Climate bill totally up in the air: Washington Update

Climate Bill Timing is Uncertain
OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE POSTPONED

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) have been working on bi-partisan climate legislation behind the scenes for months. The scheduled April 26 release of the bill language came and went last week, and has now been postponed until further notice. The climate bill negotiations fell apart last month when Senator Graham indicated that he was going to pull out due to shifting legislative priorities within the Administration and congressional leadership. Graham wrote in a letter on April 24th that he was compelled to withdraw from the climate effort following reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid might bring an immigration package to the Senate floor ahead of the climate bill….

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Smart Growth America hires Roger Millar, planner and implementer of great places

Smart Growth America today announced that Roger M. Millar, Jr., AICP, PE, FASCE, is joining SGA as Director of Land Use and Transportation Policy. Roger Millar is a planner and an engineer with an international reputation for innovative approaches to planning and design. His career has been dedicated to improving communities as diverse as New York City and McCall, Idaho. Projects in which Roger played a leadership role are seen as national models for livability. Likewise, Roger has been instrumental in the successful evolution of sustainable practices within rural and gateway communities throughout the American West.

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Forget homes and plastic surgery, new online video series promotes an "American Makeover"

The makers of a viral sensation from last year (Built to Last) are back with a new video series that takes a hard look at America’s collective frustration with sprawl and the smarter alternatives for growth and development happening in communities across the country. “With ugly sprawl everywhere you look in America, it’s time for a … Continued

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Forget home and plastic surgery makeovers, new online video series promotes an "American Makeover"

The makers of a viral sensation from last year (Built to Last) are back with a new video series that takes a hard look at America’s collective frustration with sprawl and the promises it failed to deliver on and the smarter alternatives for growth and development happening in communities across the country. [VIDEO]

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Future of Transportation National Survey

In spring 2010, SGA partnered with T4America and the Natural Resources Defense Council to commission a national poll assessing public opinion towards transit and transit funding, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies Inc. and Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, and Metz and Associates. This presentation outlines the poll results.

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Rating system for green, sustainable neighborhood design launches today

LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System Launches as Benchmark for Green Neighborhood Design Environmental Leaders Partner to Advance Walkable, Sustainable and Economically Thriving Communities

Washington, D.C. – (April 29, 2010) – Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) announced the launch of the LEED for Neighborhood Development green neighborhoods rating system. LEED for Neighborhood Development integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building and benefits communities by reducing urban sprawl, increasing transportation choice and decreasing automobile dependence, encouraging healthy living, and protecting threatened species.

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Complete Streets Week Illustrates Demand for Safe Streets for All

Today marks the launch of “Complete Streets Week” in New York State, a grassroots initiative drawing attention to the dangers of incomplete streets. Participants are part of a surge in support for transportation choices across America.

Complete Streets