The article discusses various regional planning efforts and agencies in the Bay Area's history, notes their single-purpose role, and questions what the right approach might be for the future.

This article reviews various efforts to merge ABAG and MTC and argues that the most likely outcome is informal linkages among the agencies and incentive funding to local governments. .

This article reviews and critiques changes to ABAG's growth projections since 1999 when SPUR argued for using policy-based alternatives.

San Francisco's long-term economic and environmental well-being is vulnerable to an aging electric power infrastructure. This paper presents options for electrical generation and upgrading the regional transmission system.

This article reviews the San Francisco Public Utility Commission's analysis of problems and opportunities with various potential sites for the City’s newly won power plants.

Energy policy in San Francisco must also minimize health impacts to residents, while not simply moving production out of the city to impact others.

In 2001, California experienced an energy “perfect storm." This article explains what happened, the proposed PG&E settlement, and policy lessons we can learn from the disaster.

Planners Joshua Switzky and Marshall Foster explain how new housing development can enliven the re-development of large retail sites.

A new amendment to the California Environmental Quality Act adds yet another layer of difficulty to the entitlement process, threatening San Francisco’s capacity to produce infill housing.

Jim Chappell outlines the changes in the roles of the Board of Supervisors in the planning process, which empowers both the Board and the neighbors of proposed projects in appealing building changes and restricting permits.

Everyone thinks the planning process should be democratic. To act in the name of greater democracy trumps almost all other claims in the public discourse. But it’s not at all obvious what this idea really means.

Jeannene Przyblyski asks what lessons San Franciscans can learn from Parisians' involvement as citizens planning their city.

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Due to San Francisco's $347 million budget shortfall in 2003-04 fiscal year, cuts and changes in operations are necessary. SPUR offers both short and long-term suggestions for how to meet the budget.

In spite of its progressive nature, California faces greater challenges in achieving smart growth than many other states. This article explores why, and what a new network of good planning organizations can do about it.

Everyone in San Francisco agrees we have a housing crisis. Few agree on what to do about it. One thing we can all agree on: there is not enough housing in San Francisco.

TALC discusses their start, uniting social justice groups and environmental policy, running smart campaigns, and using the media to spur action. Building coalitions need common vision and compromise.

This collection of data reveals San Francisco's economic state, demonstrating the funding sources and spending patterns of the city, the types of industry and availability of labor.

Jim Chappell lays out the interdependent relationship between business and government, and explains why it is in the business community's interest to support taxes and better public transit.

Gabriel Metcalf argues that the liberal elected need to stop vilifying business, and instead foster a healthy economic environment in San Francisco to realistically accomplish their social improvements.