Christian Madera
Christian Madera was managing editor of Planetizen from 2006 to 2008.
Contributed 1912 posts
Christian Madera was managing editor of Planetizen from 2006 to 2008. He currently lives and works in Hong Kong.
Christian has written about urban planning, policy and technology issues for the Los Angeles Times, Planning Magazine, The Southern Sierran, and Next City Magazine, where he was a 2010 Urban Leaders Fellow. His past experience includes working as a community planner and the web and new media manager for the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington, DC, as well as a policy analyst for a non-profit housing developer in Los Angeles.
Prior to joining Planetizen, Christian worked as a program manager for the China Planning and Development Institute in Shanghai and Beijing. Christian also spent three years as a web developer at Urban Insight, the internet consulting firm that supports Planetizen, and contributed significantly to the development of Planetizen from 2000-2003. He has interned and consulted with a number of governments and non-profit organizations, including the Port Authority of NY/NJ, the Rockefeller Foundation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy, New Jersey Future, the City of Newark, NJ, and the CUNY Building Performance Lab in New York City.
Christian holds a BS in urban planning and development from the University of Southern California's School of Policy Planning and Development, and an MPA from the Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs at Princeton University.
HUD Pushes Homeownership Over Renting
The Bush administration's housing policy, which emphasizes homeownership for the poor over rental assistance, plans to scale back funding for low-income tenants and could intensify the shortage of affordable housing in cities.
The Argument For Raising Fuel-efficiency Standards
A report released by the National Academy of Sciences says existing technology can improve fuel-efficiency in vehicles by up to 35%, at little cost to the motorist.
Making Density Desirable
More and more well-to-do residents in the booming Research Triangle are opting to live in townhomes and condos, and developers are moving to build attractive high density housing across the region.
New Ohio Law May Encourage Sprawl
The new law will give townships more say in annexation attempts by Ohio cities, but opponents fear it gives too much power to townships and will increase suburban sprawl.
The Plight Of Small Town America
While some towns struggle to attract new industry and keep a town square alive, others try to slam the brakes on growth, as roads, sewers and schools strain under the load of new homes and families.