Trace One

I like that, Jason! I am an Old Urbanist. hee hee!!!
It’s true these NU principles are just more colors on the zoning plat..Our entire economy is based on new construction, and that has really got to stop..Zero growth economics! Not a new idea at all..

sprawl is not my dream, by any means..I personally do not understand the attraction..I spent some of my formative years in McLean Virginia, and god, what a high-priced, non-transit oriented hell-hole..I think that is why I am an LA..What is good about the burbs? I love the mix, love walkability, and have created it in Fresno for myself, and found…[Read more]

It’s a pretty huge deal in the news I read.. But what I cannot understand is people who still back drilling,(Inhofe and Mikulsky) in spite of this horror, or the BP guys saying things like “it’s pretty small compared to the size of the gulf.”

Today the NYT has a piece on the head of the MMS, who was put in place eight months ago or so, and is…[Read more]

Good Grief, Tanya! That is it! I geuss when you start with the vision of the homeless and their shopping carts, it is a fairly obvious extension..thank you for the link!!
I think I am going to have to buy one and test it out!
I geuss there is nothing new under the sun..Just the energy to get it done..Get ‘er done..

Here’s the link to Fresno State’s efforts..

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/05/13/1932637/buildings-for-fresnos-homeless.html

hope that works, if you are interested..

Wow! Amazing, Bob, thank you! I had no idea how big this problem is..Yeah, I geuss tents are the thing – I still like my shopping cart/pop top tent, but that may works for the crazies pacing the paved streets of Fresno, not for marginalized poverty-stricken people in beautiful Hawaii..

Cool, Wyatt….I’ve read about that before, but forgot about it – on the Buy list, next paycheck!

I like the platforms, nick..and I certainly envy you the hike..

..As esoteric as this topic seems, my city actually spent money on a 1 acre property with sheds, for the homeless..Our tax dollars at work..

Ha! I like that, Nick! I lived in a 600 sq. ft. house once, with two huge dogs ..That was a nice size..I agee with you, there..It just seems like a terrible idea for a homeless person..They don’t like permanence..At least I didn’t when I was homeless, and living in a paper bag in the middle of a road.

kidding..

Is this even a question? I thought real estate agents had calculated the added value of green space decades ago..Concrete numbers, that are quite high, and quite realistic, as far as I know….And then in the eighties, New York went even farther, with the theory that green space that is built to high-end standards will be treated better,so…[Read more]

Thank you Rob..I did not know you were not an LA, and apologize for excessive defensiveness with regards to the LA profession..

Andrew, I don’t think I ‘twisted ‘ anything. You take pleasure in transforming a strip mall to a strip mall with bioswales – that is control, and influence, and professional judgement…
You may not have the control of Edwina Von Gal.
But how does that degree of conrol that you have influence your happiness, is the happiness question..
It is never…[Read more]

That’s the problem with GM, Bob, it is ‘polar bear’ splicing, as you say, and then the modified genes escape (and with corn, Monsanto makes a pretty penny suing farmers whose GM corn has escaped..). I think this is horrible. Also GM corn has impacted butterflies – it may be good for the farmer not to have a single weed, but Monarchs were living on…[Read more]

Why LA’s don’t like eucs:
1. Almost no support for wildlife. California oak supports at least 100 times more insects, a primary food source. No wildlife shelter, compared to oaks, also.
2. Extremely flammable – ‘gasoline trees’
3. Allelopathy plus ex-foliation further limits understory and diversity.
4. Water gulpers.
5. Hummingbird killers, from…[Read more]

Rob, I am not saying LA’s advise on ‘agroforestry research’ and I think it is a misnomer to call this introduction of a genetically modified invasive species by that name. It is not agroforestry research – it is business. And an EIS requires all kinds of experts..I am pointing out to my fellow LA’s that this is the type of thing we SHOULD be vocal…[Read more]

We are the synthesists, Rob – it is our job to put it all together..!! We have a unstated policy in my office of taking out euc’s..for many reasons..And we certainly DON’T plant them and would not want more euc’s in the world..How can you NOT ask an LA to be part of this decision making process.., I ask back at you..We are a huge user group, and…[Read more]

wow..Long super-smart reply of mine didn’t get saved, too many edits..Oh well, I will remember the brilliance! (just kidding..)
Andrew, you are contradicting yourself..On the one hand, you say the only way we can change things is through purchase, and on the other hand you describe the pleasure of problem solving in LA (persuading to your…[Read more]

I recommend Rebecca Traister, Salon, “Screw Happiness”, and Barbara Ehrenreich, “Smile, you’ve got cancer.” I think our society overrates happiness, the smiley face, as indicated by how you immediately connect unhappiness with depression and bitterness (totally different, not connected necessarily!!!). Are you happy with the Gulf oil spill? Do…[Read more]

I know you were not saying bums were at the rest stop with your ‘sleeping on benches’ point – I think it is a valid point, just talking benches vs. seat walls in general..
We have a lot of freedom – there is generally one person who does the design, and then he gets hit from all sides by all the other areas of responsibility – hydrology, planning,…[Read more]

Andrew, the bums using benches question was not part of the decision making process for our rest areas, you are correct..that came up only though this web site..but you are also correct in that some ‘rest stops’ are notorious for some aberrant ‘activities’ as you so politely put it.. don’t know if a seat wall or a bench is better for…[Read more]