California

Downtown San Jose

Proposed High-Rise in San Jose Claims Coronavirus Friendliness

The public relations and marketing messaging of the new normal.

June 30, 2020 - The Mercury News

Port of Los Angeles

Emission-Free Heavy-Duty Trucks Requirements Approved in California

California is the first state to require manufacturers to produce zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

June 29, 2020 - NRDC

Social Distancing

COVID's New Demographic

Younger people are making up more of the new cases of COVID-19 as the coronavirus explodes in the Sunbelt states, particularly Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, bringing with it new attention on bars as settings for high viral transmission.

June 29, 2020 - The New York Times

Silicon Valley

From 60 Affordable Senior Apartments to 16 $5 Million Homes

A long development saga has finally concluded in the South Bay Area city of Palo Alto, following a common narrative in the development resistant city.

June 28, 2020 - The Mercury News

Los Angeles Apartments

Landlords in L.A. Attempt to Illegally Remove Tenants Who Can't Pay Rent

Some landlords in the Los Angles area aren't adhering to eviction moratoriums. In the midst of enormous financial strain, they are employing illegal tactics to forcibly remove tenants.

June 26, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Grand Park

L.A. City Councilmember Arrested, to Face Charges in Development Corruption Scheme

Longtime City Councilmember Jose Huizar was arrested at his home in Boyle Heights this morning, in the latest signal of a culture of corruption at Los Angeles City Hall.

June 23, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Retro Streetcar

Post-Pandemic Transit Plan Announced in San Francisco

The recently announced post-COVID plan for public transit in San Francisco looks a lot different than the pre-COVID days.

June 22, 2020 - San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Scottsdale, Arizona

Lower Colorado River States Used Less Water in 2019 Than Any Year Since 1986

The states drawing water from the Colorado River's lower basin—California, Arizona, and Nevada—used less water from the river in 2019 than any year since the mid-1980s.

June 22, 2020 - Circle of Blue

Coronavirus

City vs. State: Mayors Want Power to Require Mask Wearing to Slow Coronavirus Spread

Coronavirus cases are surging in the Lone Star State's urban areas, so mayors of nine of its largest cities asked Greg Abbott for the power to mandate the wearing of masks or facial coverings, prohibited by executive order, to slow viral spread.

June 21, 2020 - The Texas Tribune

Park Rendering

Community Park Addresses Open Space, Air Quality Disparities in L.A.

Lou Calanche and Esther Feldman discuss the Natural Park at Ramona Gardens, a green solution project to improve air quality and community health in one of the most polluted neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

June 17, 2020 - The Planning Report

Muni

CEQA Exemptions Could Finally Be Granted to Sustainable Transportation Projects

California has traditionally granted environmental exemptions to large projects like football stadiums, a practice criticized by environmentalists and urbanists alike. SB 288 would change that, with exemptions for sustainable transportation projects.

June 16, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Coronavirus Protest

Academic Studies: Staying at Home Saved Millions of Lives Globally

Separate coronavirus studies from the University of California at Berkeley and Imperial College London published June 8 in the journal Nature show the life and health-saving value of domestic stay-at-home orders, global lockdowns, and other measures.

June 15, 2020 - The Washington Post

Central Coast California

And the Best City for Bicycling in the U.S. Is...

This university town of 47,000 on the Central Coast of California has also been called by National Geographic the "Happiest Place in America." Is there a relationship between biking and happiness?

June 11, 2020 - Smart Cities Dive

Inland Empire Airport

Transportation Authority Choose the Boring Company in the Inland Empire

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority decided that Elon Musk's The Boring Comany offers a cheaper, faster alternative to proposals that would build a light rail connection to the Ontario International Airport.

June 11, 2020 - Daily Bulletin

Wine Country Fires

Budget Crunch Threatens California's Climate Resilience Plans

Facing a massive budget due to the declining revenues created by the coronavirus pandemic, California will have to cut a program intended to retrofit homes and roofs as a protection against wildfire, among other climate resilience programs.

June 9, 2020 - North State Public Radio

Light Rail Transit Rendering

Updated Long Range Transportation Plan Released for L.A. Metro

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) recently released an updated draft of its 2020 Long Range Transportation Plan.

June 8, 2020 - The Source (Metro)

Evacuated Highway 401

How COVID-19 Impacted U.S. Traffic Trends

Vehicle miles traveled, collisions, and collision-related injuries have been impacted by shelter-in-place orders nationwide. The level of impact, however, largely varies by region.

June 7, 2020 - Transport Topics

Black LIves Matter

The Shifting Geography of Protest

Compared to 1992 in Los Angeles, the protest and civil unrest of 2020 have relocated to neighborhoods farther north, and further entrenched by white wealth.

June 5, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Sea-Level Rise

Can Bay Area Communities Come Together to Plan for Sea Level Rise?

Bay Area municipalities need to work together to enable a comprehensive plan to protect against sea-level rise. Communities may be submerged as early as 2030.

June 4, 2020 - High Country News

Concord BART Station

Entertainment District in East Bay Area City Scrapped Due to Economic Uncertainty

A developer has changed its mind about a plan to bring a soccer stadium and convention center to the city of Concord in the East San Francisco Bay Area.

June 2, 2020 - East Bay 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.