Posts about Politics
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Gas prices: Obama still gets it; Friedman slams Clinton
Barack Obama reiterated his belief that the solution to high gas prices is more rail transit. At a lunch with a Beech Grove, Indiana couple (one of whom works for Amtrak, the other in a local hospital), the candidate had this to say: Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: skyrocketing gas price edition
Even Californians can do it: Transit villages like one in Hayward, CA (on BART) are becoming popular and making converts out of people who would never have imagined living without a car. SF Chronicle via Richard Layman. Keep reading…
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Urban policy forum [won’t] skip transportation
UPenn Law School is hosting a forum on “Urban Policy and the Presidency” on Thursday with reps from the Obama and Clinton campaigns. They’re discussing important urban policy topics, like economic development, affordable housing, and environmental justice. But, like so many “urban policy” discussions, transportation isn’t on the agenda… Keep reading…
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Breakfast bites
Obama, Clinton ride transit but don’t talk about it: Clinton and Obama both have good, though vague, plaforms on transportation policy, writes the Philadelphia Daily News. But transportation hasn’t been an issue in the campaign, while America needs visionary thinking in transportation. One thing’s for sure, but not in the article: McCain is much worse, by… Keep reading…
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NY legislators fail to lead
New York’s state legislature decided not to hold a vote on congestion pricing last night, killing the plan and hopes for capital improvements in mass transit. The New York Times and Daily News excoriated the Assembly Democrats, especially Speaker Sheldon Silver, for not even having the courage to take a vote and stand up for or against the proposal. Keep reading…
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Why do libertarians support highway construction?
Spending public money on a road amounts to a government subsidy of certain economic decisions over others. So why do many libertarians want government to build more roads? Alex Marshall wonders in Governing magazine. Via Planetizen. Keep reading…
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A 21st-century Eisenhower
President Eisenhower’s most lasting achievement is either the term “military- Keep reading…
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A DC Planning Commission?
Does DC need a citizen Planning Commission to oversee planning decisions, the way the HPRB oversees historic preservation or the National Capital Planning Commission governs the use of federal property? The Post’s Roger Lewis is skeptical. This week’s Current quotes various members of influential neighborhood groups who are disappointed with an interim report… Keep reading…
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Church exemption from historic designation?
While I was debating parking zoning regulations, Councilmember Jack Evans announced a new bill that would exempt religious institutions from being designated as historic sites against their will. This is clearly aimed at the Third Church landmarking. Keep reading…
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Transportation Commission report dissected
Rob Goodspeed ordered a copy of the mammoth National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission report—the one with which DOT Secretary Mary Peters disagreed and from which some Administration officials removed parts. Rob has a detailed yet clear analysis of the report’s key recommendations. Keep reading…