Government / Politics

Downtown Tampa skyline

Tampa Rejects Rent Control, Citing Legal Concerns

The city council failed to move on a proposal that would have implemented rent stabilization, opting instead to explore other avenues for preventing evictions and improving the cost of housing.

March 1, 2022 - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Two young people wear masks while standing outside in Florida.

CDC Relaxes Guidance to Allow Most Americans to Ditch Masking

In a major reversal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised the metrics and thresholds that determine when masking is recommended. Only 5% of counties met the old metric on Feb. 25; now 70% of Americans need not don a mask indoors.

March 1, 2022 - The Washington Post

Ivy-covered stone wall and cover of Resilience Matters e-book

Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities

In this hopeful and frustrating year, contributors to the Island Press Urban Resilience Project celebrate our collective progress and challenges in a new free book of short and sweet articles, op-eds, and interviews. Essential reading for planners!

March 1, 2022 - Resilience Matters: Opportunities for Action to Strengthen Communities

Bike Traffic

Paris To Ban Most Cars in 'Quiet Zone'

Continuing Mayor Anne Hidalgo's efforts to make Paris more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, the city plans to implement a 'car-light' zone in the city center that prohibits through traffic.

February 28, 2022 - Fast Company

Vancouver, British Columbia

The Uphill Battle Facing Section 8 Recipients

Housing voucher recipients face a gauntlet of challenges when trying to find housing. Nonprofits are doing their best to streamline the process.

February 28, 2022 - LAist

 Building in Washington Avenue Historic District

Why a Complete Streets Makeover Went Awry in Philadelphia

The city pulled the plug on a proposed street redesign after community groups criticized the public engagement process for not listening to all local voices.

February 28, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

View south along Interstate 45 (North Freeway) from the ramp between westbound Interstate 10 and southbound Interstate 45 in Houston, Harris County, Texas

Houston Interstate Widening Continues To Threaten Communities

The proposed freeway expansion in downtown Houston has faced searing backlash from local residents who see the project as a relic of the era of rampant freeway construction and neighborhood disruption.

February 28, 2022 - CBS News

Central Los Angeles

L.A.'s Housing Element, Considered Among California's Most Ambitious, Rejected by State Regulators

The California Housing Department gave credit to Los Angeles for targeting so much growth before telling the city it needed to do more.

February 25, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Rendering of Proposed Confluence Parkway at Wenatchee River

Rural Washington's Infrastructure Wishlist

Rural Washington communities want to see federal infrastructure funding allocated to projects in the historically neglected eastern parts of the state.

February 25, 2022 - Investigate West

Traffic Lights

How 'Liberty Politics' Cripples Road Safety Projects

Some states and cities are citing personal liberty and constitutional rights to oppose automated traffic enforcement and other road safety measures.

February 25, 2022 - The Deseret News

Manhattan Bus

Fair Fares Program Criticized for Eligibility Threshold

Critics of the city's transit assistance program say limiting eligibility to people living at or below the federal poverty line excludes many low-income New Yorkers who depend on public transit.

February 24, 2022 - NY City Lens

Maumee River

Great Lakes To Receive $1 Billion from Infrastructure Bill For Restoration

An additional $1 billion in federal funding will bolster current efforts to clean polluted water sources and restore ecosystems in the Great Lakes region.

February 24, 2022 - Wyoming News Now

Bike Infrastructure

New York Legislature To Vote on Complete Streets Bills

A set of proposed laws would make streets safer for all road users in an effort to reduce traffic deaths.

February 24, 2022 - Auburn Citizen

COVID-19 and Public Health

Let the Endemic Planning Begin

The first state in the nation to issue a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of a novel coronavirus that humans had no immunity from became the first to release an actual endemic plan, complete with a fancy acronym, SMARTER.

February 23, 2022 - The Washington Post

Manhattan Skyline

Conservatives, Progressives, and Cities

Are liberals more pro-urban than conservatives? On some issues, yes—but in other ways, reality is more complicated.

February 23, 2022 - Michael Lewyn

Klyde Warren Park

Dallas Drafts Infrastructure Wish List

The city hopes to qualify for as much as $3 billion in federal infrastructure funding.

February 23, 2022 - Advocate Oak Cliff

Single-Family Housing Construction

What Is an Entitlement?

In the context of planning and development, an entitlement is the legal agreement between a government and a landowner to allow a proposed development.

February 22, 2022 - James Brasuell

Oil

Democrats Balk at Gov. Newsom's Gas Tax Holiday

Saving motorists 3 cents a gallon may be a slam dunk for Republican leaders in the California legislature who opposed hiking the gas tax in the first place, but Democratic leaders are reluctant to tamper with a hard-fought legislative and ballot win.

February 22, 2022 - The Associated Press

Electric Car Charging Stencil

'Charging as a Service' Could Accelerate Decarbonization

The proliferation of private EV charging services, coupled with federal investment in charging stations, has the potential to reduce 'charging anxiety' and encourage a faster switch to electric vehicles.

February 22, 2022 - Forbes

Pennsylvania

Will Philly's New Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning Yield Results?

City leaders hope a new affordable housing law will increase the supply of affordable units in the city, but critics say the policy may lead to reduced construction and higher housing costs.

February 21, 2022 - Bisnow

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.