This excellent animation from TrueMajority shows in
graphic detail (using Oreo cookies) how ridiculously, large
the military budget is, and how we could solve many domestic
problems with a modest 12% cut. A must-see. (watch
it now)
The following
comments on Portland were received from LRP List participant Rob
Dickson, currently attending a Congress for New Urbanism
conference there. Certainly, walkable streets and convenient,
comfortable, attractive transit - -including light rail -
contribute to a quality of life that many Austin-area voters may
wish for. There's nothing like first-hand, personal observations
to convey what can result from a commitment to sound goals in
urban and mobility planning. -- LRP, 06/19/00
Portland's
rail adds to quality of life
I'm on a bus at 10:53 PM
from Downtown over to Vancouver, WA. It's slowly filling up along
the route. Downtown had many pedestrians on the streets when I
left, and felt safe and active. A light rail train just passed in
front of us at the Rose Garden (their arena) where a concert just
let out. It was packed.
Portland made decisions to
become a walkable, mobility choice community almost 30 years ago,
and spent the money to do it, and the positive results are
apparent everywhere. They changed their land use policies, they
actually removed freeways instead of adding them, they limited
Downtown parking, and they built light rail and they run a very
efficient bus system on 15 minute headways.
They have a sustainable
community and a sustainable economy. And they have real quality of
life.
Austin continues to argue, and
act like it has "quality of life" when all it has is worsening
traffic and bad air. Compared to Portland, we are falling far
short.
