The latest trend in urban planning may be ... public safety. So says USA Today in an article on how public and private planners are taking more steps to incorporate the wants and needs of women.

One item on the list is fear of crime. A relatively crime-free environment isn't on the must-do list of the "Cool Cities" fad. It isn't trendy or chic. But a crime-ridden environment is something that ruins a community.

Overall, the USA Today article seems to suggest that the what-do-women-want angle is simply a way of repackaging old concerns--some of which are more praiseworthy than others. To the extent that it brings governments back their core spheres of responsibility, the better.