Chicago’s alderman have control of millions of dollars of street resurfacing "menu money" for local projects. Inspector General Joe Ferguson argues that money would be better spent in a coordinated effort.

Chicago’s Aldermen, who make up the city council, each have control over their own fund for infrastructure. Some see this as a bad use of resources. "Inspector General Joe Ferguson argued that a 'holistic approach to core infrastructure' would help the city 'realize significant savings for its taxpayers and the infrastructure they depend on,'" Fran Spielman reports for the Sun-Times.
The city has 50 wards, and by breaking the funding into 50 pieces the city erodes its power and is sometimes operates at cross purposes, Ferguson argues. Beyond the lack of coordination, there's also an issue of who gets what funds. "In an audit that sent shock waves through the City Council, Ferguson said the program was under-funded by $122.9 million a year and '…bears no relationship to the actual infrastructure needs' of each ward and includes significant 'funding disparities,'" Spielman reports.
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized the proposal of abolishing menu money as unrealistic, describing it as something some one might dream up while they "walk around with a glass of white wine."

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research