Government / Politics

Questioning Road Expansion In Kansas City Metro Area

On the Kansas side of Metro area, officials still include thinks it needs more roads to ease sprawl created congestion.

June 1, 2007 - The Kansas City Star

Venezuela's Community Councils

In Venezuela, small community councils funded by oil money are popping up all over the country, taking control over local decisions such as public education, infrastructure, and building plans.

June 1, 2007 - NPR

City And School At Odds Over Massive North San Jose Redevelopment Plan

North San Jose's redevelopment plan calls for 32,000 apartments and 7 million sq.ft of industry along the light rail line, but demand for the latter has dropped. Now the school district wants 4 new schools while the city insists only 1 is necessary.

May 30, 2007 - San Jose Mercury News

Running A Better Public Meeting

If public participation is a goal, local government should work harder to make public hearings more user-friendly.

May 30, 2007 - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Vancouver To Atlanta: 'Congestion Is Our Friend'

In their annual trip to cities that work better than theirs does, Atlanta leaders visit Vancouver to see first-hand the benefits of density, transit and regional planning.

May 30, 2007 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Climate Protection & Land Use: California Begins To Address The Connection

Land use is finally being addressed in California as an intrinsic part of the state's global warming reduction strategy, thanks to passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act and a recent lawsuit by the attorney general against a sprawling county.

May 30, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Sending Toronto's Mayor To The Chicago School

Toronto, Canada's largest city, could learn a lot by looking at Chicago, writes Margaret Wente.

May 30, 2007 - The Globe and Mail

Carbon Tax Vs. Carbon Trading

L.A. Times editorial compares carbon taxes and carbon trading schemes and argues that carbon taxes are the best way to combat global warming.

May 29, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Berkeley's Green Blueprint

Strict guidelines have been proposed in Berkeley, California, that would require local residents and businesses to make broad energy efficiency improvements and to make other environmentally-conscious lifestyle changes.

May 29, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Should A Katrina Memorial Be Built?

The Unified New Orleans Plan calls for a $3.5 million monument to pay tribute to the victims of Katrina and the celebrate the city's rebuilding -- but some are wondering if such a project should be a priority, or is even a good idea.

May 28, 2007 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

England Moves Forward On Pay-As-You-Drive Program

The British government has approved rules that lay the foundation for pay-as-you-go road pricing pilot programs. Critics worry the rules preface national control over the controversial systems.

May 27, 2007 - The Guardian

Stagnant Federal Gas Tax Lies At Heart Of Transportation Funding Crisis

Congress' reluctance to raise the gas tax, as well as the President's refusal to approve an increase, lies at the heart of the transportation funding crisis, affecting both roads and transit.

May 26, 2007 - Associated Press via Inside Bay Area.Com

Major Planning System Reorganization Proposed In England

Officials in England propose a massive reorganization of the country's planning system, including the creation of an independent commission that would be charged with approving major infrastructure projects.

May 25, 2007 - The Guardian

Is Chicago Serious About Ending Homelessness?

With little progress having been made on Mayor Richard Daley's campaign pledge to end homelessness by 2012, some are wondering if the promise is just a pipe dream, or worse, a political stunt.

May 25, 2007 - Time Magazine

Funding Transit With Proceeds From Road Privatization

A proposed long-term lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike could provide close to $1.7 billion a year -- funding the state's transit and road needs without the need for additional taxes.

May 24, 2007 - Philadelphia Business Journal

Fairfax County Moves To Limit Big-Box Retail

Fairfax County Supervisors have approved a new measure to restrict the development of stores larger than 80,000 square feet, against the protests of the business community.

May 23, 2007 - The Washington Post

George Monbiot: 'The Great Moral Issue Of The 21st Century'

British journalist and environmentalist George Monbiot talks about global warming, car fuel economy, electric vehicles, manipulation of science, biofuels, the "Axis of Evil" on climate change, and "the great moral issue" of our time.

May 23, 2007 - Democracy Now

The Politics of Urban Poverty

The divide between extreme wealth and poverty in America's cities is growing starker, at the same time it is becoming more politically invisible, writes Bob Herbert.

May 23, 2007 - The New York Times

The Fight Against Billboard Pollution

Are billboard companies exploiting public roadways?

May 22, 2007 - The Washington Post Writers Group

Cities Draft Laws To Limit McMansions

Local municipalities are drafting laws to crack down on McMansions by imposing strict building restrictions, a move that has sparked controversy between officials and homebuilders.

May 21, 2007 - The New York Times

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.