A publication of the American Planning Association, California Chapter, Northern Section
Making great communities happen
September 2020
Inflection point: What we do when significant change occurs
By Andrea Ouse, AICP, August 17, 2020. Planners are often the agents driving the changes voiced by our communities. We have a moral and ethical imperative to acknowledge and address systemic racism in the communities we serve.
Key characteristics of vibrant places
By Noah Friedman, August 18, 2020. Vibrancy is a reasonable proxy for a city’s general health and well-being. Essential to our cities’ future is an understanding of what makes the places where we come together vibrant.
Planning profession trends under Covid-19
By Mark Rhoades, AICP, August 19, 2020. Broad changes and trends are currently underway, especially with respect to Covid-19 and housing implementation.
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Northern Section news, views, and announcements
Director’s note
By Jonathan Schuppert, AICP, August 19, 2020. This has been a year for re-evaluating priorities, values, and future directions. We’re at a point where we can’t ignore our society’s injustices and our collective role in them.
Over 50 sessions and networking events!
We need 65 planning students and Young Planners to volunteer to work the virtual conference. Click below for information and to register (no cost to volunteers).
Eight from Northern Section pass spring-summer 2020 AICP exam
Circumstances created by the Covid-19 pandemic led national APA to extend the May 2020 examination through July.
In memoriam, Brian Mattson, 84
The deceased in 1999. Bay Area planners may remember him as the planning director in Novato and the community development director in Vallejo.
San Francisco landlords lose lawsuit
By Jared Brey, Next City, August 7, 2020. Property owners filed suit “to protect their rights” against a permanent ban on evicting tenants for rent payments they miss because of the pandemic.
Northern News recognizes our content providers for 2019
Thanks to the 27 planners who wrote for this publication last year, and to Andrea Mardesich, a former associate editor, who scoured past issues to prepare this list.
Affordable housing in Silicon Valley puts focus on sustainability
From HUD User, PD&R Edge, August 3, 2020. Edwina Benner Plaza, Sunnyvale, provides 66 units of affordable housing, generates half of the project’s electricity needs, and makes up the remaining 50 percent from renewable sources.
Alameda County Heat Vulnerability Map
By the Alameda County Office of Sustainability, August 19, 2020. This interactive map illustrates social and environmental factors that contribute to community heat vulnerability in Alameda County.
ABOUT NORTHERN NEWS
We publish 10 times each year as a forum for the exchange of planning ideas and information. Entirely the effort of volunteers, Northern News is written and produced by and for urban planners in northern California.
