Building the New America: Report on trends shaping the migration of people and jobs

Report: Building the New America

How do we build a new urban model for America — one that is better aligned with the aspirations of most Americans? This newly released report examines the housing trends that are driving today's migration of people and jobs.
Studying the wrong cities will lead to repeating their mistakes

Studying the Wrong Cities Will Lead to Repeating Their Mistakes

by Ross Elliott — The junket factor must be the only logical criteria by which various industry “study tours” overseas are planned. How else to explain how entirely inappropriate the choices are? The list of cities identified for “study” by Australian development and planning industry bodies reads like the pages of a glossy weekend travel magazine

Solving the anti-vaxer problem, Houston’s dynamic culture, TX #1 food state but needs VC, city govt vision vs. competence, and CA ineptness

Gattis suggests Houston could auction off up to 5% exemptions from vaccinations to save those exemptions for those who cannot be vaccinated. On a more celebratory note...Texas just ranked number 1 food state; could it be the BBQ?

Protecting Residents from Dangerous Industrial Businesses, Reducing Crime, Street Parking for Mixed-Use Retail, and Rethinking Vision Zero

This 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.
The Economist cover - and some housing facts

To The Economist: Planning, Not Home Ownership, Caused the Housing Crisis

by 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...”

Houston Is Now Less Affordable Than New York City?!

Texas 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.
Houston METRO transit sign

Would Free Transit Incentivize More Riders?

Transit agencies around the country, including in Houston, are considering whether to eliminate or reduce their transit fares. Tory Gattis from the Center for Opportunity Urbanism said he’s been encouraging METRO to take a fresh look at its fares.
Texas Shaped Pool at the Houston Marriott

2019 Highlights

by Tory Gattis — Time for our annual roundup of the best posts of the year 2019. Looking at the list, I think it was a very good year relative to most of my others.  Hard to believe we're coming up on the 15th anniversary of this blog.

California Preening: Golden State on Path to High-Tech Feudalism

by Joel Kotkin — “We are the modern equivalent of the ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta....” declared then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007. In truth, the Golden State is becoming a semi-feudal kingdom, with the nation’s widest gap between middle and upper incomes—72 percent, compared with the U.S. average of 57 percent—and its highest poverty rate.
Aerial view of skyscrapers

Mayors Won’t Rule the World

by Joel Kotkin — Earlier in this decade, cities—the bigger and denser the better—appeared as the planet’s geographic stars. According to the 2013 book If Mayors Ruled the World, everyone would be better off if state rule were replaced by rule from the most evolved urban areas.

Midwest Success Stories

by Aaron M. Renn — My latest report has just been released by the Manhattan Institute. It’s called, “Midwest Success Stories: These 10 Cities Are Blooming, Not Rusting.” It’s a look at 10 cities in nine states in the greater Midwest that are doing well economically and demographically.