I was asked to blog about the power of cities, one of the topics listed in the Canada’s World discussion guide. Let’s start with a basic question. Much of the argument for the power of cities rests on their position in a global economy, in other words their economic importance. Continue reading
The Passing Scene
IDEAS AND EVENTS THAT CROSS MY DESK. twitter.com/passingscene
27May 2012
A news story that raises new questions about the DSK sex scandal, timed to coincide with a moderately-priced e-book that provides evidence. Is this the new face of book publishing in the internet age?25 May 2012
An astonishingly original approach to local self-promotion: Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, incorporated in 2001, population unspecified, but lots of pretty pictures. Web site offers a one-page master plan. http://bit.ly/LhLqNt24 May 2012
Really fair tuition is difficult to achieve. If it's too low, in practice, families whose children don't go to university subsidize those who do. If it's too high, even somewhat better-off young people may not get higher education. http://natpo.st/Lkj3uDIf the Harper government cancels the settlement services agreement, they'll be taking a wrecking-ball to a program that's brought a lot of benefits to Manitoba.
Can organic fertilizer out-produce chemicals and keep farmers out of the clutches of multinationals? Grow Biointensive Agricultural Center of Kenya (G-BIACK) says Yes. http://bit.ly/KNUn2f
23 May 2012
Honolulu is even more congested than Los Angeles. Other congested U.S. cities: San Francisco, New York, Bridgeport... http://bit.ly/LgU9vT17 May 2012
Vermont looks critically at development proposals, instead of accepting whatever's proposed, as Winnipeg does. Developers are willing to accept restrictions if the rules are clear.16 May 2012
Hunger in wealthy cities: The shameful fact we overlook. UN envoy visits Winnipeg to highlight food security deficits in the world's wealthiest nations. http://bit.ly/Kmo32k14 May 2012
Escape from Camp 14: Shin Dong-hyuk's appalling story of life in a prison camp shows that the North Korean regime is even worse than I imagined. http://bit.ly/KblFcI13 May 2012
The futility of barricades: Le Monde diplomatique finds you're no safer in gated communities than you are in similar communities without walls. http://bit.ly/LFOnX16 May 2012
Fix Young America makes realistic proposals for addressing youth unemployment, but adopts a zealous tone that's likely to drive away many of the people best equipped to lend a hand.3 May 2012
How design technology stifles sustainable development. CAD could be used to serve sustainability, but a designer contends it's usually used to speed the production of conventional designs. http://bit.ly/IYS2hvJane Jacobs said it first: Cities are hotbeds of creativity, which comes from in-person interactions. Technology has produced marvels of innovative communication, but not substitutes for what happens on the street. http://bit.ly/Kx8tAg
2 May 2012
U.S. largest 25 cities ranked for women's well-being, by educational attainment, life expectancy and median earnings. Washington, D.C. is first, Riverside-San Bernardino last. http://huff.to/IKe6da30 April 2012
Straphanger, by Taras Grescoe: Thoughtful assessment of accomplishments and failures of transit, and the challenges facing those who support it. Chapters on Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Copenhagen, and more.29 April 2012
Citizen Budget: An online tool for citizen participation in municipal budgeting. http://citizenbudget.com/ It could also serve city councils as an aid to better-informed decision-making.26 April 2012
Making Cities Livable: A lobby for compact, walkable, healthy cities. http://www.livablecities.org/How the auto lobby made streets safe for drivers and unsafe for pedestrians. http://bit.ly/IefydL "Let me write the folklore and I care not who writes the laws."
22 April 2012
Bart Kives, weary, as I am, of Winnipeg apathy, makes the case that we may as well push harder for more public transit now, because, in the end, we'll be forced to anyway.Description and comments on gentrification with a fine eye for the telling detail. This is why we need inclusive zoning, and also why it's so hard to achieve. http://bit.ly/Ix57yq Naheed Nenshi's views. http://bit.ly/I2VmeS
13 April 2012
Ninety-nine of the 100 fastest-growing American exurbs and outer suburbs "saw slower or no growth in 2011 compared with the mid-decade housing peak". Overall, exurban growth is down. http://bit.ly/IJjL8d11 April 2012
There's already been an American-style management attack on labour at the U of Brandon, and now a similar attempt has been thwarted at the City of Brandon. Is that how we want labour relations to be conducted in this country? http://bit.ly/HwaTOF9 April 2012
After two generations of North American flight from cities, is the tide finally beginning to turn? http://bit.ly/IrI1qALong after institutional reforms in London to end systemic discrimination against sex workers, Victorian attitudes toward sex workers thrive in Vancouver. Thoughtful piece in The Tyee.
3 April 2012
Will Winnipeg join a growing number of cities where urban agriculture is supported? Search this page on "agriculture" for eight other references to a growing trend. http://bit.ly/Hl17Nv27 March 2012
The low population density of many of the American communities officially designated as "urban" demonstrates that Americans flee from cities, but still seek the opportunity and convenience of urban life. http://bit.ly/GVBBpa26 March 2012
Minneapolis expands urban agriculture and market gardening. The policy provides for hoop houses, but don't try to market chickens. http://bit.ly/GRDge1Unlike Winnipeg, Los Angeles is giving serious, systematic thought to the way transit stations can support dense neighbourhoods and vice versa. Our planned transit lines could do great things for Winnipeg if we did the same http://bit.ly/GUHXOY
25 March 2012
Winnipeg could fund rapid transit if we got serious about exploiting the development opportunities at the stops on the transit line. They get it in India, when will we?20 March 2012
Real estate developers: Here's something you can use. A business idea together with a web tool to help you develop what the neighbourhood wants.19 March 2012
It looks like the privatization worm is turning. Private delivery of public services, especially water, hasn't lived up to the expectations of many. http://bit.ly/GzYvwQ http://bit.ly/GA2xsX18 March 2012
Long-overdue evidence of some interest in understanding the differences between European and North American cities, a subject that I'm also pursuing. http://bit.ly/yCZFAa (Click and check out the column to your left.)15 March 2012
Alternatives to urban sprawl: infill development and satellite cities, powered by the sun, wind, geothermal energy and hydrogen. http://bit.ly/wHQocG A world of possibilities, but when will we start?14 March 2012
A new study works out exactly what has to be done to make rapid transit a success in Winnipeg, what obstacles need to be overcome, and how to overcome them. http://bit.ly/zWxfJd13 March 2012
Interesting new books develop Jane Jacobs's theme that cities are the drivers of the economy. http://wapo.st/xcL0I1 For a long time, she was ignored by academics, but now everyone celebrates her insights.8 March 2012
OURS Winnipeg wants to save our public space. All they're asking is that the city talk to the real owners of the property before they make a decision -- not after everything has been decided."Smart growth communism": The Tea Party's defamatory label for urban growth management. As usual, their pitch serves corporate interests. More seriousness about citizen involvement in planning would be the best response. Thoughtful article in The Atlantic Cities.
6 March 2012
If Manila can develop a green plan, why can't Winnipeg? We're not only failing to plan for environmental improvement, we can't even bestir ourselves to do something about sprawl.5 March 2012
My friend and former student, Stuart Croall, writes about leukemia and politics in a blog that offers a compelling mix of the personal and the political.1 March 2012
Escalators and cable cars as public transportation. They're doing it in Medellin, Hong Kong, Barcelona -- and now maybe Winnipeg?29 February 2012
Urbanists think a lot about city form and design, as well as social issues. They should, but they should also think more about what cities produce. In a world of global trade flows, our well-being depends on it. http://bit.ly/ydKlLD28 February 2012
Building the city around public transportation, instead of letting developers decide where a city grows and leaving transit to figure out how to provide service. Europe, and now China, have the right idea.24 February 2012
Transit-oriented urban development planned to link Beijing to the port city of Tianjin.
Let's hope the reality approximates the picture. http://bit.ly/zfklIm23 February 2012
Americans are almost twice as likely to call themselves conservative as liberal.
This is associated with poverty and low education21 February 2012
Less single-family homes, more apartments, and a "downtown core" in the suburbs: Surrey is becoming the British Columbia lower mainland's "second downtown". http://bit.ly/xHqjqb20 February 2012
Intelligent transport: Building your transportation system around walking, cycling and public transportation,
instead of cars.16 February 2012
A city life, but a rural "lifestyle". It's what many want, but can they afford it, or will they be able to make society and the environment foot the bill? http://bit.ly/xc3lhG13 February 2012
Metropolitan Portland makes water quality and wildlife habitat protection a local responsibility. Why are most local and regional governments leaving these important obligations to senior governments?12 February 2012
Will Winnipeg's rapid transit be like those of Ottawa and San Jose or Miami and Ft. Lauderdale? Looks like Manitoba be a bad-weather Florida.9 February 2012
There was a time when Wall Street supported the American economy, instead of luxuriating in the distress of cities with economic problems. http://bit.ly/yA0cs68 February 2012
The plaza in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art before...
...and after (we hope!).
New York Times7 February 2012
Can fog harvesting save drought-stricken communities? Interesting independent journalism project is underway. http://bit.ly/wsI94M5 February 2012
In the City of Vancouver, a planning system that produces an eminently liveable environment has driven house prices to stratospheric heights. One of life's ironies: Do one thing right, and something else goes wrong.3 February 2012
World turned upside down: The US south is doing better than the north in racial equity for both African Americans and Latinos.2 February 2012
South Africa: A wealthy country with one of the most appalling and persistent gaps between rich and poor. http://bit.ly/yts1fv
Cape Town shanties31 January 2012
As energy prices rise, a city's economic viability will increasingly be tied to its energy consumption. http://bit.ly/zMA1iQIndustrial symbiosis: Figuring out how one industry's waste can be reprocessed for use by another industry. http://1.usa.gov/Atii2F
29 January 2012
How the world's major cites have fared economically. http://bit.ly/yDJ4So Goldmine of information about individual metropolitan areas. http://bit.ly/Aemqy726 January 2012
Long Beach, California, is spending $20 million to become "The most bicycle friendly city in America". Winnipeg spent more than that, and it's not even close. http://bit.ly/wxGm05Kansas City struggles with decay of the downtown core, but apparently the only funded plan involves bulldozing houses to build a super-block. http://bit.ly/yARZiZ
24 January 2012
A "self-improvement" take on the end of the industrial age. It's part of the fallout from the post-fordist economy. Check out Community Democracy in a Global Age, to be offered in future.23 January 2012
Is Newt Gingerich's campaign for the Republican nomination all about race? Forthright analysis by an SFU history professor. http://bit.ly/xzsqEK22 January 2012
Flexibly priced parking to reduce traffic, air pollution and frustration. An idea whose time has come? They're trying it in Los Angeles. http://bit.ly/w0O67j20 January 2012
One of "history's most important population shifts": China's urban explosion - 690 million and counting -- fast. http://bit.ly/wQNKGt19 January 2012
Interactive map of metropolitan economies world-wide shows how the balance of power has shifted to Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Russia & Eastern Europe, since 1993. http://bit.ly/zKo3Cg17 January 2012
The Central Park district of Winnipeg, still considered dodgy by some, has turned into a lively, interesting immigrant neighbourhood. Click on the picture for a better view.
Chess gameCities work, not by government dictat, but because they serve spontaneously as centres of human interaction. Cairo is a case in point. http://bit.ly/wO4lr1
15 January 2012
Politicians in metropolitan Montreal debate how to control sprawl and preserve open space. http://bit.ly/wwvzRP12 January 2012
Are cities replacing nations as the drivers of economic growth? Ignore the jingoistic title. The author is making an interesting point. http://on.ft.com/yjmBJj11 January 2012
Captured: The Ruins of Detroit. Photo essay on what happens when governments shirk their duty to manage urban growth. http://bit.ly/A6zpwf9 January 2012
At last, some of Robert Moses's monstrosities are coming down. Across the United States, urban expressways are being dismantled. http://bit.ly/wSL7pk8 January 2012
Some people want to blame government for the 2008 economic meltdown. Here's a discussion of the issue. http://wapo.st/wCi2GI5 January 2012
Can we engineer our way out of global warming? A business-friendly source looks at coming innovations. http://bit.ly/xII9HpCan Canada maintain its standard of living in the face of global competition? Head-to-head NDP-Conservative battle. http://bit.ly/zcPLpQ
4 January 2012
"Natural cities on an urban planet": As the world becomes predominantly urban, what becomes of the natural environment? http://bit.ly/y0obPY3 January 2012
In the US, the people who need rapid transit most get the least of it, study says. That will apply to Winnipeg as well - if our one rapid transit line is ever completed. http://bit.ly/wmTOXf2 January 2012
Can community parks make neighbourhoods healthier and safer? Maybe. http://linkd.in/vOf29229 December 2011
Re A two-tier university system, focussing, respectively, on teaching and research (See December 19th below.), should produce more research and heavier teaching loads, but I doubt that it will be better research or better teaching.Houston promotes transit-oriented development with a bundle of measures, including the encouragement of small-scale developments. http://bit.ly/u2Qhxw
28 December 2011
Omaha area, about the same population as the Winnipeg metropolitan area, is thinking about better development options. Winnipeg should too. http://bit.ly/tmgzXi27 December 2011
21st Century migrations routinely span the globe. The story of one family's journey from Gambia via Germany to prosperity in Sydney, Australia. http://bit.ly/sLDKGa20 December 2011
Is the popularity of large-lot suburban homes declining? New, careful study of Sacramento suggests that's what's happening in California. Can North America be far behind? http://bit.ly/vT5VLN19 December 2011
The New York City venture of Cornell University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology exemplifies two interesting trends: The growing dominance of global cities and the entrenchment of a two-tier university system, with teaching universities in the subordinate position.18 December 2011
Short piece in the Atlantic shows that cities are spending a lot on crime cameras without knowing whether the money is well spent. http://bit.ly/v3afyd16 December 2011
It's not even clear what "liveable cities" are (see 12 December below), but "economic security" is something that can be defined. http://bit.ly/ulIQ8k15 December 2011
Sam Katz says you can't tell people where to live. Have you heard of zoning? It tells you where to live, work, shop, and Katz is in charge of it. http://twitter.com/passingscene13 December 2011
Do you want low-income earners in Winnipeg to help pay for university students' transit? If not, oppose the transit fare increase. http://chn.ge/tGTTzS12 December 2011
Who really wants to live in "liveable" cities? http://on.ft.com/vcIE6P http://bit.ly/u4Cdgr29 November 2011
City planning comes to Kampala, the Ugandan capital. Looks like it'll be Euclidean. http://bit.ly/vyHfQl28 November 2011
While developing world cities swell, US cities struggle with shrinking populations. http://on.ft.com/ul8njR27 November 2011
Brian Mayes wins Council seat. http://bit.ly/smgmTq That makes seven left/leftish councillors, take or leave. Looks like tougher times for the right.24 November 2011
Green infrastructure saves the environment, makes grey cities green and can save money. http://bit.ly/uI6IylMcKinsey & Company argue that "middleweight" cities, with populations of 150,000 to 10m, will be the primary growth magnets for some time to come. http://bit.ly/w1Vzek http://bit.ly/um8Ze3
23 November 2011
Every once in awhile, you get a glimpse of cultural differences that aren't always so obvious. In the U.S. you have to argue with people who believe zoning is an infringement on their inalienable rights. http://linkd.in/s8tUms22 November 2011
Wal-Mart feeds off sprawl and gives it an extra push. http://bit.ly/t5dwds21 November 2011
Jane Jacobs inspires generation after generation. http://bit.ly/smOARrWe were the envy of the world, but now Canada is the only G8 country without a national housing strategy. http://bit.ly/tD5RDr
20 November 2011
Hamburg is trying to become a green city. http://nyti.ms/tJYRgcSage advice on how to make public participation work better. http://www.linkedin.com/news? http://linkd.in/vlPyjB
Rules of on-street parking in Toronto: An amusing look at local culture in downtown neighbourhoods. http://bit.ly/uz3jXt
18 November 2011
Making the best of a bad situation: Urban agriculture in Detroit. http://bit.ly/sqqd2M Farming in Ft. Lauderdale and San Diego too. http://twitter.com/#!/PassingScene17 November 2011
Councillor Orlikow explains why he's voting against Winnipeg's Transportation Master Plan. http://www.orlikow.ca/news/view/?nid=162Open-source, interactive documentary about high rise towers around the world. http://interactive.nfb.ca/#/outmywindow
15 November 2011
The deplorable condition of Winnipeg streets & an interactive map pinpointing the worst ones. http://bit.ly/uwaSg8Pointed comments on Winnipeg's failure to implement a strategic anti-crime program. http://bit.ly/svIcym
13 November 2011
Interesting resource on opposition to land use proposals in the US. http://saintindex.info/Think privatization makes services more effective and efficient? Maybe, maybe not, as Lima, Peru, learned. http://bit.ly/rBWLCX
11 November 2011
Urbanized (2011): Interesting, idea-packed film on intelligent and unintelligent urban design. http://nyti.ms/vNCU7f10 November 2011
District of Columbia is a better place for African Americans to do business, says the Urban League. http://wapo.st/skm08l9 November 2011
22 years after Michael Moore showcased it as an economic disaster Flint, Michigan still struggles. http://bit.ly/vTcVXJ http://on.freep.com/tMRya8Beekeeping is big in New York City. http://bit.ly/uC4EiI City farming thrives. Search Twitter, "urban agriculture", and see for yourself.
7 November 2011
After decades of densification, the Vancouver region is still, on a world scale, Sprawl City. http://bit.ly/vzSNWs6 November 2011
Why city design is important, both socially and to the economy, as well as to the environment & health. http://bit.ly/sFkQQM2 November 2011
Minneapolis area eyes bus rapid transit for better transit service & compact neighbourhoods. http://bit.ly/v6R0Wn1 November 2011
Transforming urban eyesores into assets for the environment: Solar panels over parking lots. http://bit.ly/sL7gCW30 October 2011
Urban agriculture and aquaculture plan to grow and sell all the food of a supermarket in one place. http://bit.ly/sRWqQo28 October 2011
Have we passed "peak car"? Gradual reduction in miles driven, throughout the developed world. http://bit.ly/umW5Me20 October 2011
Economic constraint and vile weather stimulate creativity. http://bit.ly/p8HggC Maybe that's Winnipeg's secret.18 October 2011
Edmonton: Impending shortage of space for expansion triggers talk of regional governance. http://bit.ly/nLtwLW17 October
Gwangju conference recognizes the role of cities in addressing environmental problems. http://bit.ly/qDdhNE16 October 2011
As cities grow, the population disperses. Overall density declines. Discussion, with lots of examples, at http://bit.ly/pQpVmM12 October 2011
Toronto neglects the public realm, and we all pay the price. Provocative article, interesting discussion. http://bit.ly/mUzuHT6 October 2011
Digitization is creating a second economy that's revolutionizing the way we work and vacuuming up jobs. http://bit.ly/n9CUwA8 August 2011
What's wrong with municipal political parties? Actually, they're a good thing. Check out the two entries to your left or click on http://t.co/ZViXiBF14 July 2011
The fastest-growing cities in the United States are southern ones. Top 30 list: http://www.livescience.com/15021-list-fastest-growing-cities.html13 July 2011
"Deconcentration of poverty": A cover for real estate grabs? Interesting article, published in recent book.12 July 2011
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee City Status competition: On its face, an idiosyncratic British tradition, but in reality an exercise in community-building and a test of leadership. http://bit.ly/p61FWc11 July 2011
Agenda-setting cities? Interesting comparison of 19th Century Chicago with 21st Century Portland. http://bit.ly/q4nhBa10 July 2011
New Orleans is a much smaller city after Katrina, and that has big political implications, embodying both opportunities and problems. http://nyti.ms/mT9lD47 July 2011
Constant innovation: the key to city success - but what about low-income housing? Illuminating international comparison. More tomorrow. http://t.co/eFrRT0S6 July 2011
Will social housing be the next neoliberal target? Is there an agenda to let operating agreements expire and let the housing decay? http://bit.ly/qMfKYx5 July 2011
A community development corporation spearheads an urban farming project, to make fresh food available in Cleveland's "food deserts". http://bit.ly/ntUAIr4 July 2011
Canadian city builders could learn from the ancients who built the city of Ephesus. http://bit.ly/kVSac13 July 2011
Are lower crime rates in American cities associated with greater ethnic and life-style diversity? http://bit.ly/mBHHA330 June 2011
Great interactive map lets you see how the ethnicity of neighbourhoods in major American cities changed between 2000 and 2010. Lots of Whites and some Hispanics moving into formerly Black neighbourhoods.29 June 2011
Counter-intuitive but true: A law forcing bookstores to charge prices set by publishers increases competition & saves consumers money. http://bit.ly/l0b7Kr28 June 2011
North American cities accommodate cars, European cities stifle them - and apparently suffer no economic harm. http://nyti.ms/kbFLBt24 June 2011
Washington, DC: In expanding rapid transit, don't accommodate sprawl, take advantage of density. http://bit.ly/jAOipi23 June 2011
Tokyo, the megacity that works. Interesting article. http://bit.ly/md8tnQ22 June 2011
Land value tax encourages the right kind of development, and covers its public costs. http://t.co/PjzxQl4 Are we finally starting to catch up with Henry George? http://t.co/FpTPN4421 June 2011
Poverty is rising in big Canadian cities, declining in mid-sized ones - partly because of economic and social conditions in the big cities, partly because low-income people migrate. http://t.co/Nc5e6Oi20 June 2011
Overcoming automobile dominance in cities: Blueprints for the future. http://bit.ly/ilG6Bv16 June 2011
Stranded: Few American seniors will have access to public transportation when they can no longer drive. http://bit.ly/lkytRI15 June 2011
Detroit businessman and former city planner figures out how to turn locally-grown food into a winning business. http://bit.ly/lmtogL14 June 2011
Detroit isn't actually shrinking. The metropolitan area is growing -- perversely. http://t.co/6ciGFdp13 June 2011
US suburban growth continues to outstrip core city growth, even as suburbs become "more urban". http://t.co/YhXodSFRetrofitting Suburbia: A profusely-illustrated guide to the creation of more urban environments in suburbs: http://t.co/72fR1sC
9 June 2011
World city rankings: Biggest, most liveable, oldest, etc. http://bit.ly/lSLyoT22 April 2011
Google is crowd-sourcing its maps now. Go to Google. Also check out cnet and an article in the Wall Street Journal13 April 2011
Innovation and new industries tend to cluster, mature industry tends to diffuse. The implication is that, in the US, the high-tech era is an era of city-building.6 April 2011
British Petroleum, the company responsible for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, has a special relationship with The Nature Conservancy that raises lots of environmental issues.3 April 2011
Is United States suburban growth coming to an end? http://bit.ly/dMoa2y29 March 2011
Fascinating interactive world map focusses on the centrality of cities to our economic and political future.27 March 2011
The right to annex adjacent areas has supported city prosperity in North Carolina. Will that right be abolished?Shrinking cities signal trouble ahead, for both the cities and their metropolitan areas, says the Detroit Free Press.
25 March 2011
What to do about shrinking cities: Let them shrink, says Witold Rybczynski in The Atlantic.23 March 2011
Detroit is the poster child for urban decay driven by residential and industrial flight. Its decline continues, despite repeated rescue efforts.22 March 2011
Good urban design makes cities walkable, and saves gas. America's most walkable cities.15 March 2011
Could the Tea Party become opponents of urban sprawl? The author of Triumph of the city seems to think so. http://nyti.ms/hmzXRy14 March 2011
Is Winnipeg's new stadium the product of a bait-and-switch operation? Check out the posting for March 10th, 2011, in the column to your left.4 March 2011
cyclingmobility, a new journal for planners and other officials dealing with issues of cycling and mobility.27 February 2011
Why do newspaper columnists get paid for making arguments that ignore obvious objections? See next three entries.Obvious objection to unregulated blooding: What uses will police make of large DNA data banks? Are we supposed to trust all of them always to do the right thing?
Obvious objections to letting Manitoba Hydro rates rise to market value: If we do that, will we lose more jobs because of higher electricity rates or gain more because we collect more Hydro revenues? What happens to all the extra revenue?
The only way we'll figure out who's right will be by examining both sides of the argument.
24 February 2011
Is Vancouver's much-maligned Olympic athletes' village finally starting to turn around? The New York Times and The Globe and Mail weigh in.Does British Columbia's carbon tax penalize the poor and reward polluters? A recent publication argues that carbon tax revenues go into tax cuts, instead of green projects.
13 February 2011
Harvard economics prof says cities make us not only smarter, healthier and richer, but also greener. Triumph of the city10 February 2011
The Free Press thought it was a feel-good story, but I see a slippery slope. (See posting for 11 February 2011 in left-hand column.) Check out an account and pictures of what happened in Detroit.4 February 2011
Local knowledge should be a routine component of science and politics. See the film that shows how Inuit people are teaching scientists about climate change.30 January 2011
Why hiring 58 new Winnipeg police officers won't reduce overtime. http://t.co/Tcm6SbA29 January 2011
Panel discussion at the Mondragon. Subjects: transportation, infrastructure, debt, poverty, housing, urban development and sprawl in Winnipeg - or at least as much of that as we can cover!25 January 2011
Web site looks critically at public investments in arenas and stadiums, including Quebec, Minnesota, Oakland, Los Angeles, and more. http://bit.ly/hBALdO24 January 2011
Interesting study compares the growth patterns of Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. Good summary at http://bit.ly/hsJ9Yj. Study is available from the Neptis Foundation.19 January 2011
Are cities the key to a sustainable future? They could be.18 January 2011
Can urban agriculture make cities more sustainable? Columbia University professor and president of the Vertical Farm Project thinks it's possible.12 January 2011
Hunger, food riots and refugees? Gwynne Dyer has a dramatically different view of the future than Stewart Brand (see below). Global warming, Dyer fears, will bring about food shortages and food prices Brand's squatters won't be able to pay. http://bit.ly/ggkzqy11 January 2011
Urban squatters save the world? Stewart Brand, creator of the Whole Earth Catalog, argues that the 70 million people who are pouring into shantytowns annually will help raise the poor out of poverty, restore rain forests, and reverse population growth. That would be nice.10 January 2011
China's cities in the sky. Post-modern dream cities or modernist nightmares? http://bit.ly/f5Esvb6 January 2011
The cold war origins of suburban development. Most people have no idea how heavily American city planning was influenced by the fear of nuclear attack.4 January 2011
Bigger cities, more of them, in the future? If so, the implications for our climate are immense, and we can choose. Will fossil fuels get locked into urban design?
http://nyti.ms/igxq3S3 January 2011
Suburban population growth could threaten light rail in Houston. A familiar scenario: Sprawl produces suburban majorities and undermines the services needed to support a healthy downtown.2 January 2011
Walmart moms challenge our political imagination, north as well as south of the 49th parallel, because they represent the growing numbers of people whose concerns aren't addressed by their so-called political representatives. http://bit.ly/dLKE3t30 December 2010
Beautiful night photo of Beijing and Tianjin from space. The street patterns are clearly visible. http://bit.ly/hPwksG Click on "back to gallery" for more NASA photos.29 December 2010
Green Cities Programme: OECD launches an initiative to evaluate green growth policies and determine best practices.28 December 2010
Redfields to greenfields: Looking for opportunities to redevelop the large number of failed commercial sites in cities so that they become part of a metropolitan green-space strategy.20 December 2010
How cities can be part of the climate change solution: OECD report offers a detailed look at the important role cities can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.19 December 2010
A physicist formulates laws of urban growth. His conclusions support Jane Jacobs, and argue that cities are inherently more sustainable than alternatives. This produces an interesting debate.17 December 2010
Locally-based businesses in the U.S. are growing again, and they pay better, but chains are still growing faster. Click here for more on independent retail stores.16 December 2010
Can we learn lessons from Detroit as it struggles to recover? http://bit.ly/gx5ib8 It looks as if the paucity of national chains could yield opportunities for local business.15 December 2010
The Clean Clothes Campaign has been working tirelessly for years to improve working conditions in the global garment industry.14 December 2010
Utrecht joins the growing list of European cities with very ambitious environmental plans. http://bit.ly/fYfZ1NFor a focussed critique of Winnipeg's stadium deal, check out Brian Kelcey's blog. He puts his finger on problems with the financing.
13 December 2010
Are North American suburbs harder hit by the recession than downtowns? http://on.wsj.com/hIbgGz12 December 2010
Web site quantifies walkability of neighbourhoods and cities. http://bit.ly/feibzMLists of most walkable cities in the US. http://bit.ly/f1RvCP
Pictures from the world's most walkable cities. http://bit.ly/f5GMWI
10 December 2010
Interesting, optimistic speculation on the ultimate impact of Wikileaks. Will we become a more open society, or just have more government secrecy and an internet free-for-all in place of good journalism? http://bit.ly/dWS6RB8 December 2010
The Winnipeg Free Press continues its well-researched series on city-killing surface parking. http://bit.ly/f9JdrwCool interactive map of surface parking in downtown Winnipeg. http://bit.ly/dWDNKU (Scroll to bottom of page.)
7 December 2010
Is Winnipeg really going to tear down part of its warehouse district without a full assessment of alternatives? It's not just a matter of heritage. Our old buildings are an important economic asset that can never be replaced. http://bit.ly/gdsuTMAn assessment of Winnipeg's helicopter purchase that the city doesn't want you to see.http://bit.ly/gkENbt
New York City has less serious crime than its metropolitan area. In St. Louis it's the opposite. On of a number of interesting observations at http://on.wsj.com/ePwodz
5 December 2010
Don't miss Mary Agnes Welsh's well-researched piece on city-killing parking lots in downtown Winnipeg. http://bit.ly/g1bRFeWinnipeg as a semi-rural environment that will become a city, whether we like it or not. Thoughtful piece by Bart Kives. http://bit.ly/iiVL3H
3 December 2010
Not long ago we were being told that cities would disperse because, thanks to electronic communications, we can live and work everywhere. It hasn't happened. Want to know why? Click here.2 December 2010
Surprising list of cities that have recovered best from the financial crisis throws up interesting lessons. http://bit.ly/fhp9x9 For the original report, click here: GlobalMetroMonitor1 December 2010
Cities should play a more prominent role in defining the response to climate change. Meaty OECD report. CitiesClimateChng30 November 2010
Rapid transit will boost the economy, business leaders say. http://bit.ly/i9gSI328 November 2010
We've gone through a historic redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich. Here's who pays the price. http://bit.ly/gcvEcA27 November 2010
Winnipeg's snow-clearing reserve is gone. http://bit.ly/gx8t3Q I hate to say I told you so, Sam, but... http://bit.ly/e7cnMl25 November 2010
Right-wingers like to think of themselves as truth-tellers. Left-wingers consider themselves compassionate. I'd prefer to be both.Interesting thesis on factors influencing automobile dependence in Canada's seven largest metropolitan areas. Car_in_Canada
23 November 2010
Photo essays about social life in cities. http://socialshutter.blogspot.com/22 November 2010
The Citizen Engineeer: A handbook for socially responsible engineering. http://bit.ly/fSloBx Should be required reading in Winnipeg's Department of Public Works. http://bit.ly/h3K3cd19 November 2010
Building freeways in cities to deal with congestion is like loosening your belt to fight obesity. http://bit.ly/aRmvbA18 November 2010
Cleveland, Dayton: More shrinking cities, more community gardens. http://bit.ly/922fyI A counsel of despair?17 November 2010
New York Times notes Winnipeg's success at immigration. http://nyti.ms/a2OJp1
http://bit.ly/9g16gs16 November 2010
Is Melbourne becoming an eco-city? MelbourneEcoCity15 November 2010
Saginaw and Flint, Michigan: More failed cities seek refuge in community gardening. http://www.mlui.org/farms/fullarticle.asp?fileid=1745314 November 2010
Is the red state-blue state divide in American politics actually an urban-rural cleavage? http://bbc.in/dw8fsX12 November 2010
Interesting collection of videos on urban policy. http://bit.ly/dAwZZYSprawl contributes to extreme heat events, a study finds. http://bit.ly/bSNbsa
11 November 2010
Can a revitalized Detroit attract talented young people to Michigan? http://bit.ly/9kOKZD10 November 2010
Attacking the menace of overbuilt roads. http://www.pps.org/info/newsletter/april_first_2010/dangerous_roads_recalled8 November 2010
Is the "shrinking cities" flavour of the month just another phase in the decline of some of America's great cities? ShrinkCitiesGratz7 November 2010
Comparative per capita greenhouse gas emissions for European, Asian, North and South American cities and countries: UN data. Representative GHG Baselines for Cities - Mar_18 (1)6 November 2010
Madrid: protest against urban sprawl. http://fxn.ws/aWqITw5 November 2010
Bee-keeping: a new turn in urban agriculture: http://magblog.audubon.org/print/8334 November 2010
An urban or suburban future? It depends on how we plan. http://huff.to/aZUgBS2 November 2010
Urban growth in India: A time bomb. http://bit.ly/bvieHG1 November 2010
New York says good-bye to blank walls. http://bit.ly/bWUSk431 October 2010
Making a city safe for bicycles. How they do it in Copenhagen. http://bit.ly/doSBMa20 August 2010
There's a fine line between social enterprise and the "ethical business" whitewash. http://bbc.in/aTZkOR20 August 2010
Kitu Kidogo - Swahili for "small thing", which refers to bribery. Really good radio play from Uganda about corruption.http://bbc.in/cCqYEe19 August 2010
Thanks to rural monoculture, urban agriculture flourishes: Bee-keeping is big in Paris, BBC says. http://bbc.in/aiu6ij18 August 2010
An interesting perspective on freeways and sustainable cities. http://bit.ly/98k15g17 August 2010
Green roofs: Encourage local agriculture and make better use of urban space. http://bit.ly/dadOyg15 August 2010
For some very interesting information about the health effects of malathion, click here.15 August 2010
Guerilla "urban repair squads" make city streets more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly. http://bit.ly/a5kROmEven heat waves hit low-income people the hardest. http://bit.ly/8Xgak8
Gwynne Dyer doesn't just warn of global warming, he looks at political implications.
http://shar.es/0mfjzEncouragingly constructive tone at the Council for the Federation, but too bad about the long form census.
http://shar.es/0maA4Are factory farms destroying the nutrition in our foods?
http://bit.ly/a8MXQGInteresting anonymous article about the social roots of France's rural revival.
http://bit.ly/ayoS07Good articles about green infrastructure and urban administration in The Planning Commissioners' Journal.
http://bit.ly/aTV94h
