The Society for American City and Regional Planning History’s biannual meeting in Baltimore November 17-20 addressed a number of important aspects of urban poverty, including a tour and symposium focused on Baltimore itself. It would take some concentrated effort to adequately summarize the array of material presented, but a few observations are in order. The … Continue reading In Baltimore, Prospects for Alleviating Poverty?…
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Still Corrupt and Still Contented?
My essay appearing in the Inquirer today had the narrow objective of placing Lincoln Steffens’ famous phrase, “Corrupt and Contented,” as it related to Philadelphia in the early 20th century. Clearly the phrase still resonates when applied to the city, but it has a broader resonance both for the early 20th century and our own … Continue reading Still Corrupt and Still Contented?…
Keystone XL Pipeline Challenge to Obama & the Planet
As director of Jimmy Carter’s Council on Environmental Quality, Yale ‘64’s Gus Speth was one of the first and most prominent government officials to call attention to the potentially disastrous effects of global warming. Nearly a quarter century later, as he held the position of dean of Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, he … Continue reading Keystone XL Pipeline Challenge to Obama & the Planet…
Investing in Good Design for Public Structures
In his story about investments in good public design in New York City, the New York Times’ Michael Kimmelman has added a chapter in the history of what I have called “civitas by design,” physical interventions in communities with the intent of bringing citizens closer together. Kimmelman’s primary examples are libraries in poorer areas of … Continue reading Investing in Good Design for Public Structures…
To be or not to be a “Color Blind Society”?
Despite the gains achieved in civil rights since the 1960s, Americans remain very much at odds in their attitudes towards racially-directed policy, according to a new book, Still a House Divided: Race and Politics in Obama’s America. While few political actors challenge the central thrust of Martin Luther King’s vision, most notably that a man … Continue reading To be or not to be a “Color Blind Society”?…
What’s in a Design? Improved Health and Welfare in the South Bronx?
In reporting the completion of a new apartment complex in the South Bronx, Via Verde, the New York Times’ Michael Kimmelman has stressed the building’s architectural quality, its accessibility to those of moderate income, and the potentially healthful influences built into the building’s structure. In this last instance, Kimmelman has identified what I have chosen … Continue reading What’s in a Design? Improved Health and Welfare in the South Bronx?…