December 2009

  • Where’s the Alt-City?

    On a trip yesterday into Richmond, Va., I made sure to pick up some of the free media that clutter the doorways of bookshops and cafes and provide a reason for those ubiquitous multicolored news boxes on the sidewalks and…

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    Have Yourself a Merry TRANSIT Xmas!

    I’ve posted a bunch of great transit holiday photos over on my NRDC site. Please check them out, and happy holidays! photo here of NYC subway by Luke Redmond, creative commons license more

  • Court Rules That Congress Unfairly Singled Out ACORN

    A federal judge blocked U.S. officials from enforcing a funding ban on ACORN, one of America’s most effective anti-poverty groups. Congress cut off funding for ACORN — the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now — in September after a right wing Web sites and TV news outlets, mostly Fox played secretly recorded videos in which employees of ACORN offered advice on how to set up brothels and avoid paying taxes. ACORN fired the employees suspected of wrongdoing. ACORN sued the federal government in November, arguing Congress had violated the Constitution by singling out the group. ACORN was represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights. Acorn’s lawyers argued in part that Congress had violated the Constitution’s ban on bills of attainder, legislation that punishes a specific person or group without a fair hearing. In making its argument, the Acorn lawyers included quotes from several Republicans accusing Acorn of being a criminal organization that deserved to be punished. more

  • A Small Victory for ACORN?

    There was some good news yesterday for ACORN, the 40-year-old, and largest grass-roots community organization in the country, as a federal judge ruled that the House ban on issuing federal grant money to the embattled organization was unconstitutional. The ban…

  • Houses Passes Wall Street Reform Bill; $1 Billion for NSP 3

    Thanks to the National Housing Conference’s Sharon Price for passing this info on only moments after the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 4173, better known as the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009. It looks as…

  • After the Politicking, Let’s Remember ACORN’s Vital Work

    ACORN has been falsely charged in the news media, by politicians, and even by some supporters. This was the point driven home by Wade Rathke, the founder of ACORN (the Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now), who gave a…

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    Habitat Retrofits Oakland Brownfield for LEED-ND Pilot

    Habitat for Humanity’s East Bay affiliate is retrofitting a brownfield into 54 affordable homes on two acres of land in Oakland, Calif. With excellent location, walkable density, great design, and green features, the Edes Avenue project is participating in the…