What City Observatory did this week 1. City Limits: Some qualms about the new localism. The nation is deeply divided along political lines and it’s depressingly unlikely that we’ll generate national consensus on many issues soon. That, coupled with some…
Big data should be used for problem solving, not propaganda and promotion Cue the extreme telephoto shots of freeways! Wallow in the pity of commuters stuck in traffic because of all those other people! Wail that congestion is getting worse…
We like cities, but localism can only flourish with a competent, generous, fair federal government As our name City Observatory suggests, we’re keen on cities. We believe they’re the right frame for tackling many of our most important problems, from…
A year later, and we’re still stuck with the same hypocrisy on climate change The 1993 movie, Groundhog’s day has been a cultural touchstone for the endless do-loop of futility. Bill Murray finds himself waking up every morning to discover…
A picture of metropolitan growth: Sprawl then, stagnation now. We’re in awe of Issi Romem’s prodigious data skills. Romem is the economist and big data guru BuildZoom, the web-based marketplace for construction professionals. His latest report is a multi-decade look…