roundup
Posted Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 9:37 am
- • Troubled Belmont Learning Complex could actually be finished by 2008.
- • “Brown is the new White” T-shirt controversy reported by Fox News. Shirts sold here. I have mixed feelings about the intersection of humor and history on this whole story.
- • Zoning changes approved in Downtown LA - not sure if this is positive for affordable housing or not.
- • Bush administration pursuing tougher enforcement (o aqui) - employer sanctions against hiring undocumented workers, increased border presence.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Re: zoning changes in downtown, I’m hopeful it will be good for the neighborhood and for the city. For one, Los Angeles is starved for a center, and any move in that general direction I think is good for the city. But also, the mayor and city council voted in incentives that let developers have some pretty big perks if they include affordable housing as part of their development. I think mixed neighborhoods are the best possible situation since the poor are able to benefit from the increased public amenities that the more affluent residents will attract. The new downtown Ralph’s grocery store is a great example. Last time I was there it was like 60% young urbanite types, and 40% middle-to-lower income folks. I think we want a city where there is more sharing of “perks” rather than distinct rich and poor areas.