Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley has declared Baltimore the greatest city in America. Does anyone believe him?
"But like the mayors of so many other struggling cities around the country, O'Malley is betting that dubious public works projects and old-style urban renewal will turn around his town's fortunes. He's joined in his delusions by other local pols. They point to the city's "success" with the Inner Harbor, the downtown area that was redeveloped with gobs of public money a decade ago. Now it boasts Camden Yards, where the Orioles play baseball, and a host of chain restaurants; tourists even go there when they're in town. Cities such as Denver and Cleveland have built what amount to carbon copies of the area, and isn't imitation the sincerest form of flattery?"
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Baltimore Blues

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.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service