Five experts reflect on developing trends and future possibilities for resilience in Honolulu and other cities.

As cities emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, how can they become more resilient? In this article, Sterling Higa captures the insights of five experts:
- Dr. Karl Kim, a disaster preparedness expert;
- Todd Boulanger, a transportation specialist;
- Doug Johnstone, a real estate developer;
- State Senator Stanley Chang, a lawmaker; and
- Dr. Ashok Das, an expert in international development.
The article discusses a range of ideas, including "slow cities," multimodal transportation, mixed-use development, walkable neighborhoods, and the importance of civil society. While the discussion focuses on Honolulu, it also has relevance for other cities. After all, topics such as disaster preparedness, declining usage of public transit, changes in residential design, affordable housing, and cross-sectoral collaboration are equally important in other cities across the United States.
As an added bonus, this article features wonderful illustrations by Amy Ngo.
FULL STORY: The Resilient City Emerging

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?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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