tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post4331349274105830092..comments2024-03-02T09:41:35.809-08:00Comments on Donkeylicious - A Blog by Neil Sinhababu and Nicholas Beaudrot: Urban ≠ New YorkNeil Sinhababuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249327186653397250noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-16118850469667772552008-12-14T19:12:00.000-08:002008-12-14T19:12:00.000-08:00Actually CSI: Seattle turned into a pretty cool sh...Actually CSI: Seattle turned into a pretty cool show, it was called "Millenium". Don't forget "Fraiser" and "Gray's Anatomy", though technically the view from Pa's apartment in "Frasier" doesn't exist.<BR/><BR/>I think Neil says this the right way: that Donovan has a lot of practice dealing with the problems of NYC, but the problems of NYC don't look a lot like, say, Cleveland's problems, so he's not going to have any practice dealing with things that look like Cleveland's problems, and America's problems look more like Cleveland's than New York's.Nick Beaudrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794690208464883973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-27554527252465637102008-12-14T09:42:00.000-08:002008-12-14T09:42:00.000-08:00From what I've read it seems that Donovan was pick...From what I've read it seems that Donovan was picked less for being a New York City housing official and more for his impressive record, creative thinking (whatever that means), and because he foresaw a housing crisis months before most of the country did. That kind of foresight is rare these days and worth considering I think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-51410401802554654612008-12-14T09:41:00.000-08:002008-12-14T09:41:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13660098829117846193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-54954976118239187842008-12-14T08:42:00.000-08:002008-12-14T08:42:00.000-08:00Its true; I live here and I would often like to se...Its true; I live here and I would often like to see the national spotlight explore other areas. Wouldn't a CSI: Seattle be a hell of a lot better than another NYC cop drama? Rain, ferries, indians, coffee, plants, mountains, music, beards -- tons of ambiance.<BR/><BR/>The NYC area is full of problems and talented people trying to solve them. A lot of talented people come from this area because tens of millions of people live here; they are often attracted by the challenges this are presents.<BR/><BR/>Donovan has experience with public/private ventures that provide affordable housing. If you want to move people back into cities (and gas prices will force it), you have to have a place for them to live. Thats probably the thinking.An Incomplete Educationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450735128344821077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-67876703060224031552008-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:002008-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00Well, I'd interpret Nick's point as being that he ...Well, I'd interpret Nick's point as being that he knows how to deal with New York problems, but those are actually a fairly specialized set of problems. There's no sign that he's a superstar at dealing with Charlotte / Detroit / Kansas City problems.Neil Sinhababuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03249327186653397250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-76781006012028657422008-12-14T07:17:00.000-08:002008-12-14T07:17:00.000-08:00So you're arguing that being from New York ought t...So you're arguing that being from New York ought to disqualify him from the job because it's inconceivable that he'll understand that difference between New York City and Charlotte? Really?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-32748680747697598732008-12-14T00:51:00.000-08:002008-12-14T00:51:00.000-08:00Okay, and let me not just be a naysayer. Basically...Okay, and let me not just be a naysayer. Basically, any mayor who has overseen a modest revitalization of a major city would work. As would whoever runs economic development for those towns:<BR/><BR/>-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper<BR/>-Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin<BR/>-Any number of administrators working for the state of California, or the city or county of Los Angeles.<BR/>-Houston Mayor Bill White<BR/>-Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) -- but they have SUPERTRAINS<BR/><BR/>It just pisses me off that New York is the only urban area that's getting talented people who deal with city issues into places of national prominence. There are so few slots and they don't all have to go to the frickin' City.Nick Beaudrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794690208464883973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-81195814342443689342008-12-14T00:28:00.000-08:002008-12-14T00:28:00.000-08:00But that is my point. NYC officials have to spend ...But that is my point. NYC officials have to spend a lot of time thinking about problems other cities don't have (near-zero undeveloped land, median house price at 20x mediam HH income, dealing with 100 of foreign languages at once) and less time thinking about problems other cities do have (reversing middle-class flight, expanding from zero to non-zero rail). They also have an extremely large city govt compared to most cities.Nick Beaudrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02794690208464883973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-50759724363342539802008-12-13T20:51:00.000-08:002008-12-13T20:51:00.000-08:00Here is why Obama made the pick: New York is a pre...Here is why Obama made the pick: New York is a pressure cooker of urban problems; it is also the world's largest laboratory for urban solutions. <BR/><BR/>If there is a problem that a city can have, it has happened in the New York City area. Traffic jams at 3:45 am? Check. Three International and two regional airports? Check. Huge ferry and waterway system (though not as big as Seattle's)? Check. Overburdened bridge and highway system? Blight? Gentrification? Racial Tension? Big interests groups and vocal minorities? Non english speaking populations? Security and Terrorism? Tragedy of the commons? Air quality problems? Extreme income disparity? Military bases? Seasonal influx of tourists? Homelessness? Drug hot zones? More parks than anyone else? Unplanned, planned, and overplanned growth? Massive public transit system? Ice? Flooding? Check, check, and so on.<BR/><BR/>Let me assure you that there are low density areas as well -- Staten Island is well forested and commonly regarded as a back water. Queens' John Browne High School specializes in Agriculture; it has a functioning farm with plants, fish, and livestock. Want to live in a commune? They exist here.<BR/><BR/>In sum, the Donovan has been well bloodied and is probably smart enough to know that New York/New Jersey isn't the only urban area on the planet. Isn't that what Boston is for?An Incomplete Educationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450735128344821077noreply@blogger.com