Controversies

Los Angeles Councilmember Chooses the Side of Traffic Safety
Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin sent a clear message to commuters upset about traffic calming projects in his district: "We don’t have to lose one more precious life."

Why the Controversy Over a Planned Disc Golf Course in New Jersey Is a Big Deal
America's freedoms allow Americans the right to complain, vociferously, about things like a planned disc golf course.

How Not to Solve a Housing Crisis
More trouble in River City, as Portland and Oregon struggle with rising housing costs and come up with a puzzling solution.

Brutalism Becoming a Source of Preservation Controversy
Brutalism might not be anybody's idea of beautiful, but that doesn't mean examples of the architectural style aren't beloved by many. As Brutalism comes of age as historic, preservation battles are heating up—especially in Washington, D.C.

Conspicuous and Controversial Condo Building Breaks Ground in Denver
Sloan Lake is getting a new neighbor.

L.A. Metro Board Removes Support for Controversial 710 Freeway Tunnel Plan
The saga of the 710 Freeway will continue, as it has for decades. Now, however, a proposal to build a 6.3-mile tunnel from El Sereno to Pasadena, has lost key support from the regional transportation agency.

Court Ruling Could Be a Final Setback for Maryland Purple Line Extension
A recent ruling by a U.S. district court could be a deathblow for the 16-mile Purple Line extension into Maryland, as well as for transit planning in general.

Inside the Interior Department's Review of National Monuments
The fate of 26 national monuments hangs in the balance, as the Interior Department holds a review process. Public comment is open until July 10.

I-70 Expansion in Denver Still Facing Scrutiny
A planned expansion of Interstate 70 through Denver might have federal approval, but a growing coalition of local groups and state political leaders are pushing back on the idea.

Turmoil at the U.S. Census Bureau as Director Resigns
John H. Thompson resigned on Tuesday from his position as director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Thompson served as director of the Census Bureau since 2013.

Lawsuit Closes Popular Hiking Trail to the Hollywood Sign
Closing today: one of the most popular hiking trails in the Hollywood Hills, another case of the antipathy between public access and private property.

Multi-Family Development in Portland Stalls at a Controversial Crossroads for the City
On the one hand, the city of Portland is facing pressure to add new housing and development to meet the needs of a growing population and an expensive real estate market. On the other hand, change is never easy.

D.C. Metro's Recent Controversial Decision: Painting Over Brutalism
Controversy erupted last week in Washington, D.C., after D.C. Metro decided to paint Union Station's vaulted ceilings—a famous icon of the District, it's regional transit system, and the architectural style of Brutalism.

Leading San Francisco Architect Picks a Fight With the City's Planning Department
Architects and planners have to work together, as everyone on both sides of the equation knows. Even though the fields often speak the same language, there still seem to be many moments and ideas lost in translation.

The Great Debate: Are Liberal Cities Good or Bad for the Country?
A contentious debate broke out this week, after a pundit proposed breaking up the consolidation of economic and political power of the country's liberal cities.
Never Built New York: The Pier 55 Park Project for the Hudson River
The Pier 55 proposal made a big splash in New York when it was proposed in 2014, but now it appears headed for the trash bin of history.

Sesame Street vs. Donald Trump
Sesame Street, which would lose federal support if some of the cuts proposed by the Trump Administration's draft budget go into effect, has been lampooning Donald Trump since long before he became president.

SXSW Attendees Troubled by Austin's Lack of Uber
What happens when SXSW stops being polite, and starts getting real?

Light Rail Opening Next Year, More Lines Proposed—Transit Debates Keep Finding Charlotte
An extension of the Lynx Blue Line is schedule to open to the public on March 31, 2018. Controversy regarding sales taxes have traditionally followed transit projects in the region.

L.A. Planning Referendum, Measure S, Soundly Defeated
Measure S and an oddly timed election brought planning and development to the center of the public consciousness in Los Angeles for a few months. The voters resoundingly supported one side of the issue.
Pagination
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