Welcome to downtown Buffalo, New York, where for the past 40 years, massive public investments for big projects have, year after year, project after project, proceeded as follows: A useful historic building is left to rot, then demolished at great public expense, then replaced, if at all, by a hugely expensive, publicly funded structure that worsens the already enormous glut of downtown office space.
Free Lunch in Buffalo
I haven't read David Cay Johnston's Free Lunch. But Buffalo State College economics professor Bruce Fisher writes that the culture of subsidy illuminated in the book is alive and well in Buffalo - perhaps at great expense to the city's urban vitality.
Half-speed rail
Wisconsin Governor-Elect Scott Walker uncorks perhaps his strongest argument yet against alleged "high-speed" passenger rail in Wisconsin: it's too slow. (Although it's strange he didn't localize his case. We know the Milwaukee-Madison line will go about 80 MPH to start, and eventually up to 110 MPH after proper infrastructure is in place.)
Rail projects such as the one proposed in Wisconsin are notorious for inefficiency and cost overruns. In Ohio, the so-called high speed rail line from Cincinnati to Cleveland is expected to average only 50 miles per hour. Wisconsin simply can't afford this level of inefficiency...So one potential compromise ... make the trains go faster???
Another Asian Carp study
Balce Ceneta of the Associated Press took this photo of two Asian Carp on a platter in Congress. Scientists recently identified 36 possible pathways the fish possibly could follow into the Great Lakes.
![]()
Nutritious, delicious and mobile
Marvin Jenkins, a truck driver for Peaches and Greens, which operates a mobile veggie stand serving inner city Detroit, tells NPR what residents like to eat in one of America's largest food deserts.
HOST: Mr. Jenkins, what's on your truck right now?
Mr. JENKINS: I have peaches, plums, apples, oranges, strawberries, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers, garlic, bananas, watermelon - whole watermelon, watermelon cups.
HOST: Oh my goodness. Okay, okay, now, it's almost too much. It's almost too much. It's almost more than I can take.
HOST: What's your favorite, Mr. Jenkins? What's selling well and what's your personal favorite?
Mr. JENKINS: Well, bananas, they sell real good. Watermelon cups, they sell real good. Really, all of it sells real good.
Clevelander to Kasich: Get on board
Angie Schmitt, a Cleveland resident, wrote an open letter to Ohio Governor-Elect John Kasich, who says that a new passenger rail spur linking Cincy, Cbus and Cleveland is not in Ohio's future.
It makes me question my future in this state. I read today that fewer young people across the nation are choosing to get driver’s licenses and purchase cars. This is part of a national trend away from car-based lifestyles. I consider myself a part of this movement. But the message I am getting from the state of Ohio is that there’s no room for people like me here.
John Norquist: Buffalo, tear down this Skyway
Congress for New Urbanism President and former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist says Buffalo's Skyway is like the Berlin Wall separating the city from its waterfront. He also says it would be cheaper to tear the highway down. The popular movement for such "out of the box" thinking seemingly continues to grow locally.
Kill rail, kill jobs
Antonio Perez, President of Talgo, the Spanish manufacturer of rail cars, says he's "shocked" Wisconsin has stopped work on the Madison-Milwaukee line. He recently opened a plant in Milwaukee - improvements for which the City committed up to $35M - and was hiring workers to build the cars. Fox 6 Milwaukee has the story:
The busiest corner in Chicago filmed by Edison
This video is part of the Erie Railroad Series in Thomas Edison's film catalog.
Michigan's new blinking yellow arrow instructions
Notably, MDOT has disabled the comment section for this new video.
Sherbourne Common
Toronto recently cut the ribbon on Sherbourne Common at the edge of Lake Ontario, and joined Chicago in substantially raising the bar for urban waterfront projects in the Great Lakes.
Meijer pilots EV charging stations
Meijer, the major American grocer which ranked #18 on Forbes' 2008 list of America's Largest Private Companies, today announced they'll install the first EV charging station in their home region of West Michigan. Upon learning the news, local clean energy advocates quickly calculated the potentially much bigger implications:
This is great news. We have two of the biggest advance battery plants in the country under construction. It's important for us to be the leader in this field, and for Meijer to be an early adopter of this technology is exciting.
Off the tracks in Wisconsin
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today says that passenger rail projects like the proposed Milwaukee-Madison line "could be an important economic development tool" but "residents are unlikely to support a system they perceive is being shoved down their throats."
The alleged "quiet deal" that provoked the editorial is likely more easily explained by stupidity and cowardice, not conspiracy or corruption, in the Democratic Party.
Wisconsin is broke and unemployed. One smart play - economically and politically - if you can sell it - is to publicly own, celebrate and lead $810 million to hire workers, place orders with suppliers and build modern infrastructure that connects two vital cities and better positions the state to compete in the 21st century.
The Democrats instead apparently opted to hide. They reportedly sealed the deal on a weekend and apparently didn't even issue a news release. Why not? Money and jobs is good news.
Republicans shrewdly seized on the their opponent's fear, using it to fill the rail deal full of spikes and win the governor seat. Informed observers now say "it's R.I.P. for high-speed rail in Wisconsin."
Update: Wisconsin DOT "temporarily interrupts" project work to "assess real world consequences" of completely killing rail line. Who's the most credible, independent auditor in the state?
The alleged "quiet deal" that provoked the editorial is likely more easily explained by stupidity and cowardice, not conspiracy or corruption, in the Democratic Party.
Wisconsin is broke and unemployed. One smart play - economically and politically - if you can sell it - is to publicly own, celebrate and lead $810 million to hire workers, place orders with suppliers and build modern infrastructure that connects two vital cities and better positions the state to compete in the 21st century.
The Democrats instead apparently opted to hide. They reportedly sealed the deal on a weekend and apparently didn't even issue a news release. Why not? Money and jobs is good news.
Republicans shrewdly seized on the their opponent's fear, using it to fill the rail deal full of spikes and win the governor seat. Informed observers now say "it's R.I.P. for high-speed rail in Wisconsin."
Update: Wisconsin DOT "temporarily interrupts" project work to "assess real world consequences" of completely killing rail line. Who's the most credible, independent auditor in the state?
"Rail not in Ohio's future"
That's what Ohio Governor-Elect John Kasich said in his first post-election press conference. Dayton's WDTN has the story:
Build things in the Rust Belt
Forbes contributor Rick Ungar offers one perspective on why the Rust Belt today glows red - hopelessness - and what the Obama Administration might do to position for a shot at success in 2012 - invest in infrastructure.
For those who would argue that we are in no financial position to rebuild our infrastructure, these voices should understand that they are throwing in the towel on America’s economic future.
They should understand that they are putting us on the path to resembling the lesser developed countries south of our border rather than pointing us towards a future where America is, once again, the leader in all things.
Here’s the good news – the jobs lost in the mid-west are precisely the type of jobs that are replaced when we build things. Things like high-speed rail.
PA Gov-Elect: My goal is to make PA #1
Pennsylvania Governor-Elect Tom Corbett in his victory speech said his goal is to "make Pennsylvania the standard of excellence, the standard of excellence when it comes to creating jobs ... education, energy, agriculture and tourism."
"I believe this to be a generational election. When our children are leaving ... 25 percent of them leaving after graduation to go find jobs elsewhere. I hope you have the same goal as I do: to welcome them back home to Pennsylvania."
WI Gov-Elect: Help is on the way
"My first act is to declare an economic emergency," Wisconsin Governor-Elect Scott Walker said in his victory speech. He also committed to generate 250,000 new jobs in his first term and stop passenger rail from Milwaukee to Madison.
"People are scared. They're scared about the economy. They're scared about their own job, or their spouses' jobs, or their neighbors' job, or their kids' job. Tonight I get to tell you 'you don't have to be afraid anymore.' Help is on the way."
MI Gov-Elect: Cities are fundamental
Michigan governor-elect Rick Snyder put urban revitalization - along with common sense taxes, customer service oriented government and natural resource stewardship - high on the list of priorities in his victory speech.
8m 30s into the speech...
8m 30s into the speech...
"It is fundamental that we restore our central cities. Michigan will only be a great state when it's cities, and particularly Detroit, are on the path to being a great city again."
OH rail debate
Ohio Governor Strickland says $400 million for the 3C passenger rail is a smart investment that will help create the right conditions for jobs and growth. His Republican challenger John Kasich has said it's "one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard." The Ohio Poll's final prediction for the race suggests a majority of Ohioans might agree.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the pop ups are those of Cbus Tranist, who edited the video. They do not necessarily reflect the views of GLG. But why would you wanna reject $375M in fed infrastructure money?!
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the pop ups are those of Cbus Tranist, who edited the video. They do not necessarily reflect the views of GLG. But why would you wanna reject $375M in fed infrastructure money?!
The new Chevrolet pitch...
... sounds similar to Jeep's summer ad. Seems Detroit is feeling nostalgic. Locally headquarted Little Ceaser's too may return to a past message.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)