News items for August 8, 2022

Green collar jobs in the clean energy economy. Installing solar panels. Photo: @mama.mian via Twenty20.

• 1. US Senate passes historic climate bill

  The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes $369 billion for energy security and clean energy.

  Grist Climate Policy

• 2. Can Victoria, BC, hang on to affordable housing?

  The sale of older buildings to real estate investment trusts is one big obstacle standing in the way.

  CBC British Columbia Housing Affordability

• 3. Views: Why AVs are the end of parking

  Planners and engineers must be proactive in devising new and creative uses for soon-to-be-obsolete urban parking.

  Planetizen Parking

• 4. Breaking down the new Seattle City Council map proposal

  The map largely follows the framework put forth by a coalition focused on promoting racial equity.

  The Urbanist Democracy, Representation

• 5. The tech that tries to change NIMBYs

  City officials are gamifying planning to work through public debates over new developments.

  Bloomberg Urban Planning

• 6. Ranked-choice voting proposal headed to Multnomah County voters

  Supporters say the method allows voters to better express themselves on the ballot.

  Pamplin Media Group Ranked Choice Voting

• 7. Podcast: The homes we forgot to build a decade ago

  Is there a way to fix the never-ending housing crisis in the US?

  Slate Housing Affordability

• 8. Stopping stolen elections is harder than it looks

  A new bipartisan bill would revise how the presidential vote is certified. But it could come with risky loopholes.

  The Atlantic Election Reform

• 9. Data: Housing shortage has spread across Cascadia

  A new report finds that the problem has spread to parts of the country where, until recently, housing was more abundant and affordable, even in America’s interior.

  The Seattle Times Housing Affordability

• 10. Podcast: Conservation meets true crime in ‘The Salmon People’

  The Salmon People’s climate reporting reminds us that our delicate environment extends far beyond where our eyes can see.

  National Observer Salmon

More News from August 8, 2022

• State legislatures are torching democracy

  Even in moderate places like Ohio, gerrymandering has let unchecked Republicans pass extremist laws that could never make it through Congress.

  The New Yorker Democracy Reform

• Exactly how much Roundup does Portland spray in public parks?

  The city of Portland continues to spray the weedkiller Roundup across its 11,600-acre park system, as well as across public school properties.

  The Oregonian Roundup, Toxins

• Charts: Renters are feeling the pinch across Canada

  Prices continue to rise as rental markets recover from pandemic-driven declines.

  CBC Renters

• Opinion: More regulations push us further from the goal of meeting housing demand

  We have an opportunity to take advantage of local and regional planning efforts and adopt solutions that limit unnecessary new costs on building.

  The Seattle Times Housing