United States

Getting Rural

The recession and fewer urban job prospects are driving young American families to try rural living.

December 5, 2009 - The Wall Street Journal

Federal Government May Fund Urban Parks

New legislation looks to boost the federal government's investment in urban parks for the first time in eight years.

December 5, 2009 - Gotham Gazette

Obama Addresses the Controversy Over "Shovel-Ready"

Since the stimulus package was announced, the emphasis on 'shovel-ready' projects elicited criticism from urbanists. At yesterday's White House jobs summit, Pres. Obama acknowledged the tension it has caused.

December 4, 2009 - Streetsblog

Liveability a "Major Priority" at DOT

Among the criteria for evaluating projects, livability is at the top, along with safety and economic competitiveness.

December 4, 2009 - New Urban News email

And the Winners Are...

Kaid Benfield offers an overview of the winners of the EPA's 2009 national awards for smart growth achievement.

December 4, 2009 - Sustainable Cities Collective

Redefining Blight

From New London to the Atlantic Yards, the last month has seen a flood of news around the issue of eminent domain. Diana Lind wonders if we need a new definition of 'blighted.'

December 4, 2009 - Next American City

Feds Discuss Gas Tax Increase While Nixed In Jersey

Discussion of raising the gas tax is quashed in NJ by Gov.-elect Christie while encouraged in DC by DOT Secretary LaHood and Congressional Transportation Chair James Oberstar. LaHood had an open dialog on the various forms of revenue strategies.

December 3, 2009 - NorthJersey.com

Food Stamps Across the Country

The New York Times' has created an interactive map of food stamp usage breaking down recipients by county across the United States.

December 3, 2009 - NYTimes.com

Transit Funding Blooming in the Spring

Transportation Secretary LaHood announced that this spring, bus and streetcar projects will receive $280 million as part of the administration's inter-agency sustainable communities partnership.

December 2, 2009 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Will War Spending Mean Less For Infrastructure?

Robert Borosage, in response to President Obama's announcement of a troop surge to Afghanistan, points out how the misallocation of resources to military efforts will mean the neglect of the nation's infrastructure.

December 2, 2009 - Huffington Post

Conservation Legislation to Expire

Conservation legislation, which could end this year, has proven to make it easier for moderate income landowners to resist the temptations of development.

December 2, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Superproject Drought?

No major public works are underway in the United States, according to this piece from The New York Times. Some say the absence of major infrastructure projects may be hurting the economy.

December 1, 2009 - The New York Times

Obama's State-Centric Urban Agenda

Some mayors say the Obama Administration's urban agenda concentrates too much power at the state level.

November 30, 2009 - The Atlantic

The Ethanol Glut

There's a glut of ethanol on the market, and the solutions to consume it are not easy. The maximum blend in gasoline is 10% before it affects the catalytic converter, and E85 can't compete with the more efficient, though more expensive, gasoline.

November 30, 2009 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Local Food Movement: Armed and Loaded

Some local food activists are taking their movement to a whole new territory: urban hunting.

November 30, 2009 - The New York Times

Preserving 'Button Parks'

Richard Louv proposes that local groups use the land trust model to create small public spaces, or what he calls "button parks."

November 30, 2009 - Citiwire.net

Tax Revenues Down in 44 States

Tax revenues were down during the third quarter of 2009 in 44 states, according to a new report from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government.

November 29, 2009 - Stateline

The Fall of Malltopia

Mark Dery looks back at the birth and death of the mall, from Victor Gruen to the present collapse, then beyond to proposals for reusing and revitalizing mall spaces.

November 28, 2009 - Design Observer

Mapping America's Fat

This post from Richard Florida looks at the geography of obesity in America, and relates state obesity rates to the rates of death from various diseases.

November 28, 2009 - Creative Class Exchange

$70b in Freeway Funding Comes From Non-Users

A new study by Subsidyscope shows that between 1982 and 2007, federal highway revenue derived from non-users of the highway system has doubled.

November 26, 2009 - WorldChanging

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.