The American Dream Communicator
News & commentary about urban policy in America’s cities
Save the Date
June 10-12, 2010 – the 8th Annual Preserving the American Dream Conference, Orlando, Florida
Mobility & Transportation
A $40 million crisis Metro can’t afford to waste – Sam Staley, Washington Post
A Future That Doesn’t Guzzle – New York Times
Cheap car from India could cost $8,000 in US – Associated Press
Evidence-Based Public Policy Takes Back Seat in Transportation Policy – Sam Staley, Reason
New Transit-Funding Rules Make Streetcars More Desirable – Wall Street Journal
Commuters leave mass transit for cars, with reason – Silicon Valley Mercury News
Rough road ahead for public transit – Contra Costa Times
Norfolk mayor says Light Rail is $40 million over budget – WTKR.com, Virginia
Norfolk leaders want audit of light rail project – DelmarvaNow.com, Virginia
Seattle Mayor McGinn deserves praise for light-rail parking decision – Seattle Times
Light rail misses 2009 ridership target by wide margin – Michael Ennis, Washington Policy Blog
City Council will consider changing light-rail routes – Bellevue Reporter, Washington
Las Vegas Monorail files for bankruptcy protection – Las Vegas Sun
It’s Governor vs Mayor on Honolulu Rail Project – The Transport Politic
Muni light rail stabbing suspect found competent – San Jose Mercury News
Amtrak ‘Train From Hell’ Delayed Almost 24 Hours – NBC Chicago
3 women trapped in out-of-service Metro train – Washington Post
Traffic plans will interfere with fire safety – San Diego Union-Tribune
Bike ridership down in 2009 – Portland Business Journal
Driving, Transit, Cycling Down – The Antiplanner
Housing & Land Use
Congress, White House Take Aim at Local Democracy – Wendell Cox, Heartland Institute
Adapt planning to people instead of jamming people into plans – Patrick McIlheran, TwinCities.com
Beyond Neo-Victorianism: A Call for Design Diversity – Richard Reep, New Geography
New study shows links between land use and violent crime rates – IU News Room, Indiana
When even ‘good’ neighborhoods aren’t safe – Baltimore Sun
State adopts greenest building codes in U.S. – San Francisco Chronicle
Montgomery considers new plan for high-density developments – Washington Examiner
County weighs suspending impact fees – Orlando Sentinel
What’s next for Portland’s Pearl District? – The Oregonian
City wants new urbanism, but developer says it won’t sell – Madison.com, Wisconsin
New zoning would protect views of iconic buildings – Baltimore Sun
One city discovered pitfalls of growth controls – Bradenton.com, Florida
Mountain View braces for lawsuit over affordable housing policies – Silicon Valley Mercury News
Mill One plan prompts fear of eminent domain, tax increases – Times of Trenton, New Jersey
Panel declares Durham neighborhood ‘blighted’ – News-Observer, North Carolina
Three Cheers!
City Of SeaTac Reconsidering Eminent Domain Decision – B-Town Blog, Washington
Freedom & Grassroots
Accessibility Vs. Mobility Redux – Sam Staley, Planetizen
New Study Highlights Eminent Domain Abuses in Washington State – WPC Policy Blog
Municipal Budget Mess – Matthew Leiphon, New Geography
A Void in the Plan – The Architect’s Newspaper
Stafford: last vestige of our rural legacy – OregonLive.com
Not So Sustainable
Eco-friendly development asks city for TIF district – Press-Citizen.com, Iowa
Is Bay Area transit failing? – San Francisco Chronicle
Golden State Off the Rails As Mass Transit Ridership Plummets – Hit & Run Blog, Reason
Possible cutbacks for Valley public transit – Arizona Republic
Opposition mounts to bus cuts – YourNabe.com, New York
VTA reduces bus and light-rail service – Milpitas Post, California
High Speed Rail
HSR: Toward Least Worst Projections – Wendell Cox, New Geography
Hong Kongers protest high-speed rail link to China – Washington Post
Opponents to high-speed rail route through Rose Canyon stand firm – San Diego News Network
Crazy Train Funding – Hartford Advocate, Connecticut
California analyst knocks bullet train plan – San Francisco Business Times
Growth Management Globally
How cold is Europe? Even Norway’s buses can’t take it – Yahoo News
Sprawl needs change of direction – Adelaide Now, Australia
Green wedges lost in the woods – Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Scottish government right to buy laws unveiled – BBC News, UK
Across the Tracks
Obama Administration: Cost-effectiveness Out, ‘Livability’ In – US DOT Announcement
Big Transit News: Bush-Era Rule Tossed, Enviro Benefits on the Table – D.C. StreetsBlog
Architect’s urban living guide doesn’t include cars – Miami Herald
Moving ahead or stuck in traffic – Weekly Staff, Alabama
‘Enough is enough’ proposal would help fix Florida’s broken system – Jacksonville.com, Florida
It’s Official: Governor’s Budget Shorts Public Transit Once Again – San Francisco StreetsBlog
Are Passenger-Miles a Valid Measure of Anything? – Michael Lewyn
San Francisco Sees A Transit Center Revitalizing Downtown – NicerNews.com
Redrawing the American city – Mother Nature Network
Light Rail is Supposed to Get People Out of Their Cars – PubliCola.net
The only thing we have to fear is fear of traffic – Greater Greater Washington
Vibrant Urbanism
Board to consider ban on smoking, spitting & sex in parks – Seattle Times
A chance to drop your pants on Portland public transportation – OregonLive.com
Now You Know
Why Cities Build Rail – Simpson’s Song (1993)
The Ruse of the Creative Class – American Prospect
Richard Florida’s Monorail – Next American City
Will Facebook Kill Off the Automobile? – New Republic
Quote of the Year Nominees*
“Giving up public transportation has meant a significant boost to my income. I can literally make my car payment with the savings.” Bay area resident Craig Watson, on his decision to abandon BART for the single occupancy automobile.
“The time savings is worth more than any costs.” Bay area resident David Ross, on discovering the multiple benefits of shedding his transit-dependency.
“Please help us. A tragedy is just waiting to happen unless something is done.” Baltimore resident Robyn Webb-Williams, who is having second thoughts about moving from the suburbs to the ‘vibrant,’ higher density city.
“Instead of diverting money from the PTA, the proposal would remove the funding stream that is supposed to flow into the PTA in the first place, effectively eliminating state funding for transit.” California Transit Association press release, complaining of tax diversions to non-transit uses … and failing to acknowledge its ‘funding stream’ comes from tax diversions from motorists.
* Submit your nominees for Quote of the Year by emailing me at ed@americandreamcoalition.org. Check for past nominees on our website here.
** Check out Interviews with the Experts for the latest commentary on trends taking place in cities all across America. **
*** This Communicator sponsored by Happy Smart Growth ***
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