California's 2,000+ special districts hold over $3 billion, with little or no public oversight over how the funds are spent.
D. J. Waldie, public information officer for the city of Lakewood and author of "Holy Land: A Suburban Memoir" presents a disturbing look at California's questionable special districts, with a particular emphasis on the Water Replenishment District. Since being mandated, many of these special districts have slipped beyond government or public scrutiny.
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Phanton Governmets

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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