Shane Phillips is a student at the University of Southern California working on a Masters program in Public Administration and Urban Planning. His focus is transportation and land use, with a special interest in how our public institutions are structured to either promote or discourage safer, healthier, more economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable communities. He also writes about these topics at his blog, Better Institutions.
Originally from the Seattle area, Shane now lives in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles and has been car-free for more than five years. In addition to school, he also works as a Junior Associate at Urban One, a real estate and transportation project management firm located in Downtown LA. His background is in biochemical research and he developed a passion for urbanism through his interest in public health, but his writing and his interests now extend to the economic, social, spatial, and environmental impacts of urban planning and policy.
Shane can be reached at [email protected] and on twitter at @shanedphillips.
Uber and Lyft Are Dragging Traditional Taxi Companies Into the 21st Century
Rideshares like Uber and Lyft have been under attack for their brash approach to local regulations and laissez-faire pricing schemes, but they've also pushed traditional taxis to dramatically improve their service in a very short span of time.
HUD Rental Assistance on an Unsustainable Path—What Can Be Done to Save It?
A "Race to the Top" proposal for HUD to help off-set the difficulties of delivering affordable housing in high-priced, high-mobility metros.
America's Apartment Shortage: 8 Million Units
The 2014 National Realtor's Survey asked consumers for preferences in housing and neighborhood types. Although preferences trended toward the suburban, the number of people who want to live in urban areas is under-supplied by multi-family housing.
Yet Another Driver Subsidy: Inadequate Car Insurance Minimums
Insurance coverage hasn’t kept up with the cost of medical care and property damage caused by crashes. And whether we drive or not, when someone can’t pay for the damage they’ve done, we all have to pick up the tab.
Drive Till You Disqualify: Will Businesses Continue Hiring Super-Commuters?
Workers with long commutes are more likely to be be tired and stressed at work, and businesses are learning that they often make for less productive employees.