Winnipeg could be a much better city if we concentrated on constructive action, instead of beating each other up over ideological agendas. The golf course issue is a case in point. A discussion that could have been about the best use — and best opportunities for enhancement — of public facilities has instead become a war of ideological agendas.
One of the agendas is that of Mayor Sam Katz, Continue reading
Corydon Avenue is in the eye of a political storm that’s been raging for a long time. The Corydon-Osborne Neighbourhood Plan Facebook page starts on June 9th, 2011. That’s how long planners and citizens have been arguing about Corydon, unless you count a planning document entitled The Villages of Fort Rouge, (click and scroll down a bit) dated August 1998.
It’s not surprising that Corydon Village is controversial.
Posted in City politics, City Politics: Issues, Urban growth and development, What's wrong with the way our communities are governed, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg politics, Winnipeg: Growth and development
Tagged city planning, Corydon neighbourhood, Osborne-Corydon, public participation, urban development, Winnipeg
The City of Winnipeg is surrounded by a city (Selkirk), a town (Stonewall) and 13 so-called rural municipalities. Despite the designation “rural”, many of the residents of these municipalities are urbanites, whose objective is to enjoy the benefits of both country and city life, at a more moderate price than they would have to pay for similar properties in the city. (After clicking on the link, scroll down for price comparisons.) That’s why planners refer to these communities as “exurban”. Continue reading
For a day or so, it almost looked as if there was a plan for the second leg of Winnipeg’s bus rapid transit system. The system, which was conceived in the early 1970s (or earlier, depending how you date it) took concrete form as the first leg of of a line connecting the centre of the city with the University of Manitoba, 12 kilometres to the southwest. Click here for map (The line ends after the bus leaves the Fort Rouge station.)
After the first line was completed, it seemed to be taking the city forever to finalise the plans for the second leg. Finally, last Saturday, the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Winnipeg Transit had decided on a route through an open field called the Parker Lands. However, three days later, it became obvious that Continue reading
The big green area in the Google map above tells a story. It marks an undeveloped area between the east Winnipeg neighbourhoods of Elmwood and Transcona, an area that remains undeveloped because the city obligingly extends roads, underground pipes and the full range of its services past it, at taxpayer expense, without requiring its development. My latest article shows how Winnipeg, like many other North American cities, pays a heavy price for its failure to ensure that its infrastructure and services be developed and used in an efficient manner.
I’m just back from a great trip to Europe – one of those wonderful things I’m lucky enough to be able to do now that I’m retired. Of all the places my wife and I visited, our favourite was Leipzig, …
It has become fashionable – or maybe by now old hat – to celebrate the ruins of Detroit, which prospered with the rise of the American automobile industry and went through a shockingly rapid decline as American manufacturing dispersed across the country and then moved off-shore in search of ever cheaper labour. Scores of opulent architectural gems became ruins. Streets, once bustling with affluent auto workers, jazz musicians, and industrialists, were abandoned.
Last year I blogged about rural fundamentalism, a visceral dislike of cities that has deeply shaped the world we live in. Rural fundamentalism, however, is only half the story of our ambivalent relationship with cities, because, even though our choices of places to live is driven primarily by a desire to flee the city, the way we conduct our lives ties us to cities, both personally and materially.
Our ambivalence leads us into bad policy choices, and there’s no reason why it should. I’ll come back to that, but first let’s look at why cities are so important to us. Continue reading
In the hard-copy edition of today’s Winnipeg Free Press, Councillor Jeff Browaty is quoted as asking a question about the much-debated plan for the development of Corydon Village. As fate would have it, Jane Jacobs answered his question 51 years ago. I’m going to quote the Free Press account of his question and then quote Ms. Jacobs’s answer, as delivered in her classic The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which ought to be required reading for everyone who loves cities.
The Free Press: Coun… Browaty… said Corydon has seen successful developments arise from few restrictions and the new planning process doesn’t have to be… in-depth. “Overall, what’s there works, why mess with it?” Browaty said.
Ms. Jacobs’s answer: Continue reading
I received an e-mail from a development officer in a large rural municipality in northern Alberta who hopes to persuade his council to reduce the minimum permissible size of residential lots from the current minimum of 72′ x 110″, and wanted a second opinion from me.
He’s looking ahead, as rural municipal officials and politicians everywhere should be. Here’s my response, more or less, to his query: Continue reading
IDEAS AND EVENTS THAT CROSS MY DESK. twitter.com/passingscene
18 June 2013
Globalization: Two can play that game. It's not just corporations that are globalized. There's also a long list of globally-networked political and social action groups. I keep a regularly updated list of them in a blog entry entitled "How is global political action organized?"
It takes budget shortfalls to finally get the City of Winnipeg interested in public participation, asking citizens how to make cuts, and where to increase spending and taxes. Check out the budget simulator and try it yourself.
17 June 2013
Public-private partnerships are represented as the modern way of avoiding bureaucratic rigidity in the delivery of public services, but don't jump to conclusions. Critical questions that should be asked.
Pastr blog entry on an issue that remains problematic. Do university ethics regulations pose a threat to critical research?
13 June 2013
Aspirational planning, chaotic development: My latest article looks at the rules covering new development in the Winnipeg area, how they're enforced, and what a mess it is. For your own copy click here.
11 June 2013
Photo essay: What we used to think of as urban blight is affecting inner suburbs across North America. Here's how it looks in Kansas City. (Scroll down for the photos.)
Past blog entry on an issue we still haven't resolved: Should Youth for Christ be involved in governance?
10 June 2013
Not the gates of hell, but worse: An affecting look at poverty, and at community development, in Manila.
Past blog entry worth a second look: Obama and Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi as I saw them in 2010. What do we think of them now?
5 June 2013
The urban poverty paradox: Organizations trying to help people out of poverty have to find ways of addressing multiple problems -- but not too many problems. Thought-provoking discussion of a knotty problem.
1 June 2013
The IMF finds that women are still markedly underrepresented in politics and business, though, in politics at least, somewhat less so with the passage of time. (Scroll down to the bar graph and click on it for a good look.)
31 May 2013
The end of cheap labour in China? The International Monetary Fund predicts it, and foresees important impacts on the world economy.
29 May 2013
London's super-rich construct sumptuous multi-storey subterranean "digs" -- including swimming pools, servants' quarters and much more -- to evade building codes.
27 May 2013
Now that the majority of poor people in the US live in the suburbs, will there be a war on suburban poverty, like the 1960s war on inner city and rural poverty?
26 May 2013
Even the sex trade is apparently affected by the global tide of cheap labour. It's reported to be less profitable than it once was. However, posh sex workers and dominatrices are doing relatively well.
24 May 2013
In a cheap-labour economy -- including ours, unfortunately -- some people can't afford decent housing. In the absence of a national housing policy, what's to become of those people? The Globe and mail calls rental housing a national disaster.
23 May 2013
Better cycling facilities means mobility for everyone, not just cyclists. BC Cycling Coalition sets a good example.
22 May 2013
Will the energy boom (continue to) crowd the environment off the political agenda? American blogger pleads with his country not to follow the path Canada has already embarked upon
20 May 2013
Creek Bend Hollow is a super-exclusive, large-lot condominium development in southeast Winnipeg. A thoughtful blog post reflects on how urbanization will change this part of the city.
19 May 2013
How will technology transform cities? Thought-provoking article on the BBC web site.
16 May 2013
A bit of the usual 21st Century good news/bad news: Toronto District School Board census finds growing diversity and growing income inequality.
15 May 2013
A lot of attention has been paid lately to the terrible working conditions of garment workers in Bangladesh. At noon today, we can find out more about Manitoba's cheap labour.
10 May 2013
Living wage: "The story of child poverty in Canada is very much an urban story. One out of every 10 children living in urban areas was poor in 2010, compared to one in 20 children living in non-urban areas. Three-quarters (or 76 per cent) of all poor children"...
9 May 2013
Is the Harper government hostile to the free market? Interesting right-wing critique.
7 May 2013
How social media are changing politics: British Conservative and Labour parties now have more followers, on either Facebook or Twitter, than members. Interesting article analyses this phenomenon and assesses its significance.
6 May 2013
Greatest public markets: Photo essay kicks off a series of articles dedicated to the revival of public markets --
a great tradition that deserves a second chance.
2 May 2013
Walmart groceries promise healthy choices and low prices, but there's a dark side to this story: poverty. A readable, well-argued discussion.
1 May 3013
Interesting, brief discussion of co-operative community action, offering a number of examples of how economically depressed communities have organized to improve their circumstances.
30 April 2013
What's wrong with skywalks? As Winnipeg proceeds with the attempt to rescue a failing downtown core from the ravages of suburban sprawl, here's a friendly warning from Detroit, the poster child for downtown decay.
28 April 2013
"Cherry tea, please." (Click on picture.)
Touching story of an inner-city elementary school teacher who gave her grade five students the time of their lives by taking them to the Ritz Carlton for high tea. http://bit.ly/10GGqfT
26 April 2013
Participatory budgeting gets citizens involved in setting community priorities. Can we do it in Winnipeg? Find out next Tuesday. Want to get ready for the session? Here are some FAQs and a thorough handbook.
25 April 2013
The only good news in this horrifying sweatshop disaster in Bangladesh is that contractors, like Loblaw's Joe Fresh and Walmart are being named and shamed.
Click on picture
24 April 2013
Food Matters Manitoba engages with many organizations and projects in support of the local production and consumption of food. A concise, well-illustrated annual report tells its story.
23 April 2013
Housing the homeless instead of sheltering them. It looks like government policy has improved since 2006.
18 April 2013
There's still a lot of extreme poverty, but but the World Bank claims a lot of progress is being made and says it varies from region to region. Millenium Development Goals provide a focus for tracking progress.
14 April 2013
Food security, poverty, and climate change in the urban south: Two takes on growing problems that continue to haunt the world.
Click on picture
11 April 2013
Poverty in Baltimore: An arresting photo essay depicting a devastated city.
Detroit is a similar case.
Why slow-growth cities are particularly vulnerable to such decline.
6 April 2013
Instead of taking pot-shots at Richard Florida, we should be building on his valuable work as this writer does in rustwire.com, a little-known internet publication that should be read much more widely.
21 March 2013
Little Canada: Does the closure of the Experimental Lakes Area remind you of the cancellation of the Avro Arrow project?
19 March 2013
Planting 100,000 native trees in Porto, Portugal, without spending public money: The project relies on collaboration among multiple public and private partners and citizen involvement. http://bit.ly/11eTfgP
17 March 2013
New Zealand: Is heritage architecture under threat from measures to avoid earthquake damage?
13 March 2013
Happy with the way Winnipeg city hall works? A forum to discuss public process and city decisions: Tomorrow, March 14th. Click on the link: Whose Winnipeg?
12 March 2013
Interesting, disparate collection of stories and pictures of dead shopping malls, mostly in the US and Canada, but also China and New Zealand. A fascinating, crowd-sourced history. deadmalls.com
11 March 2013
As taxpayer-subsidized suburban malls decline, the urbanization of the countryside falters in the face of economic decline, and urban living gains in popularity. Society and the economy are changing rapidly and cities are at the heart of the change.
8 March 2013
Detailed scrutiny of government expenditures is where democracy's rubber hits the road. Both Liberals and Conservatives have signalled their contempt for this process for decades, and now finally, the government is hoist by its own petard.
5 March 2013
How can cities cut car use downtown?
Public transportation by itself isn't enough. A menu of additional policy options from London, Paris, Rome and elsewhere in Europe.
3 March 2013
The Revenge of Geography: To what extent are our history and our future determined by our location? Fresh thinking about world history and geopolitics, featuring breathtaking intellectual leaps.
1 March 2013
Urban growth projections in Spokane, Washington, based on hopes and dreams -- just like Winnipeg.
28 February 2013
Since many employers are able to move around the world in search of labour, the generation of poverty is a global phenomenon. It makes sense to globalize the search for solutions to poverty. Point your browser to: urb.im
27 February 2013
Detroit: Highest taxes, lowest property values, inadequate services. This is where the cycle of urban decay leads.
Click on picture
26 February 2013
10 reasons why Chicago is America's murder city. Interesting web site wrestles with the multiple, complex causes. Should lax gun laws be No. 5?
25 February 2013
France goes after suburban auto travellers with OuiGo, a low-cost, high-speed passenger rail service -- and with a name that disdains the traditional French preoccupation with language purity.
23 February 2013
The big shift: We know Canadian politics has changed, but how fundamental is the change? A thought-provoking analysis.
21 February 2013
Winnipeg has an arts community that ranks with the best in North America. Why don't we hype it the way Chicago does?
17 February 2013
Is it true that America will soon achieve energy self-sufficiency? Apparently not, says a well-argued and accessible article.
15 February 2013
Deterioration of infrastructure is a global problem that calls for fundamental rethinking. Here's a thoughtful discussion, that raises some tough ideological issues. Or, how about building less infrastructure?
12 February 2013
The Christian Labour Association of Canada: (CLAC) Is it a new, conciliatory approach to labour relations or an old-fashioned company union?
11 February 2013
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Azerbaijan is rich, and a master of geopolitics. Now it wants to be famous. Interesting article in the New York Times.
10 February 2013
American as apple pie: Is alleged serial killer Christopher Dorner an African American Pretty Boy Floyd?
8 February 2013
How to make sure that green jobs are good jobs. A manual.
5 February 2013
Lujiazui, China: New way to separate vehicles from pedestrians. (Click on picture.)
3 February 2013
African wars are becoming less frequent and smaller, continue to be fought where weak states are dependent on natural resources. Good developments: multi-party elections, international peacekeeping, diplomacy. Knowledgeable discussion.
1 February 2013
God knows who’ll win the Super Bowl Interesting article about the American (and not just American) belief that religious faith is rewarded by wealth.
30 January 2013
Why do aboriginal leaders refer to reserves as sovereign communities? Admirably succinct, well-informed discussion by someone who has the qualifications and knows how to write.
29 January 2013
Phoenix, Arizona, has more gun murders than Mexico: Part of a fascinating comparison of American cities with the deadliest countries in the world. Click on the map.
28 January 2013
According to the National Post, relatives of infamous Nazi propaganda boss Joseph Goebbels are dominant shareholders in BMW. Their fortune is managed by Harald Quandt Holding GmbH of Bad Homburg.
27 January 2013
Europe and North America pioneered democratic institutions in the 18th and 19th centuries, but now it's Latin Americans who have become the pioneers. When will we catch up?
24 January 2013
Made for walking: case studies of a few of the hundreds of new walkable neighbourhoods in North America - part of a culture change that's making ours a more urban society.
23 January 2013
Is mean-spiritedness the new charity?
21 January 2013
William Julius Wilson 25 years later: The "truly disadvantaged" in the US are even more disadvantaged today, but Obama has done more to lighten their load than any president since Lyndon B. Johnson.
20 January 2013
A gift for the Sultan: A wonderful historical novel. It took me into a world, and ways of understanding the world, that were completely new to me. The author made me experience them as if I had observed them first hand.
14 January 2013
South Africa has eliminated institutional racism, but Canada hasn't. A former South African ambassador, who has a long-standing relationship with aboriginal Canadians, delivers a rebuke we should think hard about. Podcast of an interview by Michael Enright.
11 January 2013
Bike trails and paths are proliferating in North America, even in sprawl cities like Winnipeg and Memphis. The Winnipeg link points to an excellent study by Ray Yuen, a great source of ideas for improvement of Winnipeg's bike facilities.
9 January 2013
America's great inversion: More affluent people living downtown, more poor in the suburbs. This is underway in Winnipeg, and has been the case in Vancouver and Toronto for a long time.
Click on picture
7 January 2013
Urban poverty in Germany. Not the prosperous, socially-conscious Europe we're used to hearing about. Germany's troubling welfare reforms.
6 January 2013
How to distinguish guns for hunting and home defence from from guns best suited for mass murder: The kind of thing that needs to be thought through to get to good policy.
4 January 2013
Granting constitutional rights to nature and other innovations in resource development: Ecuador and Bolivia engage in the kind of policy entrepreneurship that seems an endangered species in wealthy countries. http://bit.ly/XsyDQc
3 January 2013
What makes for a great public space? Check out some examples, and take a look at how Winnipeg is doing.
2 January 2013
If you satisfy complaints about insufficient parking, you wreck the city: Insightful discussion about what you should do instead, and about the importance of a public realm where people gather physically. http://bit.ly/S5Kan3
31 December 2012
Revolutionize transportation by making bikes and buses a cool option. Reject the "false assumption that if given a cheap and effective option, people will use it." Fresh thinking about public transportation.
30 December 2012
When will the robots replace you? If you think your job is safe, be careful, and check out what my friend and former student, who writes under the pseudonym Cobalisk, has to say.
28 December 2012
Are American suburbs the mass murder capitals? Does more prosperity lead to crime reduction in U.S. cities? Cities are changing in new ways, and we need better data to understand them. http://bit.ly/U3CWg6
27 December 2012
It's not just corporations that are global. Anyone can be, and in fact large numbers of what we used to think of as community organizations are now communities of interest, operating on a global scale. http://bit.ly/bm6WXo
21 December 2012
Interesting doc about Cleveland deals with the city's rise to prosperity as a giant of technology and manufacturing, its subsequent decline in the face of sprawl, and the costs of sprawl, which make the newer neighbourhoods ultimately unviable.
14 December 2012
How is Toronto's Regent Park doing? Can a public housing development be successfully transformed into a mixed-income neighbourhood? http://bit.ly/SX5rf7
12 December 2012
Pity the city planners who have to compose planning documents to give the appearance of rational planning while concealing the reality of infrastructure and services that are spread too widely to be sustainable.
6 December 2012
"The sign industry [has] powerful tentacles that reach into... city hall." - Russ Wyatt. Memo: Memo to Coun. Wyatt: Anti-capitalist rhetoric is more convincing when it doesn't come from the corridors of power. http://bit.ly/THmmEr
1 December 2012
"Saving" the Plain Dealer: Interesting discussion of web and print journalism from Rustwire.com, an on-line news publication covering American rustbelt cities. http://bit.ly/TtYcK9
29 November 2012
Why we can't shop our way to a better economy, by Stacy Mitchell, of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a thoughtful opponent of the over-centralized American economy - a message that should resonate in Canada too.
23 November 2012
What's wrong with this picture? Huancayo, a city of less than 400,000 in Peru's central highlands, is building a metropolitan railroad, and Winnipeg can't afford another leg of bus rapid transit? http://bit.ly/UxvM3l
20 November 2012
Why people leave a declining city, even if they love it: The personal account of an obviously talented writer who understands Buffalo, finds much to love about it, but just can't take it anymore. http://bit.ly/T9HrUT
18 November 2012
Naming and shaming is the best way to deal with misbehaving global corporations. They may not care about third world working conditions, but they protect their brand as if it were their newborn. http://bit.ly/TLsG8U
16 November 2012
Poverty on the rise in Germany, according to census statistics: Is this the kind of thing the Canadian government wanted us not to find out about when it cancelled the long-form census? http://bit.ly/S2Bw4w
15 November 2012
Taking cars off the street. Here'a how they do it in Europe:
Bicycle parking lots
Bicycle parkades
14 November 2012
Rochester's Susan B. Anthony vs. a dollar store: A blogger offers witty and telling commentary on the all-too-familiar tale of a city's destruction of its heritage. http://bit.ly/SpSTul
12 November 2012
Vacuuming the life out of oceans: A very informative documentary on CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks tells how, the more fisheries take out of the ocean, the harder they work to remove still more.
9 November 2012
Not a screed, not preachy: A really interesting film about the suburbs, why we live there, why we hate them, why we won't change them in the short run, what could happen to them eventually. Radiant City
7 November 2012
Iscandar Malaysia: A critical assessment of "the first 'smart metropolis'” in Southeast Asia. The economic strategy seeks to take advantage of the proximity of cheap labour to cheap goods.
6 November 2012
Searching for Sugar Man: The remarkable story of a hugely talented Detroit singer/songwriter who plunged to obscurity with his career barely begun, then rose to fame in South Africa. In Winnipeg, it's at the Globe Cinema.
5 November 2012
Clean Clothes: A wide-awake organization campaigning to improve working conditions in the global garment industry. They research labour conditions and hit offending global corporations where it hurts: Their public image.
31 October 2012
Suffering Pakistan: Food price inflation is making a bad situation worse for ordinary people. When we read about Pakistan's involvement in regional conflicts, it's well to bear in mind that it's always the innocents who are crushed. http://bit.ly/TU46mI
26 October 2012
The Climate Progress blog: An indispensable source on climate change issues. Sample: Eight ways humans are contributing to climate change.
25 October 2012
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Vestige of a fallen empire: The rickety Trabant, an industrial product of the failed East German regime, spotted on a street in Prague.
24 October 2012
California's sustainable communities strategies: A system of urban growth management driven by environmental regulations.
21 October 2012
Thoughtful assessment of the mess at Winnipeg's city hall, marked by questionable land deals, questionable relationships between the mayor and a developer, and more.
20 October 2012
rustwire.com: Provides "thoughtful, constructive stories about post-industrial cities across the [US] Rust Belt", from Pittsburgh to St. Louis. Reliable source of information and insight.
18 October 2012
The growing appreciation for urban environments hasn't diminished the middle-class aversion to the inner city. It's about social class, not urban design. http://bit.ly/WEw5Mb
10 September 2012
The market for residence in urban environments is growing. http://bit.ly/PfqOIw A walk around the Exchange District and the Waterfront Drive area will tell you it's happening in Winnipeg too, but more affordable housing is what we really need.
Waterfront Drive: Click on picture.
9 September 2012
Keeping city services sustainable: Video shows why cites have money problems, but why are we wasting money extending services across empty spaces?
Click on picture
7 September 2012
There's no need for acres of bleak parking lots: Automated parking and car storage, widespread in Europe and Asia, has barely begun in North America. http://bit.ly/OTjVKU http://bit.ly/QgsQnU
6 September 2012
Renewable energy co-operatives offer an alternative to centralized energy supply, allowing communities to take ownership of their own energy generation.
30 August 2012
Goodbye Osborne Village?
With Papa George's about to close,
and McDonald's, Timmy's and the Sals eyeing this prime location, are we witnessing the steady advance of the self-destruction diversity, or is there still hope?
29 August 2012
An insightful discussion of the hazards of "professionalized" neighbourhood revitalization. Well-meaning people support bad art that contributes to bland urbanity. It's about Cleveland, but it's relevant almost anywhere. http://bit.ly/Rt6wM1
26 August 2012
Oakland, last refuge of radial America: A well-written account of political protest in a decaying city on the fringe of American politics that is the epicentre of what is left of the Occupy movement.
23 August 2012
The "skyscraper farm": A remarkable, visually dramatic, concept in urban agriculture, now in development. Comprehensive approach to both food supply and waste disposal. http://bit.ly/Nj6UgI
19 August 2012
A pair of really interesting articles, suggesting future pathways for business and agriculture -- plausible ideas for meeting environmental and economic challenges.
17 August 2012
The rich get richer, the poor poorer? Careful study of the likely impact of the proposed sale of Toronto Community Housing's scattered-site affordable housing.
15 August 2012
Turn parking spaces into public space: A new way to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists over cars. Good for business because it promotes pedestrian traffic. http://bit.ly/Pku18A
Click on picture for a better view
14 August 2012
How can we make roads safer for everyone? Sharing the road: Optimizing pedestrian and bicycle safety offers answers. For a brief summary of recommendations, click here.
Safety's not enough. If you want people to walk or travel by bicycle, you have to take their perspective into consideration in designing traffic patterns and setting rules. http://bit.ly/NBAOHz
13 August 2012
How too much parking undermines the downtown economy, and what Zurich did about it. You might be surprised that strict parking limits gained public support. Zurich's Parking Revolution
12 August 2012
Interview with an eminent scientist sheds light, not only on the science behind global warming, but also on policy. Thought-provoking suggestions regarding electric cars, fuels, and more. http://bit.ly/RL2ZKf
9 August 2012
How is bus rapid transit doing in the U.S.? A federal government assessment looks at costs, ridership and economic impact. The study contains lessons for Winnipeg. http://1.usa.gov/MBX2sc
7 August 2012
The Murals of Winnipeg: A wonderful collection of bears, fire hydrants and all kinds of public art, as well as wall paintings. Only one of the many gems that show why we're the arts capital of Canada.
6 August 2012
In the US, are poverty ghettos gradually replacing racial ghettos? New research finds that residential segregation by income is increasing as segregation by race declines. The biggest change is the retreat of the affluent from mixed neighbourhoods. http://bit.ly/Ms4En7
2 August 2012
Stop apologizing for being a city. Resisting density, as many cities across North America do, doesn't produce semi-rural paradises. What you get, eventually if not right away, is boring cities.
1 August 2012
Complaints about downtown parking are a symptom of urban failure. In successful downtowns, people willingly pay outlandish prices for parking.
30 July 2012
How can we reduce crime? Some thought-provoking research findings, including comments on what we call Crimestat in Winnipeg and the "broken windows" theory.
25 July 2012
Our economy demands minimum-wage labour, but it doesn't supply affordable housing. How long will it be before we have as many homeless people as Toronto?
24 July 2012
The growing quality-of-life gap between American cities. Federal funding is a factor, but it's really more about local wealth. http://bit.ly/METmcU
19 July 2012
Admirably succinct, readable report on housing affordability in Manitoba, demonstrating that a place to call home is out of reach for too many.
18 July 2012
Counter-intuitive journalism: Rustwire.com focusses on the tribulations of cities like Cleveland, Rochester and Niagara Falls, NY. (Not like Niagara Falls, ON.) rustwire.com
17 July 2012
Underpass Park: Toronto plans to develop a public space and play area underneath a freeway overpass. http://bit.ly/M87J6O
16 July 2012
Pontiac, Michigan, iconic victim of the automobile, tries to repair the damage with a plan "that could reconnect downtown to neighborhoods, employment centers, and nearby communities." http://bit.ly/NP4J1H
15 July 2012
Even in Florida, they're recognizing that cars can suck the life out of city neighbourhoods. http://hrld.us/NJvPas It's not a matter of getting rid of cars, just don't let them dominate everything else.
12 July 2012
Poverty in America: What's happened in the last 50 years? There's less of it. More is being done about it. It's still racially concentrated. http://wapo.st/OdfUxk
11 July 2012
Here's a counter-weight to the stereotype of aboriginal rural poverty and misery. Urban aboriginal people are generally happy. And let's not assume that rural aboriginal people are unhappy.
9 July 2012
A serious urban agriculture initiative in Vancouver. http://bit.ly/OryWkJ We need more urban farms and greenhouses in Canada - and less second-rate California produce.
6 July 2012
Detroit architectural gem, designed by the legendary Mies van der Rohe, is up for auction. 
Lafayette Towers
5 July 2012
It's fun watching the Museum for Human Rights go up, but it's only one of many such projects. Is there enough demand to support them all? http://bit.ly/RkVsiw
3 July 2012
A sewage system saves the environment, but here's what happens when a government tries to build one. A number of good reasons for doing it, a thousand individual interests opposing it.
2 July 2012
Middle-class people living in shanty towns: Prosperity in Kenya, and elsewhere in Africa, is producing a demand for housing and a challenge for urban planning. http://bit.ly/Lstxty
29 June 2012
Jan Gehl: Think the car is king in London? I sentence you to a bicycle tour of Winnipeg. A leader in The Economist offers a quick look at how cities are humanizing public spaces.
28 June 2012
Back to the city? Since the 1920s, suburbs have outpaced cities in population growth, but that trend is reversing. In the most recent year, 27 of 51 U.S. cities have grown faster than their suburbs. http://on.wsj.com/MDNFJh
27 June 2012
Who's looking after your retirement savings? Many Canadian violators are getting away. The problem is that it's a provincial responsibility. Securities regulation ought to be a federal responsibility,
25 June 2012
Article about public transportation in Rabat, Morocco, shows just how much is involved in modernizing a Third World urban transportation system. http://on.mktw.net/LvHhs4
22 June 2012
Chinese sweatshop that has "gruelling", "miserable" working conditions does business with Motorola, AT&T, Sony and Phillips, according to the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights.
21 June 2012
International Widows Day, June 23rd, publicizes the plight of widows in many countries around the world. The Loomba Foundation provides scholarships for some of their children.
The Loomba Foundation is only one of scores of internationally networked organizations that pursue social or political objectives: A global political response to the problems of a global economy.
19 June 2012
Who's left? What's right? Intelligent commentary by Nelson Wiseman in the Hill Times, showing how confused most of us are about the meaning of left and right in politics.
18 June 2012
Could the oil sands pave the road to a green Canada? Looks like The Tyee, a B.C. alternative publication, has produced a rare, reasoned contribution to a shrill debate. I'll be following this series with interest.
Top 20 urban planning web sites. A gold mine of information and ideas. http://bit.ly/Na2q9p
9 June 2012
Why Foreigners are Still Attracted to Detroit. Fascinating photos of one of America's great cities, now a ruin. The photos follow an interesting American Public Radio reportage.
8 June 2012
Apparently, higher population density is associated with a rise in food allergies. Of course, that doesn't mean density is the cause. What else do cities have besides density? Long list, eh?
5 June 2010
An academic attack on Richard Florida's creative class. http://bit.ly/LxJKNT The vehemence of the reaction to Florida puzzles me. I find his argument interesting and don't see it as a threat.
Watch the Sydney Opera House disintegrate before your eyes: Fascinating urban art that creates fantastic images by projecting light against buildings. You have to see it to believe it. http://bit.ly/KBDwQD
3 June 2012
Relentlessly the post-modern economy impoverishes poor cities and enriches well-off ones. Dayton seeks improvement by promoting education, but will educated youth stay in Dayton? http://bit.ly/LdgSrP
31 May 2012
The Sierra Club believes, with some justification, that it's the object of a witch hunt. http://bit.ly/KAReC0
Back-to-work legislation drives down wages, reducing tax revenues, and makes business more dependent on government, putting the Harper government at odds with its own ideology. http://bit.ly/LZTmCP http://bit.ly/L9lOA6
29 May 2012
Pay people not provinces: Could this be a way to strengthen communities without enhancing the power of local élites? What impact would an increase in the purchasing power of the elderly have on your neighbourhood? http://natpo.st/K9wGS6
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/LhLqNt
24 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/Lkj3uD
If 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/LgU9vT
17 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/Kmo32k
14 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/KblFcI
13 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/LFOnX1
6 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/IYS2hv
Jane 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/IKe6da
30 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/IJjL8d
11 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/HwaTOF
9 April 2012
After two generations of North American flight from cities, is the tide finally beginning to turn? http://bit.ly/IrI1qA
Long 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/Hl17Nv
27 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/GVBBpa
26 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/GRDge1
Unlike 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/GA2xsX
18 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/zWxfJd
13 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/ydKlLD
28 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/zfklIm
23 February 2012
Americans are almost twice as likely to call themselves conservative as liberal. 
This is associated with poverty and low education
21 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/xHqjqb
20 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/xc3lhG
13 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/yA0cs6
8 February 2012
The plaza in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art before...
...and after (we hope!).
New York Times
7 February 2012
Can fog harvesting save drought-stricken communities? Interesting independent journalism project is underway. http://bit.ly/wsI94M
5 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 shanties
31 January 2012
As energy prices rise, a city's economic viability will increasingly be tied to its energy consumption. http://bit.ly/zMA1iQ
Industrial 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/Aemqy7
26 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/wxGm05
Kansas 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/xzsqEK
22 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/w0O67j
20 January 2012
One of "history's most important population shifts": China's urban explosion - 690 million and counting -- fast. http://bit.ly/wQNKGt
19 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/zKo3Cg
17 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 game
Cities 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/wwvzRP
12 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/yjmBJj
11 January 2012
Captured: The Ruins of Detroit. Photo essay on what happens when governments shirk their duty to manage urban growth. http://bit.ly/A6zpwf
9 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/wSL7pk
8 January 2012
Some people want to blame government for the 2008 economic meltdown. Here's a discussion of the issue. http://wapo.st/wCi2GI
5 January 2012
Can we engineer our way out of global warming? A business-friendly source looks at coming innovations. http://bit.ly/xII9Hp
Can 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/y0obPY
3 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/wmTOXf
2 January 2012
Can community parks make neighbourhoods healthier and safer? Maybe. http://linkd.in/vOf292
29 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/tmgzXi
27 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/sLDKGa
20 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/vT5VLN
19 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/v3afyd
16 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/ulIQ8k
15 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/passingscene
13 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/tGTTzS
12 December 2011
Who really wants to live in "liveable" cities? http://on.ft.com/vcIE6P http://bit.ly/u4Cdgr
29 November 2011
City planning comes to Kampala, the Ugandan capital. Looks like it'll be Euclidean. http://bit.ly/vyHfQl
28 November 2011
While developing world cities swell, US cities struggle with shrinking populations. http://on.ft.com/ul8njR
27 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/uI6Iyl
McKinsey & 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/s8tUms
22 November 2011
Wal-Mart feeds off sprawl and gives it an extra push. http://bit.ly/t5dwds
21 November 2011
Jane Jacobs inspires generation after generation. http://bit.ly/smOARr
We 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/tJYRgc
Sage 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/#!/PassingScene
17 November 2011
Councillor Orlikow explains why he's voting against Winnipeg's Transportation Master Plan. http://www.orlikow.ca/news/view/?nid=162
Open-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/uwaSg8
Pointed 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/vNCU7f
10 November 2011
District of Columbia is a better place for African Americans to do business, says the Urban League. http://wapo.st/skm08l
9 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/tMRya8
Beekeeping 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/vzSNWs
6 November 2011
Why city design is important, both socially and to the economy, as well as to the environment & health. http://bit.ly/sFkQQM
2 November 2011
Minneapolis area eyes bus rapid transit for better transit service & compact neighbourhoods. http://bit.ly/v6R0Wn
1 November 2011
Transforming urban eyesores into assets for the environment: Solar panels over parking lots. http://bit.ly/sL7gCW
30 October 2011
Urban agriculture and aquaculture plan to grow and sell all the food of a supermarket in one place. http://bit.ly/sRWqQo
28 October 2011
Have we passed "peak car"? Gradual reduction in miles driven, throughout the developed world. http://bit.ly/umW5Me
20 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/nLtwLW
17 October
Gwangju conference recognizes the role of cities in addressing environmental problems. http://bit.ly/qDdhNE
16 October 2011
As cities grow, the population disperses. Overall density declines. Discussion, with lots of examples, at http://bit.ly/pQpVmM
12 October 2011
Toronto neglects the public realm, and we all pay the price. Provocative article, interesting discussion. http://bit.ly/mUzuHT
6 October 2011
Digitization is creating a second economy that's revolutionizing the way we work and vacuuming up jobs. http://bit.ly/n9CUwA
8 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/ZViXiBF
14 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.html
13 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/p61FWc
11 July 2011
Agenda-setting cities? Interesting comparison of 19th Century Chicago with 21st Century Portland. http://bit.ly/q4nhBa
10 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/mT9lD4
7 July 2011
Constant innovation: the key to city success - but what about low-income housing? Illuminating international comparison. More tomorrow. http://t.co/eFrRT0S
6 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/qMfKYx
5 July 2011
A community development corporation spearheads an urban farming project, to make fresh food available in Cleveland's "food deserts". http://bit.ly/ntUAIr
4 July 2011
Canadian city builders could learn from the ancients who built the city of Ephesus. http://bit.ly/kVSac1
3 July 2011
Are lower crime rates in American cities associated with greater ethnic and life-style diversity? http://bit.ly/mBHHA3
30 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/l0b7Kr
28 June 2011
North American cities accommodate cars, European cities stifle them - and apparently suffer no economic harm. http://nyti.ms/kbFLBt
24 June 2011
Washington, DC: In expanding rapid transit, don't accommodate sprawl, take advantage of density. http://bit.ly/jAOipi
23 June 2011
Tokyo, the megacity that works. Interesting article. http://bit.ly/md8tnQ
22 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/FpTPN44
21 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/Nc5e6Oi
20 June 2011
Overcoming automobile dominance in cities: Blueprints for the future. http://bit.ly/ilG6Bv
16 June 2011
Stranded: Few American seniors will have access to public transportation when they can no longer drive. http://bit.ly/lkytRI
15 June 2011
Detroit businessman and former city planner figures out how to turn locally-grown food into a winning business. http://bit.ly/lmtogL
14 June 2011
Detroit isn't actually shrinking. The metropolitan area is growing -- perversely. http://t.co/6ciGFdp
13 June 2011
US suburban growth continues to outstrip core city growth, even as suburbs become "more urban". http://t.co/YhXodSF
Retrofitting 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/lSLyoT
22 April 2011
Google is crowd-sourcing its maps now. Go to Google. Also check out cnet and an article in the Wall Street Journal
13 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/dMoa2y
29 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/hmzXRy
14 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 city
10 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/Tcm6SbA
29 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/hBALdO
24 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/ggkzqy
11 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/f5Esvb
6 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/igxq3S
3 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/dLKE3t
30 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/fYfZ1N
For 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/hIbgGz
12 December 2010
Web site quantifies walkability of neighbourhoods and cities. http://bit.ly/feibzM
Lists 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/dWS6RB
8 December 2010
The Winnipeg Free Press continues its well-researched series on city-killing surface parking. http://bit.ly/f9Jdrw
Cool 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/gdsuTM
An 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/g1bRFe
Winnipeg 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: GlobalMetroMonitor
1 December 2010
Cities should play a more prominent role in defining the response to climate change. Meaty OECD report. CitiesClimateChng
30 November 2010
Rapid transit will boost the economy, business leaders say. http://bit.ly/i9gSI3
28 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/gcvEcA
27 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/e7cnMl
25 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/h3K3cd
19 November 2010
Building freeways in cities to deal with congestion is like loosening your belt to fight obesity. http://bit.ly/aRmvbA
18 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/9g16gs
16 November 2010
Is Melbourne becoming an eco-city? MelbourneEcoCity
15 November 2010
Saginaw and Flint, Michigan: More failed cities seek refuge in community gardening. http://www.mlui.org/farms/fullarticle.asp?fileid=17453
14 November 2010
Is the red state-blue state divide in American politics actually an urban-rural cleavage? http://bbc.in/dw8fsX
12 November 2010
Interesting collection of videos on urban policy. http://bit.ly/dAwZZY
Sprawl 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/9kOKZD
10 November 2010
Attacking the menace of overbuilt roads. http://www.pps.org/info/newsletter/april_first_2010/dangerous_roads_recalled
8 November 2010
Is the "shrinking cities" flavour of the month just another phase in the decline of some of America's great cities? ShrinkCitiesGratz
7 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/aWqITw
5 November 2010
Bee-keeping: a new turn in urban agriculture: http://magblog.audubon.org/print/833
4 November 2010
An urban or suburban future? It depends on how we plan. http://huff.to/aZUgBS
2 November 2010
Urban growth in India: A time bomb. http://bit.ly/bvieHG
1 November 2010
New York says good-bye to blank walls. http://bit.ly/bWUSk4
31 October 2010
Making a city safe for bicycles. How they do it in Copenhagen. http://bit.ly/doSBMa
20 August 2010
There's a fine line between social enterprise and the "ethical business" whitewash. http://bbc.in/aTZkOR
20 August 2010
Kitu Kidogo - Swahili for "small thing", which refers to bribery. Really good radio play from Uganda about corruption.http://bbc.in/cCqYEe
19 August 2010
Thanks to rural monoculture, urban agriculture flourishes: Bee-keeping is big in Paris, BBC says. http://bbc.in/aiu6ij
18 August 2010
An interesting perspective on freeways and sustainable cities. http://bit.ly/98k15g
17 August 2010
Green roofs: Encourage local agriculture and make better use of urban space. http://bit.ly/dadOyg
15 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/a5kROm
Even 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/0mfjz
Encouragingly constructive tone at the Council for the Federation, but too bad about the long form census.
http://shar.es/0maA4
Are factory farms destroying the nutrition in our foods?
http://bit.ly/a8MXQG
Interesting anonymous article about the social roots of France's rural revival.
http://bit.ly/ayoS07
Good articles about green infrastructure and urban administration in The Planning Commissioners' Journal.
http://bit.ly/aTV94h
