Government / Politics
Is Breaking Up New Orleans The Only Way To Save It?
Citing that the most successful rebuilding efforts have happened without central government coordination, a recent column argues that the city's neighborhoods should secede and seize control of rebuilding efforts themselves.
Friday Funny: Zoning Trumps Al Gore's 'Green' Plans
The former Vice President's application to install solar panels on his home was denied by the zoning board of this wealthy Nashville enclave.
Texas Program Helps Motorists 'Trade Up' To Lower Pollution
With several of the state's metro areas failing federal clear air standards, Texas lawmakers are dramatically increasing funding to a program that help drivers of older cars buy new, less polluting vehicles.
A Showdown Over Historic Preservation In Canada
Newly announced plans by the government to create a Canadian National Trust dismays leaders of the Canadian Heritage Foundation, who wonder if they are being replaced over political differences.
Earth To Planners: Americans Want Roads, Not Transit
The current strategy of encouraging traffic congestion and focusing on transit doesn't align with the majority of American's preferences. Instead of continuing to follow failed policy, planners should start using new solutions to increase capacity.
Rezoning L.A.'s Industrial Bones
Developers want to transform downtown L.A.'s warehouses, factories, and grimy commercial buildings to accommodate live-work spaces. Planners and activists want to stay the course -- they say needed jobs are at stake.
Canada To Penalize SUVs, Reward Hybrids
Canadians shopping for a new car will get a rebate for purchasing hybrids, and a penalty for purchasing a gas-guzzler.
Superstar Cities
Big cities pack a punch equal to some national economies. The fraction of high-income families in superstar cities is 43 percent higher than in average cities, and those cities' share of poor families is 11 percent lower.
China Passes Landmark Property Rights Law
China grants private individuals to own property. Experts say law recognizes power of growing middle class but does not add protections for farmers.
Does America Need A New Robert Moses?
With urban areas across the nation facing increasing challenges, some are wondering if the old style of leadership displayed by New York City's legendary public official is required to actually get things done.
Canada: Urban Country, Rural Governance
The most recent Canadian Census shows that Canada is rapidly urbanizing. Unfortunately, writes Jeffrey Simpson, its systems of government and economic development strategies are stuck in a rural past.
Does Starbucks Belong In The Forbidden City?
One Chinese lawmaker is claiming the coffee chain's outpost in Beijing's Imperial Palace Complex, a venerable symbol of American capitalism, is tainting the national culture that the site represents.
Voters May Get Power Over Comprehensive Plans
The proposed Florida Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment calls for citizens to vote directly on whether to make changes in local comprehensive plans, instead of elected officials advised by professional and citizen planners.
The Great Global Warming Swindle Video?
Is the growing business behind the Global Warming "problem" perpetuating a myth that is becoming politically incorrect to question?
Montana Moving To Limit Eminent Domain
The state legislature is moving to place explicit limits on local government's power to take private land in response to the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo ruling.
UNOP Plan Works For New Orleans
Responding to recent criticism, Robert B. Olshansky and Lewis D. Hopkins, professors of urban and regional planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, argue that the United New Orleans Plan gets a lot more things right than wrong.
Miami's Public Housing Debacle
With a federal takeover of the city's housing authority underway, the fallout from the investigation into the agency's misdealings is expected to call for dramatic changes in government policy towards low-income housing.
Does The Trans-Texas Corridor Have A Future?
Plans for the construction of several mega-highway and rail corridors across Texas are facing growing opposition.
China May Establish Private Property Rights
A new law facing the National People's Congress of China looks to put in place massive land reform in the country that would essentially establish the right to private property. This legislation has been pushed forward by the central government.
In Oregon, Both Owls and Public Libraries Are Endangered
With the end of a federal subsidy intended to soften the blow to rural forest economies, an entire public library system in Oregon is being shut down.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
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
