Booked on Planning

Housing stability is a pressing concern for many communities, particularly during times when constructing new housing can be financially daunting. Lauren Everett emphasizes a straightforward solution in her book Fortunate People in a Fortunate Land: at home in Santa Monica’s rent-controlled housing. Rent control policies can be implemented at no cost, an approach that not only provides an immediate mechanism to stabilize housing but ensures fairness and sustainability. 
Show Notes:
New York Times article on the New York City Rent Freeze mentioned in the episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/nyregion/nyc-rent-freeze-vote-mamdani.html 
If you are looking for more evidence that rent-stabilized apartments don't have a higher instance of habitability issues than non-stabilized this report from NYC is a good resource.
The NLIHC just came out with their national renter survey, which is really exciting. It has data on the percentage of renters who experience maintenance issues, who report them, who get them addressed, etc. 
Further Reading: In Defence of Housing: The Politics of Crisis by David Madden and Peter Marcuse
Carving Out the Commons: Tenant Organizing and Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. by Amanda Huron
Abolish Rent: How Tenants Can End the Housing Crisis by Tracey Rosenthal and Leonardo Vilchis
Against Landlords: How to Solve the Housing Crisis by Nick Bano
The Underserving Poor: America's Enduring Confrontation with Poverty: Fully Updated and Revised by Michael Katz

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"Squirrel: How a Backyard Forager Shapes Our World" highlights the fascinating history and ecological importance of squirrels, revealing how these ubiquitous creatures play a vital role in our environments, both urban and rural. As the conversation continued, Castaldo explored the complicated human-squirrel relationship. While many admire squirrels for their agility and intelligence, others find them frustrating garden and bird feeder raiders. Castaldo emphasizes that this tension stems from squirrels being one of the few wild animals regularly interacting with humans, leading to mixed emotions about these neighborhood residents. Recognizing planners' critical role in shaping wildlife-friendly cities, Castaldo advocates for creating green corridors and connected natural spaces. These efforts are essential not only for squirrels but for entire ecological communities, ensuring both urban and natural environments thrive together. 
Show Notes:
Further Reading: Buildings that Breathe: Greening the World’s Cities by Nancy Castaldo
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Green Obsession: Trees Towards Cities, Humans Towards Forests by Stefano Boeri
Urban Ecology: Detroit and Beyond by Kyŏng Pak
Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb

Learn more about the Central Park Squirrel Census at https://www.thesquirrelcensus.com/ 
To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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Marvin Planning Consultants
Serving the planning needs of communities and counties in Nebraska and throughout the Midwest.

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In an era where stories of triumph and redemption often stem from unlikely beginnings, "The Lost and The Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family, and Second Chances" presents a poignant narrative that resonates deeply with its audience. Authored by Kevin Fagan, the tale unfolds with an exploration of the human spirit's indomitable will to find belonging and transformation amidst life's adversities. Homelessness, a multifaceted crisis affecting millions worldwide, forms the foundational backdrop of this narrative. In this episode we dive into the intricacies of life without a permanent home, shedding light on the societal factors that contribute to this pervasive issue.
Show Notes:
Further Reading: Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O'Connell's urgent mission to bring healing to homeless people by Tracey Kidder
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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This episode delves into the intricate world of limited equity cooperatives, social narratives, and the constantly evolving landscape of housing in America with Jonathan Tarleton, exploring his book "Homes for Living: The Fight for Social Housing and a New American Commons." Tarleton begins by describing the concept of limited equity co-ops, which function as a form of de-commodified housing insulated from current market pressures. This concept comes to life in his book and our conversation through the Mitchell-Lama program in New York City, designed to keep housing permanently affordable for middle-income individuals.
 The discussion takes an introspective turn as Tarleton addresses the pervasive American narrative that true ownership equates to property that can generate profit. He argues that societal shifts have turned homeownership into a safety net for all life's financial perils, leading to a narrow view that success is only tangible through profitable ownership.
Show Notes:
Author Recommended Reading: Carving out the Commons: Tenant Organizing and Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C. by Amanda Huron
Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor 
Boom Town by Sam Anderson
Having and Being Had  by Eula Biss
What Can a Body Do?: How We Meet the Built World By Sara Hendren

To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
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JEO Consulting Group
JEO is a full-service firm offering engineering, architecture, surveying & planning in the Midwest.

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Historic preservation is a field dedicated to safeguarding our cultural heritage, but the stability of jobs within this sector often hinges on government involvement. According to author Jeremy Wells, nearly three-quarters of all jobs in historic preservation are fundamentally designed to meet the needs of local, state, and federal government. This statistic underscores the dependence of the industry on government funding and initiatives and the need for preservation education to reflect this fact in the structure of their programs. "Managing the Magic of Old Places: Crafting Public Policies for People-Centered Historic Preservation," the subject of this episode, covers this topic and ways the preservation field can be more responsive to the communities they serve.
Show Notes:
Further Reading: “Reclaiming Time and Space”, a thesis by Kenyatta McClean
Uses of Heritage by Laurajayne Smith 
Contemporary Theory of Conservation by Salvadore Munoz Vinas
People Centered Methodologies of Heritage Preservation: Exploring Emotional Attachments to Historic Urban Places by Rebecca Madgin
Reimagining Heritage Interpretation: Enchanting the Past-Future by Russel Staif
Our Unprotected Heritage: Whitewashing the Destruction of Our Cultural and Natural Environment by Thomas F. King

To help support the show, pick up a copy of the book through our Bookshop page at https://bookshop.org/shop/bookedonplanning or get a copy through your local bookstore!
To view the show transcripts, click on the episode at https://bookedonplanning.buzzsprout.com/
Ray Planning Solutions
A seasoned planner with experience in land development, zoning admin and community revitalization

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