Blogs

September 15, 2022

Planning for Emerging Infectious Disease Pandemics

Uncovering JAPA: A framework for how planners can be involved in infectious disease management.

February 10, 2022

The Cost of Avoiding Public Transit During COVID-19

Uncovering JAPA: Understanding the burden on individuals who avoided public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 15, 2021

Understanding Responses to COVID-19-Induced Shifts in Cultural Norms

Uncovering JAPA: Cultural biases impact how people will respond differently to government and planning interventions.

May 5, 2021

Somerville Greenway a Key Part of Metro Boston's Rich Mobility Network

Boston's Somerville Community Path and the Alewife Linear Park provide multiple mobility options year-round.

April 19, 2021

Shaping the Future of Municipalities Through Investment in Shared Spaces

Massachusetts' Shared Streets and Spaces grant program offers a look at improving quality of life by investing in public spaces.

February 25, 2021

What Planners Should Know About the Current COVID Relief Bill

The latest coronavirus relief bill has only one legislative hurdle to clear before becoming law. With the House of Representatives expected to vote on the final legislation tomorrow, planners will see federal action on one of our four legislative priorities this week.

January 29, 2021

Harnessing the Economic Power of Short-Term Rentals for Growth in 2021

Sponsored Content from Granicus: Whether because of COVID concerns or in spite of them, the growth of the short-term rental market was rapid in 2020, and it looks like that trend will continue in 2021.

Early Research on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Density

Uncovering JAPA: Read some early research into whether density aggravates the COVID-19 pandemic.

August 24, 2020

4 Questions Asked During COVID-19 That Expose Gaps in Short-Term Rental Enforcement

Sponsored Content from Granicus: A strong ordinance and a proactive approach can provide communities with a sustainable system for regulation of short-term rentals.

July 28, 2020

Six Ways Planners Can Help Communities Bridge the Racial Wealth Gap

Planners offer a big-picture, multidisciplinary lens that can play a pivotal role in increasing equity. Here are six things planners can do to advance racial wealth and economic opportunity in your community.

July 28, 2020

Planners Demand Emergency Funding for State, Local Governments

Negotiations on a new wave of federal emergency assistance are underway in Congress — but direct support for states and communities remains a sticking point.

July 9, 2020

As States Distribute Funds, More Relief Needed for Communities

It is critical that states distribute federal stimulus funds from CARES Act equitably and efficiently, and we continue advocacy for additional federal relief for state and local governments.

June 17, 2020

Remembering Chris Kochtitzky: A Conversation on COVID-19

APA's Sagar Shah creates a final conversation with his late friend Chris Kochtitzky, who was a senior advisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention until his death in early May.

June 8, 2020

Preparing for COVID-19 Recovery in Seattle

A Q&A with Sam Assefa, director of Seattle’s Office of Planning & Community Development, explores the planning department’s role in Seattle’s coronavirus strategy.

Cultivating Planning Career Resilience

The pandemic has caused a delay in the job search processes, leaving many challenges for recent grads and job seekers. In this Guide for the Idealist post, get ideas on how to keep moving forward with optimism.

May 27, 2020

A Necessary Paradigm Shift in How We Use Urban Space

What planning changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic will be interim fixes, and which will stay permanently?

May 12, 2020

7 Ways to Respond to Regulation Rollbacks

How can planners offer sound, ethical strategies when the pandemic puts pressure on officials to ease or roll back regulations?

May 7, 2020

Will Congress Deliver the Relief Communities Need to Avoid Fiscal Calamity?

Communities are facing mounting fiscal pressures as expenditures skyrocket and revenues quickly dry up. APA has joined with leading national organizations to urge Congress to provide robust, flexible relief for municipalities and states now.

May 6, 2020

The Economic State of the States

A look at the economic state of the states at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic — and why planners are so critical to response and recovery.

April 28, 2020

How Short-Term Rentals Can Affect the Impact of Coronavirus in Your Community

Sponsored Content from Harmari STR: Planners are taking a close look at how the short-term rental industry can affect efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

April 28, 2020

How to Help Your Community Access CARES Act Aid

The CARES Act provides local governments with relief aid to address the immediate economic impact of COVID-19. Be in the know about how to help your community access CARES Act aid.

Six Ways Planners Can Help Local Business in a Crisis

Get six strategies that planners can use now to help ease the economic crisis for businesses in their communities.

Leading Remotely in a Crisis

Get 10 tips for how to be a strong, flexible leader when your team is working remotely — plus a rundown of technology to get the job done.

April 14, 2020

Online Alternatives to In-Person Public Meetings in an Emergency

What are the pros and cons of the most popular online meeting software packages for public meetings?

COVID-19, Communities, and the Planning Profession

Research Director Petra Hurtado, PhD, shares APA's approach to preparing for uncertainty around COVID-19.

Why Planning Is Still Important: 10 Things Planners Can Do Now

Ten ways to keep planning during the COVID-19 pandemic as compiled by APA's Michigan Chapter.

New Online Public Engagement Resources

APA's CEO announces a timely new KnowledgeBase collection for online public engagement.

April 6, 2020

Planning During a Pandemic: Federal Relief and Planner Stories

Get information about federal COVID-19 relief funding, tips on navigating an upside-down job market, and stories from planners on how they are pivoting to new methods of community engagement and outreach.