August 2008

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    Journey to Work: What About Bikes?

    In a fascinating post over at Next American City, Dave Steele observes a big divide among bike commuters: the affluent, geared-up, environmentalist, health-conscious cyclists by choice, and those who are commuting by bike because they can’t afford other means: “For…

  • Obama’s Nomination: Just in Time For Labor Day

    Bill Clinton stepped up the other night and did what he needed to do if the Dems want to win this election: he threw down for Barack Obama and said unequivocally that Obama belongs in the White House. He also…

  • Fannie and Freddie Violate New York’s Public Trust

    Under ordinary circumstances, Sept. 1—Labor Day—would be a day of celebration and pride. Not only does it commemorate the sacrifice of working families, but, quite fittingly, it’s the date on which a new landmark responsible lending law will go into…

  • NYT in a Time Warp?

    The following is a letter to the editor I submitted to The New York Times: The Times’ Aug. 8 article, “Housing Program Moves Poor to the Suburbs, and Tensions Follow,” about which David Varady has written on Rooflines, is irresponsible…

  • Reintroducing America to Itself

    Tonight, the first evening of the Democratic convention, America was reintroduced to its grass roots. Some memorable moments: Jimmy Carter addressed the hall via video from New Orleans. As he walked through the still-devastated neighborhoods, he talked with residents about…

  • Investing in Communities Key to Obamanomics

    With the Dems convening in Denver, the New York Times Magazine offered us David Leonhardt’s review of ‘Advanced Obamanomics’ on Sunday, August 24. In light of the Obama campaign re-launching his urban agenda today, it is timely to consider economics…

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    Native Alaskans See Walrus Harvest Disappear with Sea Ice

    Hunting walrus is an age-old tradition, part of the rhythm of life, for the native people of King Island, a tiny rugged island in the Bering Sea off Alaska. The walrus provides meat for the long, dark, frigid winters, and…

  • Obama-Biden: What Does It Mean?

    The text message hadn’t yet arrived: the media, once again, by way of stakeout, pestered its way to this scoop. After 1 a.m. Saturday morning, and after leaks throughout Friday evening indicated that Barack Obama’s vice presidential finalists were being…

  • Wait: How Many Houses DO I Have?

    John McCain could have dismissed his inability to recall how many houses he has as a senior moment, but that would have pointed to his age. So there wasn’t any way for John McMansion to dig out of this one,…

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    One Less Truth-Teller

    Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Democrat of Ohio, died yesterday after suffering a burst brain aneurysm. Tubbs Jones, 58, was the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress. She was first elected in 1998 to represent Ohio’s 11th District, which…