(Women strut at a New Orleans parade on Mardi Gras Day / Scott Beyer)
1. Where’s Scott?:
Scott Beyer returned to New Orleans for the end of Mardi Gras. This week at Forbes, he wrote a 4-part series on the “Quirks of New Orleans Culture,” covering things like Second Line Parades, King Cake, Mardi Gras Balls, and other idiosyncrasies.
There are certain commentators who will argue that, thanks to gentrification, corporatism, and globalization, U.S. cities are losing their cultural distinctiveness. These people should really try leaving their rooms more often. One thing I’ve noticed while traveling is that cultural differences, in fact, remain alive and well in America. And nowhere is this more evident than New Orleans.
2. At the Market Urbanism Facebook Group:
John Morris shared Daniel Hertz’s latest, Report: Market-rate housing construction is a weapon against displacement; and some good news from Los Angeles LA’s Metro Going to Start Charging For Parking at Rail Stations
Tory Gattis notified readers about Club Nimby, a new blog by Austin attorney Chris Bradford (of Austin Contrarian fame) that tries to better explain the phenomenon of American Nimbyism.
We don’t talk about Atlanta enough, so Mike Lewyn shared Atlanta’s War on Density
“The data says we’re right,” says Nick Zaiac about the report on market-rate development
3. Elsewhere:
fxstreet.com covers Chicago‘s dreary financial situation, namely for the public school system.
Bond buyers would have the promise that CPS will use its “full faith and credit” to repay the bonds. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie, and the district officials know it. The term “full faith and credit” means that a borrower will use all assets available to repay a debt. But Chicago’s school system, in the footsteps of Detroit two years ago and now Puerto Rico, has no intention of foregoing other expenses to pay bondholders.
Charles Marohn loves Memphis, but not the “orderly but dumb” pyramid.
MU twitter poll on the likelihood of the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront streetcar
SF Housing Density Plan Meets Opposition
4. Stephen Smith‘s Tweet of the Week:
Not hyperbole: small builders (likely disproportionately minorities) totally wiped out @errollouis @LondellMcMillan pic.twitter.com/UL23zgcoBh
— Market Urbanism (@MarketUrbanism) February 8, 2016
