Opinion

Seattle Councilmember Calls for Transit-Oriented Density
Seattle Councilmember Abel Pacheco writes on opinion piece for The Urbanist to make the case for transit-oriented density on The Ave in the city's University District.

Bike Prices to Soar in U.S. Thanks to Trump's Trade War with China
Depending on the type of bicycle for sale, the price may jump 25 percent due to new tariffs paid by importers and consumers (not China as the president would have you think) if it arrives in the United States after June 1.

Opinion: Less Is More When it Comes to Politics in Planning
A proposal from the provincial government of Ontario would revive an appeals process for planning and development processes in Toronto. An elected official and former planner writes to oppose the idea.

Op-Ed Supports Staten Island Rezoning for its Green Benefits
A rezoning proposal for Staten Island in New York City gets support from a local resident with deep involvement in the community.

Housing Crisis Derailing California's Climate Strategy
In a powerful opinion in The New York Times, state Senator Scott Wiener and UC Berkeley energy professor Daniel Kammen make the case that transportation emissions are rising in the Golden States because of the shortage of housing in coastal cities.

Asking for Forgiveness
In the age of new technology, is it better to ask for forgiveness, or beg for permission? Austin Brown and Kelly Fleming of UC Davis explore why companies have taken this approach and how policymakers and business leaders can improve the situation.

At World Oil Conference, No One Questioned Climate Change Science
During the CERAWeek conference held earlier in Houston, oil companies were not of one mind when it came to the future of their industry, with some saying transportation will be electrified while others maintained oil will continue to dominate.

Auto Industry Reluctant to Support Trump Plan to Freeze Fuel Economy Standards
The auto industry appears to be balking at supporting the Trump administration's plan to freeze vehicle emission standards at 2020 levels even though they initially asked Trump to loosen the rigorous Obama-era fuel efficiency rule that goes to 2026.

Learning the Wrong Lessons From France's Yellow Vest Movement
The widespread Yellow Vests protests, which initially involved hundreds of thousands of protestors in November, are wrongly being interpreted as a movement against carbon taxes and climate action, rather than a revolt against social inequities.

Scooter Media Brief: Then the CDC Rode In
There's still plenty of electric scooter news in the world.

Scooter Media Brief: We Still Haven't Figured Scooters Out
A few notes on the policy landscape and media narratives that have emerged in response to the sudden appearance of electric scooter rental companies onto the planning scene.

Truck Tolls Wins (Indirectly) on Election Day
Tolls were not on state ballots like gas taxes and transportation sales taxes on Nov. 6, but surrogates for and against truck-only tolling participated in two gubernatorial elections in New England, and the results will give no joy to truckers.

When Amazon Happens to Good Cities
After the news broke that Amazon was reportedly going to split its HQ2 plans between New York City and Washington, D.C., some cities are left console themselves. A Planetizen opinion piece picks up the pieces.

Should Planners Run for Public Office?
In an opinion piece bemoaning the passage of legislation that gives the BART board new land use planning authority, BART Director Deborah Allen argues that planners won't make good directors because they lack independence.

Voters in Four States to Decide on Transportation Sales and Fuel Taxes
Californians will determine whether to repeal recent fuel tax and user fee increases; Missourians to vote on a 10-cent gas tax hike over 4 years; Coloradans whether to hike the sales tax, and the most interesting measure will be decided in Utah.

Sometime This Summer, California's Population Tops 40 Million
Rather than projecting when the 50 million milestone will be reached, demographic and political indicators predict the state's population is more likely to decline, according to Joe Mathews of Zócalo Public Square.

Opinion: A Surprising New Foe in the War Against Pedestrians
Allowing bikes on sidewalks pits cyclists against pedestrians, an advocate argues.

A Strong Voice of Support for Value Capture to Fund Subway Repair
In an opinion for City & State, Kathryn Wylde, president of the nonprofit Partnership for New York City, makes the case that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority should be allowed to tax properties where value is enhanced by subway proximity.

Op-Ed: To Meet BeltLine's Affordable Housing Goals, Cut the Streetcar Plans
According to one argument, the importance of developing affordable housing is a higher priority for the Atlanta BeltLine than a streetcar. It's a question of scarce funding, and how to spend it to the greatest public benefit.

Survey: What's the Biggest Risk Facing Cities
Politico Magazine put out a big question to "mayors, urbanists and other thinkers": what are the biggest threats that American cities currently face?
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