Penn IUR's Eugenie Birch, Richard Voith and Susan Wachter ask: Can rapidly urbanizing cities in low and moderate income countries become "smarter"?

A flurry of attention to the varied applications labeled “smart cities” is occurring with growing frequency. Smart cities discussions are turning into smarter cities dialogues among public and private decision-makers, the interested public, researchers and many others. The result is a re-thinking of the subject. Many observers who once considered the use of advanced technology as the domain of high income places are now looking at its use more broadly (in low and moderate income places) and more “smartly” (adapted to local contexts and stakeholder needs).
FULL STORY: Can Rapidly Urbanizing Cities in Low and Moderate Income Countries Become Smarter?

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

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.

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

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
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