United States

The Dwindling, and Highly Necessary, Property Tax

Tax caps, assessment limitations, and other property tax relief programs have caused significant damage to the largest source of revenue for ailing cities, says a new book by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

August 5, 2009 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Density Isn't Everything

Neal Payton says that density gets too much of the limelight when planning transit-oriented development, and that design and diversity should get more focus during the planning stages.

August 5, 2009 - ULI

Mortgage Modification Bad for Banks

James Surowiecki dispels the myth that banks are better off renegotiating mortgage then foreclosing.

August 4, 2009 - The New Yorker

Office of Urban Affairs on Tour

Adolfo Carrión, Jr., Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs, reports from a tour he's taking to spur a national conversation about the role cities and metropolitan areas should take in national policy.

August 4, 2009 - The White House blog

Metros Still Struggling With Vacancies

Housing vacancies are still rising in many American metropolitan areas.

August 4, 2009 - Forbes

Downtowns Not the Economic Engines They Used to Be

Downtowns used to serve primarily as the economic and job hub of a community, but are shifting to be more focused on providing a entertainment center and civic forum.

August 4, 2009 - New Geography

Chicago Suburbs See Fewer Freight Trains, Not More

Where are all the trains? Chicago suburbs worried about an expected increase in freight trains due to the CN purchase of a rail spur through their backyard, but that worry has not materialized after the acquisition.

August 4, 2009 - Chicago Sun-Times

Jane Jacobs, NIMBY?

Howard Husock reads two new books on Jane Jacobs, which he says reveal the unexplored significance of Jacob's activist side, opening the doors to protesting the entire activity of city planning.

August 3, 2009 - City Journal

Allocate High Speed Rail Full $4 Billion, Argues NYT

In this editorial, the New York Times urges the Senate not to reduce the House's high speed rail budget allocation of $4 billion to $1.4 billion. Though President Obama is a prominent supporter of HSR, he supports delaying the transportation bill.

August 3, 2009 - The New York Times - Opinion

Suburbs: The Last Frontier

As people move to cities and the outer suburbs begin to become more desolate, what will become of them? WorldChanging envisions the suburbs as the next frontier.

August 3, 2009 - WorldChanging

MPOs Have Scope, But No Power

As the regionality of urban planning issues becomes more clear, metropolitan planning organizations are uniquely suited to shape the policy response. But, according to this piece from Citiwire, they lack the power to do it.

August 2, 2009 - Citiwire

House Votes To Extend Clunkers Program

The Cash For Clunkers Program or CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) received a major vote of confidence on July 31 when the House overwhelmingly voted to inject $2 billion into the enormously popular program.

August 1, 2009 - The New York Times - Business

Top Cities for Active People

Outside Magazine ranks the top 10 U.S. cities for people who like to exercise and be outdoors.

August 1, 2009 - Outside

How Policy Can Make Better Neighborhoods and Schools

A new study from The Brookings Institution discusses how school quality and neighborhood affordability are linked, and how both can be improved.

August 1, 2009 - The Brookings Institution

'Cash For Clunkers' Kaput?

The Fed's "Cash For Clunkers" program, which set aside funds to give people an incentive to trade in old polluting cars for newer models, is already reportedly running out of money. (VIDEO)

July 31, 2009 - ABC

$7 Billion Stop-Gap Measure for Highway Fund

On Weds., the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7 billion in stop-gap funding for road, bridge and transit projects until SAFETEA-LU can be reauthorized.

July 31, 2009 - The Washington Post

24% Reduction in Emissions Possible by 2050

Changing changing transportation habits and land-use patterns in America could result in a 24 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, says a new report from Cambridge Systematics.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times

Feds Take Action On Driving While Texting

Banning "DWT" - driving while texting, could soon become the next 'seat belt requirement' for states to avoid forfeiture of some of their federal highway funds if a Senate bill is to become law.

July 30, 2009 - The New York Times - Technology

Un-Damming America's Rivers

Dams are increasingly being removed in the U.S. as part of an effort to save fish.

July 30, 2009 - Good

'Invisible' Cities Want Bigger Role in Climate Bill

Officials in big cities are expressing disappointment that the House-approved climate bill looks to state capitals for guidance, not the metropolitan areas the bill will largely impact.

July 30, 2009 - The New York 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.