James Howard Kunstler: The Tragedy of Suburbia

I have posted a couple of times the past week promoting new urbanism and smart growth and thought I'd share this speech from James Howard Kunstler given at the TED conference a few years ago.

As I wrote on Saturday, now is the time to reconsider how are cities and towns develop...

While we are facing an economic downturn, now is the time where cities can promote infill development, new urbanism principles, and more bike/pedistrian-friendly in their development patterns.

... and build places worth caring about.

The United States is a Center-Left Nation

The Campaign for America's Future released a report saying the United States is no longer a center-right nation, but has shifted to a center-left nation.

The media still calls America a “center-right” nation, but “center-left” is closer to the truth.

On issues ranging from health care to energy, the public is more progressive than people think. Demographic groups from youth to Hispanics are voting farther left and in larger numbers than ever before. The new report the Campaign for America’s Future is publishing with Media Matters for America—"America: A Center-Left Nation"—documents the trends and challenges the mainstream media to recognize reality.

David Sirota takes a look at what this policy-wise...

The question is no longer whether America is progressive - the question is how that progressive bent can be transformed into policy, and why it isn't being legislated into law already? Why, for instance, with the majority of the public telling pollsters for years that we support single-payer health care, is that concept nonetheless "off the table" in Washington? Why, with most Americans supporting serious trade reform, is our government still considering a push for NAFTA-style trade policies? The list of similar questions is endless.

One obvious answer is the power of money: The interests that support the status quo have lots of cash, and they use the legalized bribery system known as campaign finance to preserve that status quo. Another obvious answer is that corporate conservatives in both parties have dominated Washington for the better part of three decades.

If you look at the political ideologies of the Millennial generation, those 18-30, you see a strong possibility of a progressive majority for years to come.

American Academy of Pediatrics Prescirbe Smart Growth

Image by studio-d via Flickr

Interesting announcement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

From Smart Growth Around America...

Yesterday, the American Academy of Pediatrics adopted a ground-breaking policy statement on the link between how we build communities and the health of the children in those communities. The American Academy of Pediatrics policy:

• reviews the many links between community design and overall child health, and the strong statistical validation of those links;
• encourages pediatricians to work with parents to promote more walkable, livable communities,
• calls on cities, states, and the US government to plan for and invest in communities that best advance the health, safety, and well being of American families.
  

This is really remarkable: the nation’s leading group of pediatricians saying, based on the evidence, that the way we’re building isn’t good for kids.

While we are facing an economic downturn, now is the time where cities can promote infill development, new urbanism principles, and more bike/pedistrian-friendly in their development patterns.

Des Moines Register's Famer's Market Blog

The Des Moines Register has a blog online covering farmer's market in the Des Moines area.

Tom Perry interviews people who set up the stands and writes about the markets best finds. Last week, Perry wrote about the not-so green gardens...

Fresh, mushrooms, cultivated in Iowa, can be found at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Raised by Jim and Brein Osborn of Vinton, the mushrooms fall in to the exotic category. The oyster and shitaki look great every week.

The Osborns call their mushroom-growing venture: “Anything But Green Gardens.” Find their table this week on 4th Street, south of Court Avenue.

and about some of the more sweeter goods found at the Des Moines farmer's market...

We’re not talking any ice cream here. But Mike’s Old Fashioned Homemade Ice Cream, made with milk and cream from Iowa’s Cloverleaf Dairy. It is easy to find Mike’s spot at the market — he’s the one with the small 1929 John Deere Hit-and-Miss engine driving blades in two wooden buckets on the east end of Court Avenue, north side. This is a great place to see the basics of ice cream making.

Mike Pettit of Norwalk launched the ice cream venture in July 2005. In just a few seasons at the market, he and his ice cream have become a popular fixture.

This morning I tasted the vanilla. I know this is a bit of a cliche, but this ice cream really did remind me of the ice cream that I remember from back in the 1960s. Rich and creamy, but not overly so, and just the right touch of sweetness. The ice cream can be purchased with homemade strawberry or chocolate syrup.

If you plan to visit the Des Moines farmer's market, make sure to check out this blog.

Howard Dean: Gay Marriage Will be Non-Issue in 2010 Elections

At an event tonight in Des Moines, Howard Dean predicted gay marriage will be a non-issue by the 2010 elections.

From Radio Iowa...

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean says the "tide is turning" on gay marriage, partly because of the attitudes of younger Americans. Dean, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, was in Iowa tonight to speak at a fundraiser for "One Iowa" -- a group that has lobbied for gay marriage.

"This new generation is not nearly as divisive or confrontational as my generation and they also all know somebody who is gay because somebody has publicly said so to them and once you know somebody who is gay or lesbian, you can't say the things that you used to say about them," Dean says. "I remember growing up, we used to say things about gay people; we didn't know anybody who was gay -- we didn't think we knew anybody who was gay. Once somebody says, 'I'm gay and I wish you wouldn't do that,' you don't talk like that anymore because they're a human being."

Which Republicans will run for Governor in 2010?

It's getting to be the time where Republicans who are serious about running for governor come out of the woodwork and those that have been rumored drop out.

These people have said they aren't going to run...

• State Auditor Dave Vaudt decided against a run for governor a couple weeks ago
• Former State Senator and Ambassador Chuck Larson said he was not going to run.

These people have indicted they will likely run for Governor...

• Sioux City businessman, Bob Vander Plaats, is running for governor again.
  
• State Rep. Christopher Rants is traveling around the state meeting with Republican activists about a possible run.
• Last week Sec. of Agriculture, Bill Northey hired two big time consultants, leading a conservative blog to say that he is going to run the most expensive Sec. of Agriculture race in history or he is running for governor.

Other Republicans being rumored are...

• US Rep. Steve King
  
• Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley
• State Rep. Rod Roberts
• Former State Senator Jeff Lamberti
• Bettendorf businessman Mike Whalen

Howard Dean in Des Moines Thursday

Image by clockwerks via Flickr

Howard Dean will be in Des Moines Thursday doing 2 events.

The first event is a discussion on a public option for health care hosted by ICAN and DFA.

Join us for a special guest, Governor Howard Dean, who is offering up a prescription for change in health care reform this year. What is a “public option?” Why is it so important? What can we all do collectively to help win REAL changes in health care reform in 2009 that bring quality, affordable, health care for everyone in America ?

Date:Thursday, May 28, 2009

Time:5:15pm - 7:00pm

Location:1st Unitarian Church of Des Moines

Street:1800 Bell Ave

City/Town:Des Moines, IA

The second event is hosted by One Iowa and focuses on Iowa's Supreme Court decision on gay marriage.

Join us in honoring Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Speaker Pat Murphy.

Host $2500

Sponsor $1000

Supporter $500

Friend $250

Individual Ticket $100

Student Ticket $35


RSVP here: http://eqfed.org/oneiowa/events/Dean/


Please contact Jeremy at 515.288.4019 x207 or jeremy@oneiowa.org for questions.

Date:Thursday, May 28, 2009

Time:7:00pm - 8:30pmLocation:Home of Carolyn Jenison

Street:1330 9th Street

City/Town:Des Moines, IA

2010 Iowa Senate Races

The past few days both John Deeth and Bleeding Heartland took a look at the 2010 Iowa Senate Races after the Iowa Republican blog discussed the topic last week.

Democrats currently hold a 32-18 advantaged in the Iowa Senate, so Republicans would need to win 7 seats to draw even. The Iowa Republican concluded Republicans would pick up 3 of those races and would have a chance of gaining control of the Iowa Senate in 2012.

At Bleeding Heartland they take a look at the 7 races the Iowa Republican identified as the top targets for Republicans.

John Deeth starts with the 3 seat gain by Republicans and takes a closer look 2012 and specifically at the redistricting that will take place between 2010 and 2012.

That would put them at the short end of 29-21 in January 2011, and 2012 is a total crapshoot because the whole deck is shuffled by redistricting (I seem to be mixing my gambling metaphors). No one knows how the district lines will be drawn and how many seats will be up.

I followed this pretty closely in 2001-02, and redistricting years prompt more musical chairs than typical cycles. People realize their district looks bad, or that a run for another office looks good, or someone gets squeezed out in a backroom deal.

Some districts come up empty, with no incumbent living in the lines. Some come up with two or even three senators (as happened in current district 45, which explains Sandy Greiner's reluctant 2002 return to the House after a two-year visit to the Senate).

Basically, Republicans will likely gain a few seats in the Iowa Senate because there are more Democrats up for reelection. However, they won't win enough to take control. Then come 2012, it all depends on redistricting.

Cul-de-sacs: The Greatest Threat to Our Planet

This video was the winner of this years Congress of New Urbanism video contest.

Teaching is not as popular as it used to be

A couple weeks ago the Des Moines Register ran a story about the decline in enrollment in education at Iowa's colleges and universities.

The pattern threatens to fuel teacher shortages in some subjects and toughen competition for top talent, officials say. Iowa is a longtime exporter of educators.

"People view teaching as something that is not really as rewarding as it used to be," said Judy Jeffrey, the state's top education official. "It's very troubling."

At the heart of Iowa's trend is an unprecedented dropoff in new elementary schoolteachers.

Candidates for teaching endorsements in elementary education have dropped by nearly a third since the 2003-04 school year, a new Iowa Department of Education report shows.

I see the cause of this is twofold.  One reason is the increased pressure to increase test scores due to No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which was passed in 2001. The efforts by educators to increase test scores isn't always matched by parents in the community.  Many schools have cut the amount of time teaching art, music, science, and social studies in order to focus strictly on teaching reading and math because those are the subjects being tested. This creates a stressful and negative work environment where creativity is looked down upon because it might hurt test scores.

Second, teacher salaries remain low nationwide.  A teacher with their masters degree makes far less than other profession who have master's degree such as engineers, accountants, and lawyers.

Until teachers are seen as valued professionals in the community, fewer people will decide to go into the profession.

Votes for Sale

I wasn't going to post anything this weekend, but I was out doing yard work, listening to podcasts, and I listened to an episode of NOW about clean elections in Arizona called Votes for Sale.  

Here's a clip...

Blogcation

I am not planning on posting any updates over the holiday weekend.

I am planning on doing a ton of yard work, some painting around the house, and to finish my report cards at school.

Hopefully, I can get it all done, so I can go on a bike ride and finish the book I am reading.

So stop back Tuesday for new content and enjoy your weekend.