California

Rattlesnakes

Major Grant Helping to Make Wildlife Crossing a Reality in Los Angeles County

The Annenberg Foundation is awarding a $25 million grant to the National Wildlife Federation's campaign to build a wildlife crossing at Liberty Canyon, over the 101 Freeway.

May 17, 2021 - Patch

Los Angeles Bungalow Court

A New Vision for Density

The winning designs for the "Low Rise" design challenge offer an aspirational image of density for Los Angeles.

May 17, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

 Interstate 710 in East Los Angeles, California.

Caltrans Chief Wants an 'Absolute Pause' on 710 Freeway Expansion

Communities along the corridor have fought expansion for decades, citing air quality and displacement concerns. Now, the agency says it's time to rethink the project.

May 16, 2021 - LA Streetsblog

Coronavirus Social Distancing

FEMA Offers Full Reimbursement for Pandemic Shelter Costs—But Cities Are Still Jittery

Cities and counties have been slow to take advantage of the promise of full and retroactive FEMA reimbursement to expand emergency housing programs, frustrating housing advocates. What’s getting in the way?

May 16, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Griffith Park

Seeking Public Input on Regional and Rural Park Needs

As part of a study, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is conducting a survey to better understand the use of facilities like beaches, natural areas, open spaces, regional parks, trails, and local parks in rural areas.

May 14, 2021 - Urbanize LA

California State Capital

Direct Payment, Rent Relief, Homelessness Funding in Expanded 'California Comeback Plan'

Nearly 6 million Californians will receive $600 in economic stimulus checks as the state makes a plan to spend its surprise, massive budget surplus. $2.6 million for rent relief and $2 billion to pay utility bills are also planned.

May 11, 2021 - KQED

Butte County, California

California's Fastest Growing City: Paradise

Paradise, California—devastated by the deadly Camp Fire of 2018—is attracting new and returning residents as the city rebuilds its housing stock.

May 11, 2021 - Sacramento Bee via SFGate

Traffic Safety

Automated Traffic Enforcement Struggles to Find Footing in California State Legislature

If Texas lawmakers hate it, California lawmakers must love it, right? Not so fast.

May 10, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles, California

Two Demographic Firsts, Both Losses, for California

The nation's most populous state learned from the Census Bureau last month that it would lose a congressional district for the first time in its history. On Friday, it revealed that 2020 was the first year since 1850 to experience a population loss.

May 10, 2021 - CALmatters

California Aqueduct

Southern California's Water Conservation and Storage Efforts Paying Off

The region has poured over a billion dollars into storage infrastructure and demand management policies in anticipation of worsening drought conditions.

May 7, 2021 - Bloomberg Green+CityLab

American River Bike Trail, Sacramento, CA

Regional Bikeway System Planned for Sacramento Area

The proposed network would improve connectivity between the area's existing bikeways and increase access to regional job centers.

May 6, 2021 - Sacramento Bee

California

'Indirect Source Rule' Would Clean Up Warehouses in Southern California

Dr. Joe Lyou, CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air, walks through the legal necessity of South Coast AQMD's proposed Indirect Source Rule, which aims to accelerate the transition to zero-emission technologies and fleet electrification.

May 6, 2021 - The Planning Report

Parking

California Bill Would Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit

The bill's author and housing advocates argue that easing parking requirements would ease the state's affordable housing crisis and promote the state's climate goals.

May 6, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Eli Broad

Los Angeles' Merchant of Sprawl

Los Angeles is mourning the death of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad. For all of Broad's many civic contributions, he made his fortune in a decidedly anti-urban way.

May 4, 2021 - California Planning & Development Report

Dealer

Biden Administration Hits Automotive Emissions Reset Button

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back Trump administration reductions of auto emission standards enacted by the Trump administration, and is taking first steps toward a new emissions agreement with automakers.

May 3, 2021 - The Washington Post

Los Angeles River

A Comment for the L.A. River Master Plan

Five themes proposed to achieve justice and sustainability for the Los Angeles River and its surrounding communities.

May 3, 2021 - Richard Dion

COVID-19 Pandemic

Pandemic Still Surging in Parts of the U.S.

Bloomberg News' 'Evening Briefing' on April 29 looked at the global pandemic, noting the horrific scenes in India, Brazil's rising death toll, and added, "Coronavirus mutations are also wreaking havoc in America." Oregon is their focus.

May 2, 2021 - Bloomberg News

San Carlos, California

Pandemic Street to Outlast Pandemic in California (By 2.5 Months)

Gov. Newsom's unexpected announcement that the pandemic would end on June 15 led one city to consider reopening its al fresco street and parklets to motor vehicles. After hearing from the public, the city council sided with diners over drivers.

April 29, 2021 - San Mateo Daily Journal

Oil field and houses in Signal Hill, California

Your Not-So-Friendly Neighborhood Oil Well

Much of California's oil and gas extraction takes place in residential neighborhoods, posing significant health risks to entire communities.

April 29, 2021 - Yale Environment 360

Shipping Container Housing

Building Modular Housing Factories Near Areas With High Housing Costs

To improve housing costs and economic conditions at once, look to the locations of modular housing factories.

April 28, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

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.