From the unveiling of Mayor Bloomberg’s 2013 budget to the destruction of armored cars in Cairo, we give you a brief roundup of select urban affairs news from the past week.

The Bloomberg Budget

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled a $70.1 billion budget for next year “to provide services the public wants with the least amount of tax revenues.” There will be no tax increases, but educators will be hit hard with layoffs as the ensuing standoff between the city and teacher’s union over evaluations continues.

Beijing’s Smog Reaches “Hazardous” Levels

Beijing is in a state of environmental emergency. Smog levels have reached “hazardous” levels and the EPA warns all people against going outdoors at current air quality indexes. The government implemented immediate actions to reduce the smog by closing down over 100 factories and taking one-third of all government vehicles off the streets.

Job Listing: U.S. Transportation Secretary

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stepped down from his position at the start of the Obama administration’s second term. Who will be his successor? The pool of potential successors has speculators putting down their bets.

Fire in the Streets of Cairo

The Egyptian military, currently allied with President Mohammad Morsi, were reluctant to clash with nighttime rioters in Cairo. The protesters set fire to a commandeered state security armored vehicle in Tahrir Square in defiance of Morsi’s reign, the nighttime curfew and Morsi’s declaration of a 30-day state of emergency in cities.

The Demise of Projeto Nova Luz

São Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad successfully shut down Projeto Nova Luz, a large-scale downtown redevelopment project resting on questionable public-private partnerships. Check out an in-depth look at the story here and read some followup here.

Detroit’s Comeback: A 50-Year Plan

Detroit Works released Detroit Future City, a comprehensive, 50-year blueprint for economic growth, neighborhood revitalization, land use policy and assets management. Can the long-troubled city pull it off?

Chicago Shooting

It sounds like something from a movie script, but was tragically real: A 15-year-old girl who performed at President Obama’s inauguration was shot dead in Chicago the very next week.