#civic improvements

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"REBUILD SLUMS ON CITY LANDS BOARD IS URGED," Toronto Star. January 17, 1934. Page 1 & 2. --- New Housing Plans for Toronto Submitted by Large Delegation ---- WOULD MAKE WORK ---- Speaker Claims 15,000 Families Have "Doubled Up" Since Depression ---- "Something must be done and only public bodies can restore the credit curtailed by banks if we are ever to put our men back to work," James Craig, past president of the Ontario Association of Architects, told board of control to-day. He headed a large delegation from architects, building trades, and women's organizations to lay before the board a new housing plan for Toronto.

Asking for $2,500,000 in civic aid to finance the building, Mr. Craig said the plan would pay $2,000,000 in wages, provide cheap housing for 750 families and convert a dead asset in civic lands into a live one.

The expenditure of each $833,000 would have a return value to the city of $1,666,000, he said.

The city was still under-built, he maintained, pointing out that 15,000 families had doubled up here since the depression began. He did not refer to apartment houses.

"There are many slums in Toronto," he said, citing Hon. H. Н. Stevens' challenge to rebuild slum areas.

"Look in behind the city hall and you will find a rabbit warren. Look even in your areas," he urged. "I challenge the right of any landlord to exact rent."

Con. McBride wanted to know what he meant by Mr. Stevens, the minister of trade and commerce.

"Are you questioning Mr. Stevens' statement?" asked Con. Simpson, smiling.

"You just mind your own business, Mr. Simpson?" retorted Con. McBride.

"The construction industry in Toronto is coming very close to the ragged edge," Mr. Craig pointed out. "Since 1929, it has dropped 86 1-2 per cent. When we contrast it with industries protected from 20 to 40 per cent., we realize the members of the building industry are truly the rugged individualists in this country."

Example From England Mr. Craig reminded the board of a recent statement by the ministèr of finance that public works should be restricted in periods of prosperity and encouraged by public bodies during depression.

"That is just exactly what this board has been doing for the past four years," interjected Con. McBride.

Mr. Craig said that in England 2,622,000 houses have been built, at the rate of 147,300 a year, subsidized by the state and local governments.

Mayor Stewart: "I believe in public ownership, but there is a limit. Do you think it is good business for us to take the taxpayers' money and compete with men who make a living from it?"

Mr. Craig: "In, principle I agree, but we have carefully picked building sites in are areas in which there is no speculative building to-day."

Con. McBride: "Do you suggest the city can build more cheaply than the speculative builder?"

Mr. Craig: "In that it can borrow money more cheaply."

Con. McBride reminded him that the city had gone into two previous building programs and was still paying deficits.

Were Not Successful "My view is this should not be a dividend paying proposition," stated Mr. Craig. "It should be a liquidating project."

"As an investor you would judge me by my past performances," Mayor Stewart said, pointing out ventures of this nature undertaken by the city in the past have not proved successful.

The proposals presented were referred to civic officials for a report. Might Involve $2,500,000

The plan submitted by the delegation was that city council vote funds not to exceed $2,500,000 to construct housing for 750 families on 9.983 feet frontage of city-owned vacant property now valued at $554,257. The money was to be raised:

(a) partially by grant and partially by borrowing from the Dominion and provincial governments;

(b) borrowing from the Dominion government under the relief construction program;

(c) borrowing through an issue of debentures, with or without a federal guarantee.

The plan sought the retention of three additional architects by the civic architect's department to look after the general administration of the project and allocate the work among local architects. It also sought repeal of by-law 4547, which demands that all civic building plans be drawn by the architect's department.

There are hundreds of families housed in congested downtown areas, in buildings unfit for human habitation," the brief read. "These properties cannot be condemned because no better accommodation is available in central locations at low cost. Private enterprise has failed to provide decent living accommodation for the $1,000-a-year man with- in easy distance of his place of employment. Proper housing at low rentals, is a social and civic obligation, recognized in England, United States and all through Europe."

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - December 1-7

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles for 50% off this month!

1. These high-tech windows fight climate change – and will save you money

“[“Vacuum-insulated glass”] insulates five times better than double-paned glass. The Enthermal product line holds energy about as well as fiberglass wall insulation[…. T]he energy bill savings offset the upfront cost of the upgrade in two to seven years, depending on the building[….]”

2. Doulas test ways to curb Memphis’ Black maternal, infant deaths

“Research shows they are key to better health outcomes. […] Free of charge, [parents enrolled in this pilot program], in addition to being paired with a doula, get access to free yoga classes, diapers, breastfeeding starter kits, nutritious food and other tangible help that can measurably boost well-being.”

3. Scientists find feeding grazing cattle seaweed cuts methane emissions by almost 40%

“This is the first study to test seaweed on grazing beef cattle in the world. […] Most research to reduce methane emissions using feed additives has taken place in controlled environments with daily supplements. But Kebreab noted in the study that fewer than half of those methods are effective for grazing cattle.”

4. Success for local residents as Florida council toppled over sewage plant plan

“A citizens’ revolt in a small Florida city ousted an entire slate of councilors who were pushing for a new sewage plant to be built close to one of the state’s most pristine and treasured rivers.”

5. Beaver survey aims to show the urban benefits of Chicago's 'ecosystem engineers'

“Urban Rivers is installing [“artificial floating gardens”] along the river to restore native wetland habitats, which provide food and shelter for wildlife, as well as natural spaces for humans.”

6. The future of plastic: Biodegradable, durable, and even edible

“[… T]he composite plastic proved not only sturdy but also more malleable than its core component, hydroxyethyl cellulose. Additionally, since both cellulose and tyrosine are edible, the biodegradable composite plastic can technically be consumed.”

7. Limestone quarries could be vital for wild bee conservation

“Quarries provide valuable habitats for wild bees and other animals and plants that occur on the now rare calcareous grasslands," explains lead author Dr. Felix Kirsch[….]”

8. New England wedding vendors offer help to same-sex couples before Trump inauguration

“Marriage equality isn’t immediately at risk. Trump has said he considers it settled law, but of course it’s hard to take him at his word […] so vendors in the region are offering free or discounted services to queer couples and noncitizens in a rush to marry.”

9. The indigenous women saving India's endangered giant yams

“Since their formation in 2022, the 10 members of the Noorang group have planted and brought back to the community 180 varieties of wild tubers[….] The project is part of [… a] farming initiative to eradicate poverty, provide agricultural training and empower women in vulnerable tribal communities.”

10. The US is making and deploying more solar panels than ever before

“[… D]omestic solar module manufacturing capacity has nearly quintupled since 2022[….] Solar is the cheapest source of new power generation by far, and it’s an increasingly large employer in the U.S., particularly in Republican-led states.”

November 22-28 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[illegal-prime]

Normalize updating laws and regulations that are no longer fit for purpose.

Normalize working with powerful enemies to find a solution where everybody wins.

Normalize mutual compromise.

Normalize collaboration over opposition.

Normalize civil discourse on divisive issues.

Normalize good faith and the principle of charity.

Normalize discussion of specific social, political, and economic issues.

Normalize advocacy for specific and implementable policy reforms to to tackle said issues.

Normalize imperfect solutions.

Normalize civic engagement.

Normalize public sector action.

Normalize incremental success.

Normalize improving society instead of destroying and rebuilding it from the ground up.

NORMALIZE PROGRESS!!!

[xiangqiankua]

I went to a lecture about local river systems today which I was overall pleased at more or less understanding (the older presenter had a stronger accent and definitely mixed in some Hokkien, the younger guy spoke pretty clearly) until the woman sitting next to me started asking about flooding, which prompted the older presenter to begin talking about ground water levels and construction, and then they both said a word which I knew from context meant cement mixer but Pleco was trying to tell me it was 水泥攪拌機, and this was a pack of lies because they'd clearly said yu拌車. But which yu?? I was tormented for a while until seeing on Wikipedia 「混凝土攪拌車，或稱預拌混凝土車」 so ostensibly it is 預拌車. The pre-mixed truck. Well, I guess it's not an inaccurate description...

[eachuisge-cc]

I almost regret making a Bruma patch at all because all it does is give everyone and their dog an opening to ask me if I'll put the generic barb/warmblood looking model in skyrim which is the exact opposite of why I even made the mod

[okara-illustrates]

Soo hehe guess who really got into Arcane?

[sedgwickpdf]

it really is so embarrassing that you have to keep trying and trying to make the life you want to live

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Breaking Barriers Together

[stakeholders-sgv]

Understanding California AB 891: Enhancing Street Safety with Quick-Build Infrastructure

AB 891 is authored by Assemblymember Zbur. It will empower communities to rapidly transform streets with quick-build projects. These projects add safety infrastructure like protected bike lanes and planter boxes. These projects will reduce crashes and enhance connectivity and street safety for California communities. Summary: Existing law establishes the Department of Transportation and…

[josephkravis]

Discovering Hidden Fortunes: The Journey to Satisfaction and Self-Improvement

Discover the joy in the journey. Life, like fortune cookies, offers unexpected surprises. Embrace persistence, learn from mistakes, and find hidden fortunes.

What’s On My Mind Today: The Search for Satisfaction Pick something from what you don’t want, over and over again? Sound familiar? 1st pick—Nothing.2nd pick—Still nothing.3rd pick—Nothing, again. Really? And so the cycle continues. Satisfaction feels elusive, but persistence is the key—whether in life, relationships, or even politics. Persistence and Advocacy: Holding Ourselves and Others…

[townpostin]

Jamshedpur's Mango Flyover Project Breaks Ground

Minister Banna Gupta initiates transformative infrastructure development Jamshedpur set for traffic relief with 2.8km elevated corridor and Rs. 252 crore initial budget. JAMSHEDPUR – Health Minister Banna Gupta launched Mango Flyover construction to ease congestion and improve city connectivity. The Mango Flyover project in Jamshedpur has officially commenced, marking a significant milestone in…

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"RAZE HOVELS, BUILD PARKS PLEA OF LIEUT. GOV. BRUCE," Toronto Star. March 6, 1934. Page 1 & 2. --- "Areas of Misery and Degradation Exert an Unhappy Influence" ---- CREATE TOWN PLAN ---- His honor, the lieutenant-governor, Col. Herbert A. Bruce, in proposing the health of the city of Toronto at the luncheon given at the King Edward hotel on the occasion of the centennial celebrations to-day, said:

"History tells us that the first mayor of Toronto, Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie, did not enjoy such friendly relations with government house as have his successors. Sir John Colborne, then lieutenant- governor, once made rather elaborate preparations to receive him should he call at government house. He mounted artillery on the roof of government house and gunners with lighted matches stood by, ready to receive the future first mayor and his supporters. I have noted that, architecturally, the present government house is not suitable for such a kind of hospitality, and I assure you I shall not follow this precedent, at least during centennial year.

"Now I am to propose a toast toast to the health of Toronto. The health of Toronto must necessarily mean the health of its citizens. It must mean, too, the continued progress and development of Toronto along desirable lines. We have A great and beautiful city that has been blessed by honest and efficient government. It in city enviably situated, a city of fine residential areas, of beautiful buildings, of high standards of citizenship. That is how we see it, but I fear, in all candor one must confess, that this city, in common with every large city, has acquired the inevitable 'alum districts.

"These are of misery and degradation exert an unhappy environmental influence upon many of our citizens. You will probably say: "but Toronto has few such areas and they are not of great extent. I say, and I think you will agree with me, that Toronto wants none of them, and that Toronto wants the Toronto of the the future which we like to contemplate will have none of them.

Hunger for Recreation "It seems to me that the only availing remedy in Toronto is a planned decentralization which will take the outmoded factory away from our congested central areas and substitute for it in the outskirts a new modern building. That would permit workers to establish their to establish the homes es convenient to their work in surroundings where their children would learn by experience that grass is a green. living and loving carpet and that there are really and truly other and lovelier flowers than those on the lithographed calendar that hangs on the cracked, crumbling and wall of a murky room into of a murky room into sun's rays have never penetrated. It seems to me, also that as we evacuate those factories and hovels, we must raze them and bury the distressing memory of them in fine central parks and recreational centres. These parks and recreational centres would be devoted to the physical and mental improvement of our people they would be community centres for ennobling uses leisure, which to-day hangs heavy on the hands of thousands of our citizens both employed hand unemployed. have to look far for evidence of how normal men and of women hunger for recreational opportunities. Mrs. Bruce and I have been pleased to extend our patronage to the Central Ontario Región the Dominion Drama Festival, whose playoffs take place at Hart House in the near future. One of the competing plays and I asked that it should be performed on the night we will be present is being produced by a group o some forty unemployed who are known as the "Miracle Players." There are many other instances to illustrate how eagerly people welcome an opportunity to make constructive use of their leisure.

Town Plan for Health "Time restrains me from expounding my ideas in detail, and there is no need that I should do see here men who have be have been giving thought to these thin to these things and we have evidence from time to time that our municipal government has given much consideration to city planning. The planning I have in mind is similar to that to which the Prince of Wales has given leadership. In an address of January 27th last his Royal Highness said: 'We must not he content until we have we have good clubs and everywhere so equipped that those who need them can find opportunities for friendship, occupation, and recreation, where the day can he spent with advantage after working hours. Let self-help go hand in hand with mutual service. Let the state do its utmost by political and economic devices, but there is no remedy which will ever replace, or make obsolete, the way of fellowship."

"We are celebrating our city's centenary. Would it not be a splendid thing to commemorate this, our hundredth civic year, by the creation of a large and noble plan conceived in a spirit of fellowship? A plan that would recognize the inalienable right of every man and woman and child to decent and dignified and healthful environment.

"Gentlemen, I give you the health of the city of Toronto: Toronto today, of which of which we are proud: Toronto of to-morrow, of which our children may be prouder still; and Toronto of the centuries to come. whose citizens, I hope, will have in their hearts a feeling of gratitude because we planned nobly, wisely and unselfishly.

Problem of Financing "I have carefully noted the reference made to-day by his honor in connection with what he has termed by his statement, made with all candor, of the inevitable slum conditions of great cities," replied Mayor Stewart. "I hasten to assure all my listeners that Toronto is proud of the fact that she is known as a city of homes and churches. The elected body throughout the years have ever been mindful of the constructive influence of good environment. There have been several projects advanced to the elected body dealing with the housing situation, but I most respectfully submit that there are limits to the taxpayers ability to finance many worthy enterprises.

"While I with my colleagues, would like to see many unsightly premises torn down, it must also be born in mind the difficulties condemning proceeded," "the mayo proceeded. "What may appear unsightly cannot necessarily be condemned officially as insanitary. It is not as easy a procedure as some believe for civic authorities to condemn privately-owned properties.

"Some consideration might well be given when financial conditions permit to the wrecking of dilapidated properties to create areas to free our streets from congestion. It would indeed be an ideal condition if we had more community centres in the thickly populated areas. We must also remember it would also be an ideal condition if thousands of our citizens had more of this world's goods with which to pay their taxes. Toronto does not encourage nor approve of dilapidated homes being used as adjuncts to factories whereby the whole family are employed in competition with properly regulated and organized labor."

The mayor said if the lieutenant-governor will consent, he will present a motion to city council asking for the appointment of a committee to confer on the housing sing situation, to be headed by the lieutenant-governor.

Conditions Improving "We rejoice in the fact that evidence is daily increasing of improving conditions and we march confidently and hopefully onward to normal prosperity." continued the mayor. "Toronto, unlike places of olden days, has not and will not build walls of stone or selfish restriction about the city. Instead, Toronto has substantially with other municipalities, contributed to the building of avenues of communication and to the institutions for the protection s and betterment of mankind. Instead o of b of building building Toronto depends upon its foundations. Torontonians for a century have builded upon safe, sure and lasting foundations of belief and faith in Almighty God, and ever have and ever will remain loyal to his majesty the King'

[santaclaralocalnews]

One Friday afternoon in March 1904, a group of Santa Clara women met to create the Santa Clara Woman’s Club as a civic improvement club. On April 4, 2024 another group of women met to celebrate the founders and reflect on 120 years of community service. Mayor Lisa Gillmor presented the club with a City proclamation honoring its 120-year history. Also on hand to celebrate with the club were City Council Members Anthony Becker, Raj Chahal, Karen Hardy, Suds Jain, Kevin Park and Kathy Watanabe; Janet Stevenson of the Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara...Read complete news at svvoice.com.

[milltownhistoricalsociety]

This Day in History: November 2nd, 1918

Intoxicating liquors stand condemned before the world.

Local Option for Milltown Whether there shall be saloons in the borough of Milltown or not will be determined by the voters next Tuesday. It is an opportunity on that day for the men looking to the progress of the community along every line to exercise their right of suffrage in a manner that will abolish the saloons. The saloon question is long past the economic stage, it is past the…

[dynamicity-keysmash]

I think it's important to understand that the vast majority of voters do not spend much time thinking through their political decisions because it's simply not something that occupies much space in their minds. You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into, and it's extremely difficult to fight feelings with facts.

Now that the Democratic party's inner core is highly-educated cosmopolitan urbanites, it seems to have lost the ability to deal with that reality.

Most people do not feel like trump is a fascist, or that he wants to be a dictator. Most people do not feel like any of Biden's massive legislative/executive accomplishments improved their lives at all. Most people do not feel like Harris's platform would've actually gotten done or helped them. Most people feel like Trump ran a better economy and that it's Democrats' fault that inflation got so bad.

In an individualistic, selfish nation with one of the worst education systems in the industrialized world, a political party cannot win by serving up a charcuterie board of various poll-tested policies that it then tries to explain to people who could not care less and don't understand anyway. It needs to create an overwhelming feeling, a feeling that changes the minds of people who don't give a fuck about anything but themselves and their wallets. Trump found that overwhelming feeling. Through bravado, cruelty, and levity, he created this zeitgeist of blunt, confident grievance that countless prideful people who feel left behind by the economy could grab onto. This feeling inspired people far beyond his cult of enthusiastic fascists and self-identified bigots.

The country chose trump because Trump's brand, vibe, and message inspired compelling emotions in more people, especially in people who have no interest in civic engagement, don't follow the news, and have been given little understanding of government/economics by our failing education system.

This problem wasn't fully apparent in 2022 during the midterms, when more low-propensity voters stayed home and highly-educated, highly-engaged people made up more of the electorate.

[reasonsforhope]

"Amsterdam’s roofs have just been converted into a giant sponge that will make the city more climate resilient.

The Dutch have always been famous for their ability to control water, born out of the necessity of their homeland, much of which is below sea level.

Now, their expert water management skills are transforming the city skyline in the capital city of Amsterdam from one of terracotta tile, concrete, and shingles into green grass and brown earth.

It’s part of a new climate-resiliency trend in architecture and civic planning known as the ‘sponge city concept,’ in which a garden of water-loving plants, mosses, and soil absorbs excess rainwater before feeding it into the building for use in flushing toilets or watering plants on the ground.

If heavy rains are predicted, a smart valve system empties the stored rainwater into the municipal storm drains and sewers in advance of the weather, allowing the roof to soak up water and reduce flooding in the city.

In this way, the rooftops of buildings can be wrung out and filled up just like a sponge.

In Amsterdam, 45,000 square meters, or 11 acres of flat metropolitan rooftops have already been fitted with these systems, and the contracting firms behind the technology say they make sense in dry climates like Spain just as much as in wet climates like Amsterdam...

A 4-year project of different firms and organizations called Resilio, the resilient network for smart climate adaptive rooftops, rolled out thousands of square meters of sponge city technology into new buildings. As with many climate technologies, the costs are high upfront but tend to result in savings from several expenditures like water utilities and water damage, over a long-enough time horizon...

All together, Amsterdam’s sponge capacity is over 120,000 gallons.

“We think the concept is applicable to many urban areas around the world,” Kasper Spaan from Waternet, Amsterdam’s public water management organization, told Wired Magazine. “In the south of Europe–Italy and Spain–where there are really drought-stressed areas, there’s new attention for rainwater catchment.”

Indeed the sponge city concept comes into a different shade when installed in drought-prone regions. Waters absorbed by rooftops during heavy rains can be used for municipal purposes to reduce pressure on underground aquifers or rivers, or be sweated out under the Sun’s rays which cools the interior of the building naturally.

Additionally, if solar panels were added on top of the rooftop garden, the evaporation would keep the panels cooler, which has been shown in other projects to improve their energy generation.

“Our philosophy in the end is not that on every roof, everything is possible,” says Spaan, “but that on every roof, something is possible.”

Matt Simon, reporting on the Resilio project for Wired, said succinctly that perhaps science fiction authors have missed the mark when it came to envisioning the city of the future, and that rather than being a glittering metropolis of glass, metal, and marble as smooth as a pannacotta, it will look an awful lot more like an enormous sculpture garden."

-via Good News Network, May 15, 2024