Comments on: Welcome Elana Schor, Streetsblog’s New National Reporter

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:58:18 +0000

My belated 2 cents - re your observation that "Streetsblog tends to work best and engage readers most when we focus on the hyper-local and hyper-personal side of policy issues", I wouldn't judge the impact of a blog post based solely on how many comments in generates. An emotionally resonant post isn't the same as a mentally resonant post - at least in my experience, the blog posts that most expand my knowledge or inspire an epiphany often don't elicit much of a response from me - mainly, I'm thinking "wow, that was really helpful" - and there's not much more to say. And I think this applies to your "big picture" coverage including federal policy.

By: yersi

yersi — Sat, 16 May 2009 08:00:30 +0000

I have to say I did not like her reporting when she was at TPM, she tried too hard to make it into a gossipy Wonkette-knockoff instead of a serious inquisitive blog. Many of the regulars seemed to have problems with her as well.

By: gecko

gecko — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:02:35 +0000

Key transportation professionals should be confronted to explain exactly why they do not think that human powered and hybrid human-electric powered transportation is serious transportation.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:24:21 +0000

Oh, and yes, so far I like Elana's reporting very much. Welcome! To expand on what Glenn said, I think it would be good to know about federal decisions that affect us, and how we can affect those decisions - that same chicken and her egg again. I'm particularly interested in reform of the FRA standards for "heavy rail" passenger vehicles. But I imagine she'll look at a lot of other things.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:19:07 +0000

Well, yes, Edward, but it's hard to change local development without a pro-transit constituency. That's hardly a secondary issue. Chicken and egg.

By: Edward Greenberg

Edward Greenberg — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:17:15 +0000

Well, I hope that Ms. Shor will pay close attention to the issues raised by Duncan Black in regards to transportation.

He makes what seems to be the crucial point, that the discussion makes no sense without the context of local develoment planning and zoning. Coming from this direction it turns the topic of mode into a secondary issue. That seems right to me.

By: Gary Reilly

Gary Reilly — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:24:51 +0000

Congrats to both Streetsblog and Elana Schor. Talent shuffling between two of my favorite blogs!

By: Mark Walker

Mark Walker — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:24:02 +0000

Just having someone in DC asking questions from our POV is a constructive advocacy move, in addition to the journalistic value. In time, the electeds may come to anticipate the questions, and from there it's a short hop to incorporating the answers into policy. Best wishes to Elana. I'll read your work with interest.

By: Aaron Naparstek

Aaron Naparstek — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:48:51 +0000

Eric,

Thanks for mentioning that. We are working on separating out the national coverage and the local New York City coverage.

By: Eric Fredericks

Eric Fredericks — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:30:43 +0000

Welcome to Streetsblog, Elana.

Aaron, perhaps one way you could do it (and I'm not necessarily saying you should) is to possibly create a Streetsblog NY section, and then cover issues more generally on a national level with your existing Streetsblog.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:01:09 +0000

I'd like to get to know key DC decision-makers and influencers. In the end all policy comes down to the people driving or blocking funding formulas, new legislation and regulations. Holding people personally accountable for their actions is very important to making progress.

But at the same time specific impacts of decisions - linking decisions made in DC with actual stakes in the ground work that happens in the local areas. Did this highway expansion lead to more traffic elsewhere? Did a repaving really need to happen or was it pork barrel funding? Was this a bike lane that helped connect to a larger network or just a recreation trail that few people use or want?

Knowing that a specific project helped or hurt the environment or local communities can be good teaching moments to help us push for the right types of projects.