United States

Air in Hundreds of Neighborhoods Carries Elevated Risk of Cancer

Residents in 600 American neighborhoods are breathing air with levels of pollution that put them at an elevated risk of developing cancer.

June 26, 2009 - Associated Press

Gasping for Air in America

Next American City's Hamida Kinge reviews the "State of the Air" report from the American Lung Association and finds dire news for the majority of Americans.

June 26, 2009 - Next American City

Bike Arcing

A new system of bike storage debuts in Palo Alto and Redwood City, CA next week. The Bike Arc aims to be more elegant and space-saving than the standard U-shaped rack.

June 26, 2009 - The Architect's Newspaper

Suburbs are Growing Faster

A report from the US Census Bureau shows that the nation continues to suburbanize.

June 25, 2009 - New Geography

Rep. Blumenauer Touts Cap and Trade

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer expresses his support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act as the House of Representatives prepares for a vote.

June 25, 2009 - The Huffington Post

Megaregions and Megaproblems

As America's metropolitan areas meld into "megaregions", officials and policymakers will need to figure out how to deal with their shared and growing infrastructure problems. Consider the ball rolling.

June 25, 2009 - Nate Berg

The Most Dangerous Neighborhood in the U.S.

NeighborhoodScout.com used GIS and FBI data from 17,000 local law enforcement agencies to compile its list of the 25 worst neighborhoods for crime in the country.

June 24, 2009 - Walletpop.com

Obama's Weatherization Program in Action

Van Jones tours a weatherization project in D.C., part of the $5 billion the Obama Administration is putting into weatherization projects to cut energy costs. (VIDEO)

June 24, 2009 - WhiteHouse.gov

Convention Centers Not Living Up to Expectations

In this article from Next American City, Josh Stephens looks at the role convention centers play in cities, the high hopes cities have for them, and the often poor returns they offer.

June 24, 2009 - Next American City

New Report: Use Cap & Trade Revenue To Invest In Smart Growth

Cap and trade is the topic du jour in climate change circles. A new report from CCAP makes the economic case for using those revenues to promote smart growth that reduces transportation emissions though VMT reductions.

June 24, 2009 - Center for Clean Air Policy Press Release

REVIEW: Welcome to the Urban Revolution

In his new book Welcome to the Urban Revolution: How Cities are Changing the World, Jeb Brugmann proposes a new way of thinking about citybuilding. Planetizen Correspondent Michael Dudley has this review.

June 24, 2009 - Michael Dudley

Climate Change is Local, Says Chu

U.S. Energy Secretary Stephen Chu said at the Asia Society Washington, D.C. center awards dinner that "climate change is the greatest challenge facing science."

June 24, 2009 - THE DIRT

Kunstler Says "Too Late" For High-Speed Rail

Returning from CNU, James Howard Kunstler reacts to a NY Times article about California's high-speed rail plans, and reflects on New Urbanism's shift away from traditional-neighborhood developments and into preparing for the 'long emergency'.

June 23, 2009 - Kunstler.com

Big Cities Call Stimulus Distribution Unfair

Mayors from big cities are feeling shortchanged by the federal government, which they say is disproportionately handing out stimulus money to small and rural areas.

June 23, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Speed Cameras May Save Lives

There are some arguments against speed cameras, but one says bicyclists are one of the major hazards on roadways.

June 23, 2009 - Wash Cycle

Against the Bulldozer

Struggling cities are increasingly looking at the idea of bulldozing vacant properties and "shrinking". But two columnists argue it might not be such a good idea.

June 23, 2009 - Citiwire

Back-To-Nature Plans Stall Innovation

According to this op-ed, allowing cities to de-densify undermines the importance of the city's role in society at large--namely, as a breeding ground for technological and cultural innovation.

June 23, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Ten Train Stations, Lost Forever

The loss of NY's Penn Station spurred an entire movement in historic preservation. But it was not an isolated incident- The Infrastructurist looks at 10 beautiful train stations that fell to the wrecking ball.

June 22, 2009 - The Infrastructurist

Stabilizing Housing Market May Still Prove Difficult

Obama Administration officials, speaking at a conference of real estate writers and editors, admitted that the housing crisis is far from over and administration efforts are taking time to have an effect.

June 22, 2009 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

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.