Government / Politics

East African Capital City Proposes Master Plan Project

Kenya's land surveyors, town and physical planners, engineers, and architects will target Nairobi's blighted areas and try to prevent future unplanned developments.

September 7, 2006 - The East African Standard (Nairobi), All Africa.com

An Australian Backlash Against Planning?

Australian urban planning critics are casting planning as the 'villain' in destroying the rapid suburbanization that has fueled a home-ownership dream. But this is a dangerous view, writes urban management professor Brendan Gleeson.

September 6, 2006 - The Australian

Eminent Domain Threatened On Exclusive Golf Course In Caracas

Property rights in Venezuela's largest city continue to be strained by Caracas Mayor Juan Barreto who hopes to seize two elite, private golf courses and convert them to low-income housing to tackle Caracas' chronic housing shortage.

September 6, 2006 - The New York Times

Bush Forest Plan Halted By Strong Opposition

Bush administration proposals to sell public land face strong opposition even from allies such as the National Rifle Association.

September 6, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

New Clean Diesel Fuel Debuts

In the most important fuel improvement since lead was removed from gasoline a generation ago, 97% of the sulfur from diesel fuel will be removed, dramatically reducing particulate emissions, resulting in improvements to health and longevity.

September 5, 2006 - The Oakland Tribune

California's Bold Plan To Address Global Warming

Curtis Moore, a Republican, urges Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign global warming bills that could make California's approach a model for addressing the adverse impact of climate change.

September 5, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

Eminent Domain: Still A Useful Tool Despite Its Recent Thrashing

While the public and the media like to bring attention to a few controversial cases, rarely does anyone recognize the all the good that has come from the sound use of eminent domain by local officials, says David M. Lewis.

September 5, 2006 - David M. Lewis

The War Over McMansions

Patt Morrison asks, what if everybody owned a McMansion?

September 4, 2006 - The Los Angeles Times

New Orleans: 'A Nonfunctioning City'

One year later, the costs of Hurricane Katrina -- and the litany of crises that remain to be addressed -- is "staggering."

September 3, 2006 - Center for American Progress Action Fund

Boise Light Rail: Fantasy or Reality?

Boise's proposal for commuter light-rail chugs along.

September 2, 2006 - The Boise Weekly

California's Historic Deal To Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In a stunning blow to big business in California, Gov. Schwarzenegger carved an agreement with the Democratic legislature to sign a landmark bill that will require a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 -- the first in the nation.

September 2, 2006 - The New York Times

Is Vancouver, Canada The New Model For Urban Planning?

Having recently shown off its vibrant and dense downtown at the 2006 World Urban Forum, planners from around the world are looking to Vancouver as a model for sustainable urban planning.

September 1, 2006 - New Matilda

Inclusionary Housing In Queens, New York

130 blocks have been rezoned to include an inclusionary housing requirement in the New York City borough.

September 1, 2006 - City Limits Weekly

Can A Regional Transportation Authority Solve Tampa's Road Woes?

The proposal to create an eight-county transportation authority has drawn applause, skepticism, and fear.

September 1, 2006 - HeraldToday.com

For Sale: 10 City Blocks In New York City

Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, two World War II era middle-class housing developments on Manhattan's lower east side, are up for sale -- with an estimated value of $5 billion.

August 31, 2006 - The New York Times

All Eyes On Air District's Sprawl Fee Litigation

California's Central Valley, where farms are rapidly being converted to tract housing, has the worst air quality in the state. A new "sprawl fee" on developments based on vehicle trips they would generate has spawned a legal challenge from builders.

August 31, 2006 - The New York Times

UK Government Accused Of Violating 'Protective Planning' Laws

Environmentalists in England are charging local and central government officials with bending their own rules to allow various developments in scenic, rural areas and environmentally-sensitive lands.

August 31, 2006 - The Guardian

Six Achievable Steps To Confront Global Warming

A new report from U.S. PIRG identifies achievable strategies for the United States to reduce global climate impacts by 20 percent.

August 29, 2006 - US Public Interest Research Group

Miami Beach Struggles With The Cost Of Parking

To compensate for the rising cost of providing parking structures, the city is proposing to hike its impact fee to $35,000 per space.

August 28, 2006 - The Miami Herald

New Orleans Still Without A Plan

A year after Katrina, the federal money for rebuilding is just starting to arrive, while the city's mayor has failed to lead the reconstruction.

August 28, 2006 - The Boston Globe

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

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