Saturday, June 19, 2004
Grand Jury recomends disbanding VTA
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Gibraltar: Twinned with Ceuta?
Gibraltar Rental Car Tour
Gibraltar may be the only place in the European Union where there is serious border checking and customs between two member nations. Of course this is the result of the fact that Spain, which thinks it owns Gibraltar wants it back, and Britain, which has the ownership advantage of occupation, has no intention of giving it back.
Gibraltar may be the only place in the European Union where there is serious border checking and customs between two member nations. Of course this is the result of the fact that Spain, which thinks it owns Gibraltar wants it back, and Britain, which has the ownership advantage of occupation, has no intention of giving it back.
Store Owner Fights Against Light Rail Proposal in St. Paul
Light rail is the heavy
A local bookstore in St. Paul is fighting against plans to build an $840 million light rail line on its doorstep.
A local bookstore in St. Paul is fighting against plans to build an $840 million light rail line on its doorstep.
Rail to Dulles Clears Major Hurdle
Washington's Metro system is running out of money and can't maintain the rail lines it has, so naturally the solution is to build more.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Only the Wealthy Deserve to Enjoy Sprawl?
American Way Magazine
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
by ALAN ROSENBERG
"Developers and tree huggers join hands as the upscale housing market increasingly demands the latest amenity — wide-open spaces."
The above quote is the lead "tease" for the article in American Way Magazine. Evidently, when the 'well-to-do' decide to sprawl, they get the endorsement of the Sierra Club, the National Growth Management Leadership Alliance, and the USGS. Suddenly developer's are 'not all bad' and “We need to acknowledge that making a profit is important, too,” says Elizabeth Humphrey, executive director of the NGLMA.
Where will the rest of America live? Are they to be prohibited from living in "wide-open spaces"? How will the 'Sustainable Development' supporters reconcile this contradiction?
American Way Magazine - Trends for the Modern Traveler - Lifestyle.mht
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
by ALAN ROSENBERG
"Developers and tree huggers join hands as the upscale housing market increasingly demands the latest amenity — wide-open spaces."
The above quote is the lead "tease" for the article in American Way Magazine. Evidently, when the 'well-to-do' decide to sprawl, they get the endorsement of the Sierra Club, the National Growth Management Leadership Alliance, and the USGS. Suddenly developer's are 'not all bad' and “We need to acknowledge that making a profit is important, too,” says Elizabeth Humphrey, executive director of the NGLMA.
Where will the rest of America live? Are they to be prohibited from living in "wide-open spaces"? How will the 'Sustainable Development' supporters reconcile this contradiction?
American Way Magazine - Trends for the Modern Traveler - Lifestyle.mht
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Spinning Bad News about Growth Boundaries
The Oregonian claims that a new report shows that out-of-state retailers are "clamoring" to move to Portland because the urban-growth boundary makes Portland such a great place. However, the report, which was written by a real estate investment firm, didn't really say that.
According to a summary of the report, the urban-growth boundary and other Portland land-use policies create "formidable barriers to entry." This means there is less competition for retailers, who can therefore charge higher prices. So retailers would like to come to Portland--they just can't because, thanks to Metro's land-use policies, there is no place for them to go.
The same report ranks the nation's forty largest urban areas for their attractiveness to retail investment. Last year, Portland ranked 24. This year, Portland dropped to 30. Altogether, this is hardly the endorsement for urban-growth boundaries that the Oregonian makes it out to be.
According to a summary of the report, the urban-growth boundary and other Portland land-use policies create "formidable barriers to entry." This means there is less competition for retailers, who can therefore charge higher prices. So retailers would like to come to Portland--they just can't because, thanks to Metro's land-use policies, there is no place for them to go.
The same report ranks the nation's forty largest urban areas for their attractiveness to retail investment. Last year, Portland ranked 24. This year, Portland dropped to 30. Altogether, this is hardly the endorsement for urban-growth boundaries that the Oregonian makes it out to be.
Monday, June 14, 2004
Light-Rail controls Jobs in San Jose
BART to San Jose
Taxi Deregulation
Fare Trade
There has been an increasing trend towards taxi deregulation in Europe in the past decade. When Ireland deregulated taxis in 2000, the number of taxis tripled!
There has been an increasing trend towards taxi deregulation in Europe in the past decade. When Ireland deregulated taxis in 2000, the number of taxis tripled!
Seattle to Waste More Money on Rail
As if the light rail and monorail disasters aren't bad enough, Seattle is talking about buying another rail line for future rail transit use. The BNSF Railway is considering abandonment of a 40-mile rail line from Renton to Woodinville and some officials want to buy it. "When you get an opportunity like this, you don't let it go," said one city councilor.
Just what is the opportunity? An opportunity to spend money on some rusty rails that will require vast additional sums of money to turn into a moderately fast passenger rail line that few people will ride. Can't let that one go!
Just what is the opportunity? An opportunity to spend money on some rusty rails that will require vast additional sums of money to turn into a moderately fast passenger rail line that few people will ride. Can't let that one go!
Tax Housing to Subsidize Affordable Housing?
A Portland housing commission gets a bright idea: create a fund to subsidize affordable housing by putting a tax on home sales. That is sort of like trying to make a blanket bigger by cutting off one end and sewing it onto the other end. In case the idea makes sense to you, the problem is that the housing fund would serve only a tiny percentage of low-income people and all the rest would end up paying higher housing prices because of the tax.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Vanport Square idea lives, albeit smaller
Enticing smart growth development is a full time job for the PDC (Portland Development Commission). The PDC claim is it "fostered growth" in the surrounding areas of their developments, without pointing out the tax breaks, tax abatements and other incentives such as low interest loans. The PDC is the fastest growing non-elected agency in Oregon and is funded by diverting tax revenues that would have funded, schools, police, fire and social services. Despite all these advantages, their projects still struggle to survive.
Enticing smart growth development is a full time job for the PDC (Portland Development Commission). The PDC claim is it "fostered growth" in the surrounding areas of their developments, without pointing out the tax breaks, tax abatements and other incentives such as low interest loans. The PDC is the fastest growing non-elected agency in Oregon and is funded by diverting tax revenues that would have funded, schools, police, fire and social services. Despite all these advantages, their projects still struggle to survive.
