Secrets of the City

Lunacy from the guy who thinks Denny Hecker mocks him from his ads on the bus:

“I sometimes wonder about whether movement and capitalism are intertwined. can we think of the circulation of value without thinking of the circulation of people or goods? Is capital growth necessarily spatial? Is the very idea of transportation and movement the problem?”

I read through that, and I’m not certain what “problem” he’s talking about. Is the mere act of carrying out commerce this repugnant to him?

“One of the reasons i am studying walking is that it seems to escape from some of these binds. The only people that make money off of pedestrians are the manufacturers of sneakers. umbrellas, and handbags.”

I guess that answers the question. This is the person who calls homeowners “the rich half” of the country.

This guy must spend a lot of time contemplating his sins, and the collective sins of mankind.

Before it became “gentrification,” it used to be known as “improving the neighborhood.”

That said, it is in everyone’s best interest that some affordable and low-income housing be secured now along the Central Corridor’s path, so lower-income folks who wish to live near the line won’t be priced out.

It will be hell for the local business during construction, but those that survive (and are near a stop) will do great business once the shiney new choo-choos are rolling.

I always wondered what separates “people” from “folks.”

I’m a folksy kinda guy. I’m like Sherrif Andy Taylor, on meth.

That would make you Lonseome Rhodes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP1RM4k7hV8

Come on…affordable housing in the cities?

That’s what Brooklyn Park is there for isn’t it?

Suburbs are the new slums. Get ready Maple Grove!

I always wondered what separates “people” from “folks.”

This might help Rat…
here

I thought I’d heard it all.

I sometimes wonder about whether movement and capitalism are intertwined.

WTF is this supposed to mean? Of course, “movement” and capitalism are intertwined. “Movement” is also intertwined with socialism, fascism, anarchy, communism, monarchies, parliamentary democracies and constitutional republics, and any other system of civil, social or economic order mankind has ever devised.

“Movement” is more of the result of Industrialism. Prior to that (and the mechanical modes of transportation that resulted), most people never traveled in their lifetime more than 20 miles distance from their home. Granted, industrialization requires capital but it is not exclusively Capitalist.

Can we think of the circulation of value without thinking of the circulation of people or goods?

But what’s of value without people and/or goods? How can you even assign “value” without people and goods?

WCCO: Taking an Early Ride Aboard Northstar Rail

“how the construction of I-94 devastated the landscape and culture of [Rondo's] predominately African-American neighborhood in St. Paul.”

I work in the old Rondo neighborhood, which has cleaned up nicely in recent years. Still a dynamic, diverse ‘hood, close to a fast-growing retail district (Selby Ave.), a renowned African-American theater, a large magnet school complex and a nice city park. Oh, and our headquarters.

New thought — wonder what changes the new Northstar heavy rail commuter line may bring? It starts this Saturday!

Christina: Jinx!

I think Kwatt would say that is technically not a jinx.

I trust kwatt in subjects of MN politics, golf and the Young and the Restless. Nothing else!

“WTF is this supposed to mean?”

This guy is such a creature of the far left, I don’t why he confuses you. He’s just taking things to a natural conclusion. It’s not about “the environment.” I think many people who claim to be environmental types totally are not. They don’t like the way other people live. So he walks, and broods and mutters inanities like his latest blog entry.

“I think Vladimir is talking about rail barons?”

Could our man vlado have a hand in all this?

I stand corrected. Seems he was talking about Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

Rat, your description of me is not terribly off the mark.

re: the movement and capitalism comment.

what got me thinking was this graph, of tying together overall Vehicle miles travelled and GDP.

http://www.theoildrum.com/uploads/full_gdp_miles.gif

or this one of VMT w/ looks just like Al Gore’s carbon graph

http://www.livablestreets.com/streetswiki/vehicle-miles-traveled/highway_vehicle_miles_traveled.gif

the question is: is there a way to grow the economy w/out just increasing how far and often things and people travel around? (i.e. w/out increasing gas use and GHG emissions?)

Also, i wasn’t saying that LRT is no different from a freeway project. it’s just not entirely different from one. sure, it is a mass transit improvement, but it also has the same dynamics of development, jobs, and investment that make freeway projects so lucrative and politically desirable.

Thanks, billiam.

Yes. What makes a freeway so politically desirable is the ease with which suburban/exurban/rural voters can live in one community and work in an entirely different, and often far-flung, community. The freeway is the modern-day equivalent of the transcontinental railroad. Without it, much more of the country would be isolated and remote.

Who here recalls what Hwy. 12 was like before I-394 was completed? Highway 169, between 94/694 and 494, when it was County 18? Highway 100 before its entire stretch was transformed into a stoplight-free freeway?

If none of these projects had happened, the demographics of Hennepin County over the past 30 years would have grown in entirely different directions.

the question is: is there a way to grow the economy w/out just increasing how far and often things and people travel around? (i.e. w/out increasing gas use and GHG emissions?

Is any trade or commerce possible outside of one’s own community without transportation? That’s the history of mankind, billiam. Thousands of years of moving things and people and ideas from “here to there.” The economies of scale also means that a merchant grows more revenue and profit by moving more product at one time at a greater speed over a greater distance.

Can we think of the circulation of value without thinking of the circulation of people or goods?

Isn’t that the internet? And knowledge workers?

is there a way to grow the economy w/out just increasing how far and often things and people travel around?

A radical increase in telecommuting?

“is there a way to grow the economy w/out just increasing how far and often things and people travel around?”

I’m going to answer my own question, and say “no”.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/peak-oil-international-energy-agency

Check out this article on how the International Energy Administration has been inflating the world supply of gasoline because of US political pressure. Apparently Bush (and others) wanted to avoid and delay economic difficulties, and make it harder to pass transit and carbon investment and reforms.

Their plan? Pretend we have more oil. (That will work great as I pretend to fill my car up with $8/gallon gas.)

It could be worse

A radical increase in telecommuting?

Telecommuting won’t move rail cars or truckloads of food and fuel, consumer goods, industrial materials, etc. Does anyone know what percentage of our GDP is related directly to commuting?

We’ve come upon a small nest of Luddites!

The mere fact that people and goods “move around” from place to place is now seen as some kind of sin.

Travel is broadening, people! It makes you a more well-rounded person.

Squatting in your urban studio apartment contemplating your carbon sins is simply ridiculous.

I’m not sure why the author is laying the blame for gentrification solely at the feet of LRT. Seems to me that Uptown, Stevens, Loring, and NE are gentrifying just fine without any help from the LRT.

Me, I blame gentrification on teh geighs (just kidding).

I think a sound strategy for finding a good neighborhood is to follow the gays. They buy property, maintain it, and generally improve the area.

And there’s no need for them or anyone else to apologize for it.

Rat, I agree.

Because, all together now: Light rail is not about transportation; it’s about urban redevelopment.

No jinxi took place in this thread, either.

You’re making a flawed assumption that those are mutually exclusive.

First come the artists, then come the gays, then come the bobos and dinks, who then move away when they decide to reproduce. And then the cycle repeats itself. It is the circle of urban life.

I personally prefer gentrification, as the middle classes rarely commit random acts of violence, or accost people for change. The worst they got is disapproval of your inept use of a reel mower.

It seems to me most “random” acts of violence come precisely from the middle class, lunch!. The poorer you get, the less random the violence. We’re talking random here, right?

And I might add I cringe every time I hear someone say (or write) “the gays.” Hate the term. Gay is a fucking adjective, not a noun.

1. LRT is different because it has stops built in. it is entirely possible to drive through most of the state on the freeway without stopping for anything besides food and gas. the LRT requires reasons to stop between the beginning and the end of the line, otherwise people will only use it at 2 places and it’s a waste of money.

2. Either there was or is a hearing about running the MG line down 81 to Lowry then down Lowry to Lyndale then down Lyndale on downtown. That would be very nice if it happened. The buses are very stressed in terms of usage and I don’t ever ride the bus because it takes so damn long to get from my house to downtown.

3. How much truly “random” crime is there anyway? Middle class people commit less “random” crime? There are WAY more car break-ins in Uptown than a lot of less middle class places. I don’t think it’s all about the type of people who live in the neighborhood committing the crime always, it’s also about being able to access areas to commit crime.

4. I don’t necessarily buy the gentrification argument either since people are using the light rail to come into town or go out of town because they have decided to live outside the city. I think it could revitalize some places along the area but I’m not really seeing that much “gentrification” with the LRT even now. Also, not happening with the Northstar line.

“Because, all together now: Light rail is not about transportation; it’s about urban redevelopment.”

Actually, we just keep building them becuase they piss off conservatives. Heh.

PS: How do “urban” people usual vote? I mean, which political party do they usually favor? Really? Huh! That explains a lot!

Noted, Christina. Geez….

I fully support Rats technique for finding housing in questionable neighborhoods.

You’re making a flawed assumption that those are mutually exclusive.

No, I am not. Jinx has to take place within the same thread. There is no cross-thread jinxification.

(gavel)

i dont think we built LRT to piss off conservatives because far too much of the Northstar line is in MN-6. I personally dont think we should be encouraging MN-6 or Anoka County in general to infiltrate our safe metro area with their general Anoka ridiculousness. I moved back to Minneapolis because it was classy, dammit.

Think the good Congresswoman from the 6th District will show up for the first day run of Commuter Line?

@Bixby: The Northstar is not LRT.

Does the Northstar have any fun applications? Like, would it be a hoot to ride it out to wherever it goes and have lunch, walk around and come back? Where does it go again?

Rail lines, in general, do not have to be based on gentrification. It’s entirely possible to put in a streetcar that serves the people who are there a lot better than the 16/50 buses. They chose not to do that, however.

Instead, they want a monster that takes up a lot of space, AND they want to keep the room for cars. The result is 1/3 less sidewalk and no parked cars to act as a barrier between traffic and pedestrians. All in the name of transit oriented development. Few seem to see how ridiculous this is.

Does this HAVE to be gentrification? No, it doesn’t. The Met Council is insisting on a technology that will make it gentrification – if they can actually squeeze this thing under the Federal budget constraints.

I’ve said it many places, so I’ll say it here – I do not think this monster is going to be built. The EIS is a joke, and if the U is willing to go to the wall a good lawyer will rip it to shreds. Then, perhaps, we can get on to a real transit system that doesn’t destroy the neighborhood.

Some writings on this topic or related issues by me:
http://erikhare.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/reboot/
http://erikhare.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/pedestrian-friendly/
http://erikhare.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/a-pattern-language/

All right, dang it, I did my own research on trips on the new train. Big Lake is the Terminus and I spoke with two very helpful women (one at the paper, one in city hall) who informed me the train station is 4-5 blocks from town. But Big Lake does have Trails (sports bar), Lake Cafe, and Russell’s on the Lake. Soooo… I suppose it could be a fun 1/2 day trip with the kids, but doesn’t seem too compelling.

Shame we can’t ride the train out this evening for the Swedish Meatball and Lutefisk dinner (I’m not making this up).

I’m totally moving to Big Lake!

@jane: Dang. I offer you Japanese curry but you’d rather eat lutefisk. Are you trying to confuse me?