This article based on heavy research concludes that people who live near transit that takes them to jobs do not necessarily spend less on transportation. The reason they spend less is that they have lower incomes.
Good news! The City of St. Louis is mobilizing efforts to deal with the vacancy situation in St. Louis which encompass 7000 vacant properties. I have worked with issue when I worked with the city and HUD. Several factors in addition to economic instability contribute to the vacancy problem. These issues I am familiar with are:
1. The aldermanic system. Many aldermen do not want vacant properties razed because of some perverted idea that it will take constituents away from their communities
2. A reluctance to demolish anything.
3. A policy by the city of letting vacant properties sit because they think there will be a demand for these properties at some time in the future.
4. Historic preservationists also do not want buildings razed. I remember when I worked at HUD being chewed out by a historic preservationists because we razed a building that was severely fire damaged.
5. The aldermanic system in St. Louis.
6. A lack of funding to deal with environmental and lead based paint issues.
I wish the people working on this project well. Written by Paul Dribin
The City of St. Louis will have a $10 million budget shortfall. This is a big deal and will require cuts in service. Too bad. Written by Paul Dribin
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2018/04/19/democrats-housing-problem/
A great article in Washington Post about the zoning and land use barriers we construct that cause housing to be unaffordable.
This organization led by Sheila Sweeney has done some corrupt things. Sweeney who came over from the St. Louis County Port Authority has been in the middle of most of the crooked deals of the Stenger administration. These include attempting to develop a part of Creve Coeur Park for the Blues training facility and then lying about it, entering into a corrupt no bid contract with Montelle Williams to promote the county. This contract has now exceeded its’ budget by 30% and no one knows why. The Port Authority which has a close relationship with Sweeney is now providing the funding for the Blues facility in Maryland Heights. I know of no public discussion about this issue. Why is no one investigating? Written by Paul Dribin
St. Louis is beginning a bicycle sharing program. This is a good program and I hope it works well. It will not make a difference in pollution, health etc. but is just fun and another amenity for our community. Written by Paul Dribin
A very thoughtful article on the subject from Jared Bernstein
a great article by Washington U professor about the costs of poverty. The U.S. has weakest social safety net of any industrialized country.
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