Public Health

Health and Human Services Hit Hard in San Francisco

The recession is causing San Francisco to tighten its belt. Budget cuts are falling heavily on the city's health and human services.

April 13, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Linking Health to the Built Environment

This video lecture calls on builders, architects and planners to work with the medical and scientific communities to better explore how the built environment affects public health.

April 8, 2009 - National Building Museum

Sanjay Gupta Discusses Livable Cities

Correspondent/neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta, who has been tapped to fill the Surgeon General position by President-elect Obama, talks about 'livable cities' as they relate to climate change and public health.

January 8, 2009 - WorldChanging

Wood Burning Ban Saves Lives

Five years ago, the Central Valley became the first area of California to ban indoor wood burning when an 'alert' was called by the air district; other air districts followed in 2008. This study, released in Nov. shows that "no burn" days save lives.

December 31, 2008 - The Fresno Bee

Obesity and Sprawl Correlation Found in Australia

A new study from the University of New South Wales has outlined a connection that suggests living farther away from central cities results in higher rates of obesity.

December 21, 2008 - Sydney Morning Herald

Friday Funny: Spit City

Officials in Sarasota, Florida have thrown out a 100-year old rule against spitting in public, despite some concerns about public health.

December 19, 2008 - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Missouri Streets are a Little More Complete

DeSoto and Ferguson are the first two cities in Missouri to adopt Complete Street plans. The ordinances are in place to encourage walking and biking, and, ultimately, healthier lifestyles.

December 17, 2008 - Land Online

Air Board Approves Diesel and Climate Protection Plans

In back-to-back rulings, the Californian Air Resources Board approved the nation's strongest climate protection plan and the strictest on-road diesel emissions plans that will mean the oldest, most polluting trucks and buses will soon be no more.

December 17, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Air Resources Board Weighing Climate Plans

At a crucial two-day meeting, the California Air Resources Board may adopt, reject or modify two separate, landmark, controversial plans - one on climate change, the other on diesel emissions from trucks and buses.

December 11, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Killer Brown Clouds On The Rise

A U.N. report details the severity of the 'brown cloud' phenomenon affecting much of Asia and other parts of the planet. In addition to reducing sunlight and causing premature death, the clouds affect weather patterns, harvests, and glacier declines

November 20, 2008 - The New York Times

When Smog Kills - Museum Opened To Commemorate 1948 Disaster

Sixty years after twenty people died from air pollution spewing from a steel and zinc mill in Donora, PA (just outside Pittsburgh) in perhaps the worst air quality tragedy in the U.S., a museum has opened to commemorate and learn from the tragedy.

November 4, 2008 - The New York Times

Op-Ed: Russia's Health Crisis Belies Its Economic Success

Russia's economic transformation due to its oil wealth is well-known, but not so the state of its public health which shows an alarming contrasting picture.

October 28, 2008 - The New York Times

Noise Pollution in San Francisco is A Health Risk, Study Shows

A new study shows that noise pollution on the streets of San Francisco is putting nearly one in six residents at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and other stress-related illnesses.

October 10, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

L.A.'s Fast Food Ban Boosts Health and Healthy Businesses

A moratorium on new fast food restaurants in Los Angeles is seen as a way to encourage better public health, but also a way to encourage healthier businesses.

August 16, 2008 - The New York Times

To Live and Diet in LA

In the face of alarming obesity rates among many of its low-income residents, LA's City Council has voted to approve a moratorium on the construction of new fast-food restaurants in South LA.

July 31, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Living in the Wrong Neighborhood Can Harm Your Health

A new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that living in poor and violent neighborhoods can significantly increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

July 18, 2008 - The Baltimore Sun

Smoggy City Stifles Sense of Smell

Air pollution is so bad in Mexico City that residents have less sensitivity to smells, according to a recent study.

June 6, 2008 - Reuters

More Fast Food Makes Fatter Neighborhoods

High rates of obesity and diabetes are being correlated to high concentrations of fast food restaurants in neighborhoods. Some look to zoning as a solution.

May 5, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Smokng Banned in Mexico City

With one of the world's higher rates of air pollution, Mexico City is cracking down on one type of emission: cigarette smoke. Smoking has been banned in all public places in the city, including office buildings and restaurants.

April 12, 2008 - Reuters

Wi-Fi Plans Dropped Over Health Concerns

Officials in the California city of Sebastopol have gone back on an agreement with an Internet provider that was planning to create a municipal Wi-Fi network for the city. They cited health concerns in their decision.

March 28, 2008 - The Press Democrat

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.