challenging future.

January 13, 2025 - Los Angeles Times

Large trees on either side of wide suburban street.

How AI Is Revolutionizing Urban Forestry and Climate Resilience

Tree-D Fusion, an AI-driven tool developed by MIT and Purdue researchers, generates 3D models of urban trees to help city planners visualize future green spaces, address climate challenges, and enhance urban livability and sustainability.

January 13, 2025 - Wood Central

Muni bus with bike on front bike rack on San Francisco street

San Francisco Muni Cuts Frequency on Four Bus Lines

The agency says the changes are part of an effort to address its financial crisis and continue delivering “reliable service.”

January 9, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of Mission Rock development in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Development Centers Pedestrians, Public Space

The Mission Rock project eliminates street parking, replacing it with public seating and landscaping.

January 7, 2025 - Fast Company

Chuckwalla lizard sitting on volcanic rock.

Biden Approves Two New National Monuments in California

The Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments will protect natural resources and sites of cultural significance for California native tribes.

January 7, 2025 - Associated Press

Hillside homes in Berkeley, California.

Berkeley Launches ADU Amnesty Program

Owners of unpermitted accessory dwelling units can bring their units up to code and obtain certificates of compliance without facing penalties.

January 6, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Oil well pumpjack sillhouetted against a bright pink sunset sky.

Upcoming Conference Spotlights California's Orphan Wells

The 2025 Orphan & Idle Wells California Conference will address the environmental, economic, and public health challenges of abandoned oil and gas wells, focusing on remediation strategies, regulatory frameworks, and community-centered solutions.

December 31, 2024 - Energy Conference Network

White Waymo self-driving car on street in San Francisco, California.

Waymo Robotaxis Often Fail to Stop for Pedestrians

One journalist recorded more than a dozen instances of Waymo autonomous cars speeding by when he tried to cross the street.

December 31, 2024 - The Washington Post

Huntington Beach, CA pier at sunset.

Storms and Sea Levels: The Growing Threat to California’s Piers

California’s aging piers face growing threats from climate change, with intensifying storms, rising repair costs, and structural vulnerabilities forcing tough decisions about their future preservation.

December 30, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

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.