The Economist's Intelligence Unit has once again ranked Melbourne as the top city in its annual Global Liveability Ranking. Damascus has dropped to the bottom of the list due to Syria's ongoing civil war.
For the third year in a row, Melbourne has topped the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Liveability report, narrowly edging out Vienna, Vancouver, and Toronto. "The ranking scores 140 cities on a scale of zero to 100 for each of 30 factors such as the quality of public healthcare or the threat of military conflict."
"A glance at the top ten shows that the cities that do best are mid-sized conurbations in countries with low population densities, because such conditions will often result in low crime, working infrastructure and lots of recreational activities," notes The Economist's Graphic Detail blog. "The comparatively poor performances of London and New York can be mainly attributed to their stability scores, which are low because of a perceived terrorism risk."
FULL STORY: Movers and shakers on the EIU’s city liveability ranking

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
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HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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