This article from the Albany Times Union looks at the importance of using a regional approach to addressing poverty, crime and inner city blight.
"We seem to understand on an international basis that there is a direct relationship between poverty, disenfranchisement and instability."
"Suburbs and rural areas have a vested interest in cities' health. Cities are our cultural centers and in many ways reflect the future diversity of our country. They are still our government centers."
"A hollowed-out urban center benefits no one. In fact, it has been well established that any decline in the inner city has a profound effect on neighboring suburbs and rural areas. According to a 1997 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report, 87 percent of the new jobs created in the early '90s in the lower-paying and lower-skilled service and retail sectors were located in the suburbs."
"Perhaps after many years of cut-throat competition and major economic development outside the inner cities, Capital Region communities will cooperate with their neighbors."
FULL STORY: Combat poverty with a regional approach

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

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.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research