Top Posts - January 2011

As the new quarter starts up, so too does the traffic on the blog, as more new ideas are inspiring new conversations. So, here are your most popular posts from January 2011:

#5 (tie) Thank you, Inland Empire Section A heartfelt thank you to the planners at the Inland Empire Section of the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association. The IES provided a $500 scholarship for my essay entitled The Purpose of Urban and Regional Planning. I've already purchased three textbooks using those funds, listed in the article.

#5 (tie) Four the Future – Air Quality Four stories including an update on the regional solid waste system's incinerator's mercury emission, what was done to cause an improvement in Mexico City's air, the death toll associated with second-hand smoke, and coal-powered plants' effect on downwind trees.

#4 Four the Future – Water Quality Four stories about decisions which affect the amount of water people use, including changes to the operation of the dams in Washington and British Columbia, water used for flushing, and grass irrigation.

#2 (tie) Four the Future – Housing Four articles addressing housing issues, such as affordable housing regulations, mortgage rules for mixed-use neighborhoods, the rise of the tiny house movement, and the beginnings in the reduction of the home ownership rate.

#2 (tie) The AICP and Exam Study Guides What does it mean to be a certified planner? A quick overview of how a planner becomes certified, and the ethical and continuing education standards to which certified planners are committed. Also, an honor bestowed on the blog.

#1 Housing in Quincy Valley A video (in Spanish and English) about housing conditions for migrant workers in central Washington, and the potential use of the Photovoice technique for planning advocacy efforts.