Government / Politics
Disconnected from Society? Gated Communities: Their Lifestyle versus Urban Governance
Peer Smets (VU University Amsterdam) investigates the socio-cultural impacts of specific patterns of urban segregation (gated communities) on local urban politics and urban governance.
Freeway Fighter Dies
Peter Craig, a lawyer that was pivotal in fighting a proposal to bisect Washington, D.C. with interstate highways, died last month. The Washington Post looks at his legacy.
Gated Communities Not Safer, Say Police
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief stated in a public meeting that their evidence shows that the gated communities in the area are not statistically any freer of crime than non-gated ones.
Friday Funny - Socialized Highways
Americans are shocked to discover that the country's highways are subsidized by Big Government at the taxpayer's expense.
Federal Bills To Provide Billions For Transportation Working Through Congress
The jobs and defense bills - both of which will provide much needed money for transportation projects while extending the current transportation authorization law (SAFETEA-LU) through Sept. 2010, are working there way to the President's desk.
Federal Grants Make Taxis More Accessible
A new federal grant program is enabling private car and taxi companies in cities across the country to buy new handicapped-accessible cars for their fleets.
The Infrastructural Divide
Infrastructure spending is becoming a dividing issue amongst political factions in America, according to this piece from Wired.
Northeast Shut Out From High Speed Rail Money
The Northeast corridor has effectively been shut out from receiving any federal high speed rail stimulus dollars due to tight environmental review policies.
Dismissing 'Utilitarian' Building May Hurt Ottawa
Plans to quickly rebuild the historic Lansdowne Park in Ottawa instead of spending time on a design competition have spurred hot controversy in the city. Architecture critic Christopher Hume says the fast approach is bad for the project and the city.
Spend More, Get Less
Is San Francisco the worst-run big city in the country? The SF Weekly argues that despite spending more per capita than any other city, SF fails to deliver on almost everything.
DC Abuzz With Biking Interest
An event featuring David Byrne ("Bicycle Diaries) in DC brings out hundreds to hear how to take back public streets from the domination of the auto, and green federal transportation policy as well.
Utah Approved as Temporary Nuclear Dumping Ground
The state of Utah and the Department of Energy have come to an agreement that will allow depleted uranium storage within the state, at least temporarily. Additional reviews are needed before the state officially stores the nuclear waste permanently.
Big Brother is Watching You Ride the Bus
Electronic passes used to board transit systems in the Seattle region could offer a new eye for Big Brother. According to privacy rights activists, the data in the employer-provided passes can be monitored by employers without employees' knowledge.
Guide to Street Vending and Tenants Rights
These two posts from BLDGBLOG look at an innovative project that visually explains the convoluted policies and rules of New York City tenant rights and street vending regulations.
The Bizarre Planning of the Las Vegas Monorail
There's a monorail on the Las Vegas Strip. Well, kinda. It's actually behind the casinos and hotels that line the famous strip. This piece from Metropolis explains how it got there and why it's not so good.
UK Camera Count Triples in 10 Years
The amount of closed-circuit security cameras operated by local councils in the United Kingdom has nearly tripled over the past 10 years, according to a new report.
Water Standards Out of Touch With Reality
American drinking water meets federal safety standards, but some say it's only because those standards are far too low and don't accurately reflect the potential for contamination.
Filling in the City
As climate talks start and stop in Copenhagen, Anthony Flint argues for local action by affecting the built environment. He calls for more infill redevelopment, saying "we need more city".
Rebound Cities Offer Lessons for Detroit
This piece from The New Republic looks at the "urban disaster" of Detroit and compares it to other cities that have come on tough times in the past. Cities like Belfast and Turin offer examples of how Detroit can come back from the dead.
LaHood Talks Trains on the Daily Show
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood talks about the federal government's mobility plans on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
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
