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How cities can drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens
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Urban Reform Institute is a 501c3 Non-Profit organization
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drive opportunity for the bulk of their citizens.
Discouraging Panhandling, Airport Wag Brigade, 6-Figure Incomes, and More
in Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisGattis urges Houston to discourage panhandling in favor of promoting comprehensive charitable services and to get a wag brigade of cuties roaming area airports for PR buzz that money can’t buy. Airport therapy pig, anyone?
Protecting Residents from Dangerous Industrial Businesses, Reducing Crime, Street Parking for Mixed-Use Retail, and Rethinking Vision Zero
in Urban Issues/by Tory GattisThis week’s Houston Strategies is focused on several topics: protecting residents from dangerous industrial businesses, reducing crime, street parking for mixed-use retail businesses, and rethinking Vision Zero plans.
Converting 59 Spur into Park, housing crisis drives socialism, and could Houston Get Google?
in Economics, Housing/by Tory Gattisby Tory Gattis — Houston’s consideration of turning the Bagby and Brazos portions of Spur 527 off 59 into a park, how the housing crisis drives socialism and more.
To The Economist: Planning, Not Home Ownership, Caused the Housing Crisis
in Housing, Planning, Politics & Policy, Suburbs, Urban Issues/by Wendell Coxby Wendell Cox — The January 16, 2020 cover story in The Economist magazine trumpeted “The West’s biggest economic policy mistake: It’s obsession with home ownership undermines growth, fairness and public faith in capitalism…”
Red v. Blue
in Demographics, Economics, Politics & Policy/by Joel Kotkin and Wendell Coxby Joel Kotkin and Wendell Cox — The political and cultural war between red and blue America may not be settled in our lifetimes, but it’s clear which side is gaining ground in economic and demographic terms. In everything from new jobs—including new technology employment—fertility rates, population growth, and migration, it’s the red states that increasingly hold the advantage.
Demographic Undestiny
in Demographics/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — Demography becomes destiny, the old adage goes. But many of the most confidently promoted demographic predictions have turned out grossly exaggerated or even dead wrong. In many cases they tend to reflect more the aspirations of pundits and reporters than the actual on-the-ground realities.
Nobody Wants to Leave Houston!
in Economics, Politics & Policy/by Tory GattisNobody wants to leave Houston! Well, I might be exaggerating a bit, but this CityLab piece shows Houston as the 9th most popular city for inbound apartment searches, but it doesn’t even make the top 20 for outbound apartment searches.
Houston Is Now Less Affordable Than New York City?!
in Economics, Urban Issues/by COUTexas Monthly claims that Houston is now less affordable than New York City – but they’re ignoring what you get for the same cost. In NYC, you might get a cramped apartment with roommates vs. your own house in Houston.
The Growth Dilemma
in Economics/by Joel Kotkinby Joel Kotkin — Until just a few years ago, the need for economic growth to sustain societies was almost universally acknowledged. This was not just gospel on the free-market Right. Whatever its failings, twentieth century socialism was growth-oriented and espoused the notion, however poorly realized, that greater material progress was critical to expanding working-class wealth.
METRO Board Considering Elimination of Transit Fares
in Politics & Policy/by COUHouston’s METRO board is considering of doing away with transit fares, making buses and trains free for everyone. KPRC interviews Tory Gattis as they report on the story.