Lobbyists

Top Planning Issues for State Legislatures
The American Planning Association identifies three issues that will define the year in state legislatures around the country.

Opportunity Zone: A Superyacht Marina, Adjacent Luxury Apartment Development
The federal government's Opportunity Zones program is offering a tax break to a marina for superyachts and adjacent planned development in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Former Oil and Gas Lobbyist Nominated to Run Interior Department
President Trump has finally acted to fill the seat vacated by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

AIA Statement: Architects Will Work With President Trump on Infrastructure
The executive director of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released a statement saying the profession is willing to participate in the president elect's ambitious infrastructure plan.

Self-Driving Cars Have Their Own Lobby Now
A coalition of the automated, if you will, as Ford, Volvo, Google, Uber, and Lyft have formed the new Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets to lobby for the causes of the nascent self-driving car industry.
Road Lobbyists Take Hit From Livability Movement
The concept of "livability" seems to be catching on -- both at a local level and up in the federal government. This is especially true in the Department of Transportation. That could mean bad news for the road building lobby.
Why New Highways Get Built While Existing Roadways Crumble
A new report from U.S. PIRG reveals how special interests tilts the playing field toward the construction of new and ever-wider highways at the expense of repair and maintenance.
D.C. Awash in Transportation Lobbyists
In the 2nd part of an expose featured previously on Planetizen, reporter Matthew Lewis uncovers the significant number of lobbyists influencing transportation policy in Washington.
Lobbying Up As High Speed Rail Funding Increases
Stimulus funds directed at high speed rail projects have inspired a flood of lobbying efforts across the country, according to this analysis from the Center for Public Integrity.
SPECIAL REPORT: A Lobbying Free-For-All
Thousands of special interest groups are competing to influence the new transportation bill. Reporter Matthew Lewis sheds light on the most significant players, in an extensive report from the Center for Public Integrity.
Banks Exacerbating Foreclosure Crisis
Banks and financial institutions are making the foreclosure crisis worse, as lobbying efforts seek to block bankruptcy courts from gaining more power to reduce debt, according to this article from Der Spiegel.
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