Portland Transit Agency announces planned service cuts
Trimet Transport in Portland has announced that Oregon legislature is preparing for a series of service cuts needed to prevent it from passing House Bill 2025. According to Roberta Altstadt, Trimet News wrote, “The failure of HB2025 will require many Oregon transit agencies, including Trimet, to maintain service levels in the coming years.” The agency […]
Gallatin County, Montana passes public camp ban
This article by Jordan Hansen originally appeared in the Daily Montanan. Like other communities in Montana, Gallatin County and the Bozeman area have struggled with rising home prices and homelessness over the past decade. A 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that Montana had an 89% increase in homelessness […]
Maine legislators remove red tape to allow for more affordable home construction
This article by Eesha Pendharkar originally appeared in the Main Morning Star. Shortened by the planet. bill [Maine House of Representatives Speaker Ryan Fecteau] Introduction – Finally wrapped in budget, Ld 1082 increases real estate transfer tax on properties sold for more than $1 million. Increases in revenue, which apply only to a portion of […]
New rental cap sets for Washington for 2026 are set below 10%
This story by Jake Goldstein Street was originally published in Washington Standard. The limit that will take effect on Jan. 1 will be set at 9.683%, the state Department of Commerce said Friday. House Bill 1217, signed into law in May by Gov. Bob Ferguson, limits annual housing rent increases to 7% plus inflation, or […]
Nature begins here: The essential role of nature centers and outdoor programs
Nature Centers play an important role in connecting people to the natural world, especially in densely populated urbanized areas such as Los Angeles County. La County Network of Nature Center is part of the country’s most ecologically diverse landscape with over 10 million residents, providing important access points for education, recreation and protection. These spaces […]
Opinion: California’s clean transportation efforts do not meet the needs of low-income residents
In an opinion article by Smart Cities Dive, Marta Anadón Rosinach argues that California’s approach to clean transportation leaves the lowest income residents who need the most. According to Rosinach, “It’s time to rethink the definition of ‘clean mobility’ and include fair access. A zero-emission vehicle may qualify for paper, but it’s not helpful if […]
Report: 1/5 of Houston homes in flooded areas
More than 20% of Harris County housing units are located in major flood areas, according to the 2025 Houston report. As John Brunnen explains in Urban Edge, the report “found a strong link between the neighborhood share of single-flood plains single-family homes and the poverty rates in their neighborhoods.” Many homes in the area are […]
Chicago eliminates minimum parking near the transport
The writings at Streetsblog Chicago, Steven Vance and John Greenfield praise the city of Chicago’s recent move to eliminate parking minimums near train stations and bus lines. The new rules amend the city’s 2022 connected community ordinance to eliminate the deficit and create a building without parking “to the right” without parking. “Development of locations […]
Oregon approves the ambitious framework of “microgrids”
This article by Alex Brown was originally published in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Oregon lawmakers have passed a pair of bills to enable “microgrids” within a large power system. Microgrids are essentially local “islands” of energy generation and storage systems, connecting to utilities, but can operate independently if necessary. Many are designed to serve community […]
Historic investments in LA County parks and open spaces
The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) has launched a record $58 million competitive grant program to invest in parks, trails and open spaces throughout the county. This historic initiative is the largest grant program in RPOSD history and is designed to support community-driven, climate-smart, shovel-enabled projects. A minimum of 30% […]