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Author Archives: urbanhistori
Inverted World
Pat calls it hanging like a bat. He’d call me bat-girl, but he knows I’d probably kick his ass if he did. Not that he’d be against that. He’s been wanting me to kick his ass for the last four … Continue reading
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The New Reality of Redevelopment
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to post here, a lot has changed since last August. Especially my perspective. My attitude towards the legislation that killed redevelopment in California has changed significantly. I still think it was … Continue reading
Posted in Cities
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Will Somebody Actually Read This Legislation Please?
Yesterday afternoon the California Supreme Court issued a partial stay as requested by the lawsuit brought against the State by the California Redevelopment Association and the California League of Cities. And, just like the governor, legal analysts, and legislators before … Continue reading
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Walking the Suburban Streetscape – AKA Playing Frogger
I remember playing Frogger in the arcade next door to the laundromat when I was a kid. I was never really any good at it – I don’t remember ever making it past the third level, but I do remember … Continue reading
Posted in Cities, Design, Safety, Transportation
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The Real-Estate Reality
I read this article yesterday on the Wall Street Journal Opinion page and it stuck with me – the kind of sticking where you find yourself thinking about it while washing the dishes and walking the dog and all those other mundane … Continue reading
Posted in Cities, Homeownership, Real Estate, Subsidies, Transportation, Urban Neglect
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Deciphering the Bike Battle
It one of those traits unique to humanity to be both for something and against it at the same time. The battle over bicycle transportation is a prime example. So much attention is given to reducing greenhouse gasses and to … Continue reading
Posted in Cities, Design, Safety, Transportation
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Too Many Disconnections
Yesterday in the break room I was reading a newspaper article about the ATF Gunwalker Scandal where the ATF, the FBI, and the DEA had failed to communicate about their separate operations among the drug cartels in Mexico. The result was … Continue reading
The Redevelopment Ransom
California has, for the first time in a long time, passed a state budget ahead of the deadline. The governor also signed into effect two bills aimed at redevelopment. The first abolishes redevelopment agencies. The second allows them to resurrect … Continue reading
Posted in Affordable Housing, Cities, Redevelopment, Urban Neglect
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The Innovation Dilemma
In both the city where I work and the neighborhood where I live there are a large number of dilapidated commercial buildings with what should be considered ideal locations sitting empty and slowly rotting away. In my ‘hood many of these … Continue reading
Posted in DIY, Economic Mobility, Industry, Urban Neglect
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The Public Transportation Learning Curve…
Or why even people who theoretically support public transit often don’t use it. I spent three weeks in Southern Europe last month backpacking from city to city checking out the architecture and the city design and the different ways that … Continue reading
Posted in Cities, Design, Transportation
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urbanhistori 