Government / Politics
San Diego Continues to Widen Roads Despite Pledge to Reduce Car Dependence
Transit advocates say that outdated road widening plans contradict the city's Climate Action Plan.
What Will It Take for the U.S. to Kick the Car Habit?
Government played a big role in creating the car-centric United States that exists today. Climate change requires that government take the lead in reducing automobile dominance.
What We Really Mean When We Say Gentrification
The focus on gentrifying communities has, in many cases, eclipsed the similar problems facing more stagnant neighborhoods.
Sports Stadiums as a Battleground for Affordable Housing
Thanks to new enforcement powers, California's Department of Housing and Community Development can now cite cities for failing to meet affordable housing requirements in stadium redevelopment projects.
Biden Orders Large Employers to Require Vaccination or COVID Testing
President Biden announced a multi-prong strategy to combat the Delta surge gripping the nation that rests largely on increasing the vaccination rate among the labor force. The most controversial measure is aimed at private employers of 100+ workers.
Healthy Corner Stores Fight 'Retail Redlining'
Small entrepreneurs are working to combat 'food deserts' by bringing fresh, healthy foods to communities lacking access to major grocery stores. But price continues to be a major factor in people's food choices.
TOD Plans Take Shape in Prince George's County
The historically car-dependent county is hoping the planned revitalization of the Blue Line Corridor will boost the local economy and help maintain affordable housing.
A Stark Picture of the Climate Gap in the Coachella Valley
In the low desert of Southern California, dwindling water supplies and a lack of infrastructure funding pose major challenges for working-class communities struggling to survive.
Democratic Legislators Obstruct Funding for California High Speed Rail
Voters approved a $9.9 billion bond for the California High Speed Rail project in 2008. State legislators would like that money to be spent in other ways in 2021.
St. Paul Voters Could Pass the Nation's Strictest Rent Stabilization Ordinance
The extremely strict proposal would eliminate sharp rent increases, but could stifle housing construction and worsen the city's housing crisis.
Public Health Experts Question CDC Catchphrase, 'Pandemic of the Unvaccinated'
Five public health experts and a pollster take issue with calling the COVID crisis a 'pandemic of the unvaccinated,' suggesting it may be inappropriate, provocative, and not only ineffective but possibly counterproductive in increasing vaccinations.
The Consequences of Community Engagement
Long, onerous environmental review processes focused on public input can cause major delays and cost increases for infrastructure and transportation projects.
New York Needs Permeable Streets to Mitigate Future Flooding
To reduce the severity of disruptive subway flooding, the city can implement street-level solutions that absorb and redirect water before it reaches the train tunnels.
Mobile Home Parks Becoming Unaffordable as Investors Buy Up Properties
Longtime residents of mobile home parks are seeing their land rents go up as corporate investors seek to increase profits, aided in part by federally-backed loans.
Biden Administration Targets Five States that Ban School Mask Mandates
President Biden asked his education secretary to see what could be done about states that prohibit school districts from enacting CDC public health recommendations. Miguel Cardona responded by empowering his Office of Civil Rights to investigate.
How to Abolish Parking Minimums: Lessons from the Twin Cities
Cities around the country are eliminating parking minimums in an effort to reduce the costs of housing construction and encourage car-free living.
Preemption of Green Cities in Red States
State legislatures, frequently acting on behalf of corporate interests, are preempting local reforms and regulations necessary to limit the emissions that cause climate change.
How New York City Can Prepare for the Next Catastrophic Floods–Now
The city must take urgent action to mitigate the effects of increasingly damaging rainstorms.
Seattle Accepting Proposals for Neighborhood Recovery Fund Projects
The fund will invest $6 million in community-led projects aimed at public space activation, digital equity, and other recovery strategies.
Bus Transit Still Faces Social Stigma
Improving headways and making service more reliable can help reduce the negative public image faced by urban bus transit.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
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
