For me, it was another busy year here at the intersection of journalism and urbanism. Those of you who pay rent in California know that the housing crisis truly came to fruition this year. It influenced nearly …
California’s Nastiest Urban-Rural Rivalry
Nasty as it sounds, Green Acres ‘Farm’ in Kern County is an apt symbol of the symbiosis between rural and urban areas.
How CEQA Helped Elect Trump
This year, while NIMBY’s were tittering about LULU’s, the “drill baby drill” crowd was marshaling its forces.
Dispute over Gas Station Erupts into Legal Battle in Sacramento
A permit for gas pumps at mixed use project in Sacramento has led to a protracted legal battle and a rare lawsuit against a city.
College Essays: Where (Not) to Begin
The first sentence of a college essay isn’t the “answer” to the question. The “answer” is the entire essay.
Cities Zero In On Road Road Safety
Ambitious, Rapidly Expanding Vision Zero Movement Seeks to End Vehicular Deaths
Planetizen’s Top Planning Books for 2017
Planetizen is pleased to release its list of the best books published in 2016 on the subjects of planning, design, and development.
Revamp of Fresno Plans, Zoning Code Aims to Create “Next Great American Downtown”
Last month, the Fresno City Council approved a package of plans and regulations for greater downtown Fresno, including the urban core and surrounding neighborhoods.
Calexit in Reverse
If Donald Trump threatens to pull the nation back into the past, I suggest that California remains — as ever — its future.
A Plea For Politics In The Classroom
Teachers who are honest about their opinions can encourage productive, respectful debates.
Especially in California, Greens Have Missed the Party
While the Green Party nominates a presidential candidate every four years as a publicity stunt, other politicians—Democrats and Republicans alike—have been steadily pursuing a green agenda in California. California cities are better off for it.
College Essay Prompt Pet Peeves
I feel little solicitude for the Common Application prompts, contrivances that they are. I do, however, respect institutions’ right to define their curiosity and probe students accordingly. Here are some, though, that deserve a second thought.
California Voters Face Bumper Crop of Land Use Ballot Measures
While the presidential race has put the charms of federalism on full display, direct democracy has never been more robust than it is in California this election cycle. In jurisdictions of all sizes, Californians face the biggest crop of land-use ballot measures in years.
From Shanghai to Westchester: LAX Caught between Local, Global Forces
LAX is always under construction or renovation –in sometimes valiant, sometimes halfhearted, usually halting attempts to spruce up L.A.’s “nine terminals linked by a traffic jam.” It’s one traffic jam that may finally end.
The Cute and the Iconic
Many architects would kill to get a building on Architectural Record’s list of 125 Top Buildings. But big cities can learn a few things from the landscapes of small-town America too.
Art Review: Ed Ruscha and the Great American West
No artist has ever depicted Los Angeles like Ed Ruscha. It’s worth a trip to San Francisco to see the de Young’s retrospective.
A Back-to-School Reading List of Books About Cities
2016 has produced an eclectic, imitative mix of titles to the urban library.