Comments on: Today’s Headlines http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:54:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Rhywun http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67766 Rhywun Tue, 12 May 2009 00:16:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67766 I lived in a typical German "suburb" in the 80s, that consisted entirely of row houses and apartment buildings. And while everyone (at least in the row houses) had a car, it was perfectly easy to get around without one. Markets, churches, and schools were an easy couple blocks away in the "downtown" area, and decent bus service to the city (Würzburg) was available. I did encounter one or two truly suburban (or, more accurately, rural) developments near the city that required a car, but by and large, the typical suburbs developed around existing villages, and retained that character. So this doesn't strike me as such a big stretch as it would certainly be in America. I lived in a typical German "suburb" in the 80s, that consisted entirely of row houses and apartment buildings. And while everyone (at least in the row houses) had a car, it was perfectly easy to get around without one. Markets, churches, and schools were an easy couple blocks away in the "downtown" area, and decent bus service to the city (Würzburg) was available. I did encounter one or two truly suburban (or, more accurately, rural) developments near the city that required a car, but by and large, the typical suburbs developed around existing villages, and retained that character. So this doesn't strike me as such a big stretch as it would certainly be in America.

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67759 Mark Walker Mon, 11 May 2009 22:13:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67759 How to create a local car-free majority in one easy step, via the NY Times. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/science/earth/12suburb.html?hp" rel="nofollow">Europe Imagines Its Suburbs Without the Car</a>: "Residents of this upscale community are suburban pioneers, going where few soccer moms or commuting executives have ever gone before: they have given up their cars. Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district.... As a result, 70 percent of Vauban's families do not own cars, and 57 percent sold a car to move here." How to create a local car-free majority in one easy step, via the NY Times. Europe Imagines Its Suburbs Without the Car: "Residents of this upscale community are suburban pioneers, going where few soccer moms or commuting executives have ever gone before: they have given up their cars. Street parking, driveways and home garages are generally forbidden in this experimental new district.... As a result, 70 percent of Vauban's families do not own cars, and 57 percent sold a car to move here."

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67740 Larry Littlefield Mon, 11 May 2009 16:43:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67740 I always thought the scale of the WTC station to be a waste, and its cost to be an outrage. I did find out later, however, that a lot of the cost of the station is not the station -- it is the pedestrian passageway under West Street. I wonder what happened with that?. I always thought the scale of the WTC station to be a waste, and its cost to be an outrage.

I did find out later, however, that a lot of the cost of the station is not the station -- it is the pedestrian passageway under West Street. I wonder what happened with that?.

]]> By: Rhywun http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67733 Rhywun Mon, 11 May 2009 15:38:08 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67733 RE: Latest WTC Transportation Hub Plan: "Heart Wrenching" I have questioned the need for this monumental exercise from the beginning. It was born out of 9/11 and the need to make a splash on the WTC site, much like the already scaled-down extravaganza that's supposedly arising one block away on Broadway but nowhere near as useful. And now we're hearing it's not even going to be very good at what's it supposed to be doing. Sigh. RE: Latest WTC Transportation Hub Plan: "Heart Wrenching"

I have questioned the need for this monumental exercise from the beginning. It was born out of 9/11 and the need to make a splash on the WTC site, much like the already scaled-down extravaganza that's supposedly arising one block away on Broadway but nowhere near as useful. And now we're hearing it's not even going to be very good at what's it supposed to be doing. Sigh.

]]> By: Josh http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67729 Josh Mon, 11 May 2009 15:06:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67729 The article about the WTC transit hub is pretty disheartening, though I guess you have to read it in light of the fact that Ouroussoff doesn't like ANYTHING. The article about the WTC transit hub is pretty disheartening, though I guess you have to read it in light of the fact that Ouroussoff doesn't like ANYTHING.

]]> By: Brad Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67727 Brad Aaron Mon, 11 May 2009 14:12:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67727 I added the Gelinas column to headlines, Larry. Thanks. I added the Gelinas column to headlines, Larry. Thanks.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67726 Larry Littlefield Mon, 11 May 2009 13:55:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67726 Gelenis gives the dark view of what the qualifications are for the next MTA head in the Post. I might have written the same thing, at least in this part of her article. http://www.nypost.com/seven/05112009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/patersons_fall_guy_168602.htm "It's obvious that Albany won't give the MTA chief the financial or political resources to do the job properly. Plus, the pols blame the MTA chief for their mistakes. So that dark probability is that Albany got rid of Sander because it wants someone less diligent and competent. How's that?" "First, Albany may be salivating over patronage -- the MTA's white-collar jobs." "Second, Albany may want someone who'll shut up about the fact that the MTA still doesn't have enough money for its capital plan." "Third, the pols may want someone more willing to use financial shenanigans to push the MTA's problems into the future." "Most of all, the pols may want someone whose actions make the MTA less credible to the public, not more. Why? If people trust the MTA to build the transit system New York needs, they'll demand money for that work. That money would have to come from the parts of the budget that make pols rich." In other words, meet the Democrat boss, same as the Pataki boss, because they're all the Generation Greed bosses. Gelenis gives the dark view of what the qualifications are for the next MTA head in the Post. I might have written the same thing, at least in this part of her article.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05112009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/patersons_fall_guy_168602.htm

"It's obvious that Albany won't give the MTA chief the financial or political resources to do the job properly. Plus, the pols blame the MTA chief for their mistakes. So that dark probability is that Albany got rid of Sander because it wants someone less diligent and competent. How's that?"

"First, Albany may be salivating over patronage -- the MTA's white-collar jobs."

"Second, Albany may want someone who'll shut up about the fact that the MTA still doesn't have enough money for its capital plan."

"Third, the pols may want someone more willing to use financial shenanigans to push the MTA's problems into the future."

"Most of all, the pols may want someone whose actions make the MTA less credible to the public, not more. Why? If people trust the MTA to build the transit system New York needs, they'll demand money for that work. That money would have to come from the parts of the budget that make pols rich."

In other words, meet the Democrat boss, same as the Pataki boss, because they're all the Generation Greed bosses.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67724 Glenn Mon, 11 May 2009 13:40:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67724 Reform is not just about letting junior legislators have a voice (although that is good) and blocking legislation they don't like. It's really about making legislators more responsive to their constituents. And with reform comes responsibilities. Manhattan legislators used to being on the sidelines while the three men in a room work out the deals, need to step up and stake out their alternative views in the media and challenge their colleagues. If you're too timid, weak or fearful of your fellow Senators, you need to step down and let someone else take your place that will really represent your constituents forcefully Reform is not just about letting junior legislators have a voice (although that is good) and blocking legislation they don't like. It's really about making legislators more responsive to their constituents.

And with reform comes responsibilities. Manhattan legislators used to being on the sidelines while the three men in a room work out the deals, need to step up and stake out their alternative views in the media and challenge their colleagues. If you're too timid, weak or fearful of your fellow Senators, you need to step down and let someone else take your place that will really represent your constituents forcefully

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/11/todays-headlines-645/comment-page-1/#comment-67723 Cap'n Transit Mon, 11 May 2009 13:23:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6108#comment-67723 Kevin Parker has not just opposed bridge tolls; he <a href="http://www.redorbit.com/news/oddities/120757/police_ny_state_senator_hit_traffic_cop/" rel="nofollow">was arrested in 2005</a> for punching a traffic agent who was writing him a ticket for double parking. Smith didn't do anything back then... Kevin Parker has not just opposed bridge tolls; he was arrested in 2005 for punching a traffic agent who was writing him a ticket for double parking. Smith didn't do anything back then...

]]>