A new law in one Washington town enshrines the river’s legal right to “exist, regenerate, and flourish.”

Voters in Everett, Washington approved a ballot measure that gives the Snohomish River the legal right to “exist, regenerate, and flourish,” reports Katie Surma for Inside Climate News.
According to Surma, “Everett’s referendum is part of the fast-growing rights of nature movement that has cemented into law rights of individual species and ecosystems. The laws are aimed at preserving the integrity of the natural world and have been enacted in more than a dozen countries, including Spain, Ecuador, Colombia and New Zealand.”
The law paves the way for city agencies, residents, and organizations to sue polluters on behalf of the river. As Surma explains, “Rights of nature laws tend to provide a higher level of protection than conventional regulations, which typically regulate the pace and amount of pollution allowed. Rights of nature laws flip that concept on its head. They can require that it is better to avoid risks to ecosystems that could lead to irreversible damage, absent scientific evidence that shows the risks are manageable.”
FULL STORY: A River in Washington State Now Has Enforceable Legal Rights

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Philadelphia Could Lose Free Transit Program
The city’s upcoming budget doesn’t include the Zero Fare program, which offers free SEPTA fare to more than 24,000 residents.

Inferior US Vehicle Standard Threaten European Safety
EU vehicles are much safer than U.S. vehicles due to better standards. The U.S. wants its standard to be considered ‘equivalent’ for import purposes. A European Transport Safety Council report examines the conflict.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland