Equity

An Interview With New York Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, FAICP
Mitchell Silver, commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, former planning director of Raleigh, and former president of the APA, discusses the aspirations and realities of a long, successful career in planning.

Ensuring Equity in Memphis Riverfront Development
One of the city’s biggest assets is its riverfront, but equity and inclusion need to be an important part of what development brings to residents and communities.

Scooter 'Redlining' Raises Questions in San Francisco
San Francisco hoped a competitive permitting process would ensure considerations of equity in the operations of scooters in the city. The results haven't lived up to expectations.

A Comprehensive Plan for Every Neighborhood Park
Minneapolis wants more equity in its parks spending—and new plans are a key step in the process of delivering more equitable results.

Editorial: Cheaper Metra on the South Side Would Ease Chicago's Transit Inequities
The Red Line extension to 130th is still unfunded and a universal Chicago fare card hasn’t materialized, but in the immediate term, the Metra can run more trains and charge lower fares to help get the South Side moving.

A Frank Discussion About Struggling Suburbs
Many suburban areas outside thriving urban cores are struggling to deliver vital services and maintain property values as job and population growth stagnates. It's time to confront the realities of those communities, according to this article.

Congestion Pricing Gains Traction in Seattle
Congestion pricing is a popular subject of conversation in Seattle, even if the idea hasn't yet proven popular with voters. The city is looking for ways to lead on climate change by reducing emissions from transportation.

How the Green New Deal Could Transform the Built Environment
If it emulated and adapted the scope of its predecessor, the Green New Deal could transform the country in fundamental ways, with builders, planners, and architects playing central roles.

The Argument Against Home Ownership
If you pay a 20% down payment for a home, you’re making a leveraged bet that the home will maintain or grow its value.

Portland's TriMet Might Close Stations to Increase Train Speed
Beyond station closures, the Regional Transportation Agency of Oregon is looking to create new bus-only lanes, and possibly a new stretch of subway under Portland’s downtown to increase transit speed.

Searching for Equitable Road Pricing in Portland
A new task force is being assembled in Portland to implement new road pricing mechanisms that convinces people to ditch their cars for more efficient modes of travel, while also ensuring low-income communities don't bear too much of the burden.

APA Releases its First Guide to Equity
The American Planning Association (APA) makes a clear statement that planners are especially suited to address matters of social equity.

New Ways to Purchase Transit Tickets Hailed as a Win for Equity
Adding cashless and mobile options for purchasing transit tickets shouldn't necessitate the removal of cash payments.

Reimagining the Social Value of Public Spaces
While they're often treated as mere assets to be maintained or abandoned for other uses, public spaces can be an active part of cities' plans for equitable revitalization.

Potholes Don’t Discriminate, but a Plan to Fix Oakland Streets Reveals Stark Divides in the City
The city has a plan to tackle its pothole problem that it says is equitable. But, some residents say it isn’t fair.

Richmond Bus Redesign Faces Equity Complaints
Residents charge the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) with making service worse for low income residents.

Mapping the Wealth Accumulation of Homeowners
Exclusionary zoning really pays off for people that already had enough money to buy a home. A new mapping project shows exactly where that's true int he area around Minneapolis.

Study: Bike Infrastructure Short Changes Lower-Income Residents, People of Color
A new study by researchers from Harvard University addresses bike equity, which is a powerful tool for increasing access to transportation and reducing inequality in U.S. cities

If Road Pricing Is Inherently Unfair and Regressive...
Road pricing has its faults as a revenue measure, but it needs to be compared to ten elements of the current system of paying for transportation, including hidden subsidies, says Joe Cortright, an urban economist with Portland-based City Observatory.

Equity Considerations Delay Congestion Pricing in Los Angeles
After discussing a staff report on road pricing at their Jan. 24 meeting, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority directors paused to weigh the equity implications of charging motorists to drive on roads.
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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