Government / Politics
LaHood's Bicycle Ambitions for the U.S.
The future of American transportation could be a bit more multi-modal, if Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood gets his way. NPR takes a look at LaHood's plans to get bikes back onto the nation's transportation menu.
Seeking a Federal Bailout as City Jobs Dry Up
Democrats in congress are trying to divert some federal bailout money to cities and counties, where job losses are crippling municipal services.
The Failure of the Public Process, San Francisco-Style
David Prowler, a former San Francisco planning commissioner, says that the public process of the city fails to engage the people of the community.
Mayors Say Abolish States
At a recent talk, former mayors Manny Diaz and Greg Nickels (of Miami and Seattle, respectively) talked about the frustration mayors face in having to go to the state to receive funding.
Real Estate Scandal and Planning Reform in Jerusalem
Described as being the biggest corruption scandal in Israel's history, the Holyland Park scandal highlights the need for tighter regulation of land use planning in Israel. But with the Prime Minister's support for deregulation, reform looks unlikely.
Stats Systems to See Upgrade in Federal Budget
This post from The New Republic explains how the federal budget includes plans to upgrade some of the varied parts that track statistics in the country.
Community Design for Public Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are getting in the urban design racket with a new guide to community design that focuses on how urban form can affect public health.
3 Reasons New Yorkers Ignore the Census
Many New Yorkers who haven't returned their census forms fear that doing so could cost them their apartments.
The One-Two Punch of Job Losses and Falling Home Values
Housing devaluation and job loss are the two major problems affecting America's urban areas. But as this article from Governing explains, those two problems are playing out in drastically different ways from metro to metro.
From Commissioner to Planner: Switching Sides
Dave Stauffer was a planning commissioner in Red Lodge, Montana before taking a job as a city planner. Wayne Senville talks to Dave about making the switch.
Distracted from Infrastructure
With huge financial problems facing government at all levels in the U.S., some worry that infrastructure will fall by the wayside as budgetary priorities are laid out.
Running Cities Like A Business
Former Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chavez writes that the great success of Mayor Bloomberg's PlanNYC is due in large part to a process that borrowed key principles from the business world.
Will Shanghai Benefit from the World Expo in the Long-Term?
As Shanghai prepares to host the World Expo beginning next month, the aftertaste of over-investment in Beijing's 2008 Summer Olympics and that event's now-empty venues is causing some to question the wisdom of the Expo and its long-term impact.
Transit Officials Broaden Vision for Phoenix Light Rail
Changing demographics and transit demands in the Phoenix area are causing transit planners to rethink where the region's light rail system should expand.
Overhead Wires Cloud Future of D.C. Streetcar and Reputation
Washington D.C. is moving forward with plans to construct streetcars in the city, but a law more than 100 years old banning overhead wires is threatening the progress of those plans.
Government Turns to Prize-Sourcing
The Federal government spends almost $137 billion a year on research. A new paper suggests that Federal, state, and local govs would encourage significantly more innovation by holding contests with a cash prize.
Carrion Promotes "Generous Zoning Around Transit Hubs"
Director of the White House Office of Urban Policy Adolfo Carrión says that The White House wants to encourage the creation of "neighborhoods that are rich with opportunity."
Climate/Energy Gas Tax Nixed
Despite many reports to the contrary, the developing climate legislation by Senators Graham, Lieberman, and Kerry to be unveiled April 26 will not include a fuel fee, reports The Hill. And don't blame the oil industry - they supported the gas tax.
Small Towns Seek to Buy Back Energy Infrastructure
Small German towns that had sold off their energy utilities to large corporations in the 1990s are trying to buy them back. They want to be back in on the lucrative energy market, but have large and formidable opponents.
Portland the Weird
The Economist looks at Portland's "weirdness" with an arched eyebrow, and asks, is this the next great model for the American city?
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
