Malls as future midtowns: a US argument that lands on London’s town centres
A Planetizen feature argues shopping malls are becoming the midtowns of the future. The piece is US-focused commentary, not a planning decision…
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Public consultations, deadlines and participation routes.
US federal bill proposes $10bn fund for PFAS removal from water systems
Bipartisan legislation in the House would authorise $2bn a year for five years to help water utilities strip “forever chemicals” from drinking…
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Seattle City Attorney Launches New Community Court and Repeat Offender Programme Amid Public Defender Concerns
Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans has launched Connection Court, a new community court programme, alongside a punitive High-Priority Repeat Offenses system. The…
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Quiz or Signal? The Rise of “Plansplaining” and What It Says About Public Participation in Planning
A quiz circulating in US planning circles asks whether certain comments are mansplaining or “plansplaining.” While lighthearted, the concept touches on a…
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Kirkland wage-floor vote could set Eastside precedent for essential-worker pay
Kirkland City Council will consider a minimum wage ordinance on October 6, potentially becoming the first Eastside city to match King County’s…
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Air Taxis Take Flight in Texas — What London Can Learn from the eVTOL Rollout
Joby Aviation has begun demonstration flights in North Texas, and Archer Aviation plans a statewide charging network. The US rollout raises questions…
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Los Angeles vertiport deal raises questions about London air taxi readiness
Archer Aviation’s agreement to build a vertiport at a downtown LA sports complex ahead of the 2028 Olympics highlights the regulatory and…
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Colorado River crisis holds lessons for London’s water security planning
As Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record lows, the struggle to agree water cuts across seven US states highlights governance challenges…
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London Urbanism Desk Review: Treating Emergency Infrastructure and Urban Fire Response as Core Planning Policy
An examination of how urban planning, aging fleets, and demanding city conditions require municipal authorities to treat emergency fire response as essential…
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Municipal Infrastructure Liabilities and the Limits of Operational Budget Cuts
Financial stress in growing municipalities points to a structural funding gap between long-term infrastructure liabilities and recurring tax yields rather than simple…
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New Jersey ruling on local zoning and public benefit: a comparative view for London planning
A New Jersey Supreme Court decision that local zoning authority outweighs general public benefits has implications for the tension between localism and…
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Editorial Note: Seattle Police Chief Removal – Not Covered on London Urbanism Desk
A story from The Urbanist about the ouster of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes falls outside London Urbanism Desk’s declared beat. No…
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