Posts tagged Poverty
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Grassroots groups and growers east of the Anacostia defy the ‘food desert’ label
There’s been a lot of discussion about the lack of grocery stores in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River in DC in the past few years. But it hasn’t always been this way, and there are a lot of people working to ensure their neighborhoods have access to high-quality, affordable food again. Keep reading…
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The summer heat can be deadly for unsheltered people. Here’s how you can help.
Washington, DC is one of the most intense summer “heat islands” of any US city. Temperatures during the summer can soar 21 degrees higher than surrounding rural areas, according to a report by Climate Central. And the population at greatest risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses in the summer is people experiencing homelessness. Keep reading…
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DC is on track to cut back this affordable housing preservation tool
The 2020 budget as revised by the DC Council will cut one tool that provides an opportunity for residents to stay in their homes with affordable rents. The Affordable Housing Preservation Fund (AHPF) leverages private dollars to provide timely financing to low-income tenants who are determined to remain in Washington, DC. Keep reading…
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Montgomery County should let kids ride free to school
Most of the students in the Montgomery County Public School system don’t have cars, but, like most Americans, we have many places we need to be that aren’t home. Whether it’s going to Rockville to work with the Board of Education or getting to school a little early to take a test, there are dozens of circumstances when we need to get somewhere outside current hours. Keep reading…
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Inter/National links: Thriving car-free neighborhoods and pothole-filling gangs
This German neighborhood, part of a 15-year sustainable planning experiment, is a car-free success. A Roman gang fills the cities potholes and conducts other needed repairs. This Barcelona planner wants to make it the first post-car city. Keep reading…
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What housing does the District’s workforce need?
Increasingly, DC's workforce is comprised of either high-income or low-income jobs, with few middle-income jobs available. Among DC’s most common occupations, 40% are low wage jobs that do not pay enough to cover DC’s high housing prices. Keep reading…
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City planners need to talk about race. The lives of our residents depend on it.
Historic discriminatory urban design practices, such as redlining and restrictive zoning, continue to degrade the health of communities of color. In order to build more equitable communities, planners must better understand and acknowledge this legacy of discrimination—and actively work to undo its persisting effects. Keep reading…
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What would a Green New Deal for DC look like?
The Green New Deal, the economic and environmental plan most prominantly championed by New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has sweeping ideas for a change in national policy. But what would a more localized Green New Deal for DC look like? Keep reading…
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National links: Putin’s redevelopment plans and the topography of wealth
This cartographer highlights the enormous wealth disparities in Los Angeles. Congestion is usually seen as a bad thing, but it can also be an indicator of economic vitality. Putin is spending billions of dollars to revitalize Russian cities. Keep reading…
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People experiencing homelessness are more frequently victims of hate crimes
Individuals experiencing homelessness are far more likely than the general population to be victims of violent crime, the National Coalition for the Homeless concluded in December. Keep reading…