From Planning Commissioner's Journal:

"1. Provision of pure water and effective sewage treatment.

2. The isolation of disharmonious and dangerous land uses.

3. Abolition of corrupt "boss" governments.

4. Development of the integrated roadway system.

5. Electrification of regions and cities.

6. Advent of universal communications.

7. The widespread extension of home ownership.

8. The realization of metropolitan and regional park systems.

9. The control of land subdivision.

10. The environmental movement."

I'm not sure I agree with the list, but it's interesting.

-- Ken Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), May 04, 2000

Answers

Where does the development of an effective mass transit system fall? {Or the quashing of, as in early-to-mid 20th century LA}.

Call me hypersensitive, but the wording of #10 seems incongruous with the related issues of #8 & #9.

-- flora (***@__._), May 04, 2000.

This list seems narrow in focus (from the planning commissioner point of view) but how did "universal communications" get in? Or is universal comm so prevailent in all areas of life that it would make anyone's top ten.

Flora, It seems to me that mass transit is almost non-existent in the "American City".

Interesting to say the least. I'd put some medical break-thrus on the list if we were to broaden the focus.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), May 04, 2000.

*Note to folks who feel intimidated by 'intellectual topics'*

The storyline from the movie 'Who framed Roger Rabbit' was based in fact. The Red Car Line mass transit system of my mother's childhood was effectively wiped out by commercial interests- such as Firestone Tire.

The tradeoffs and sweetheart deals between the private and public sectors can have a great deal to do with shaping all of our lives, and the future of any given area.

-- flora (***@__._), May 04, 2000.

I agree that these have all led to various successes. But equally important is what have led to failures. Off the top of my head are two:

1)-Widespread use of drugs, leading to crime and major social dislocations.

2)-Urban renewal projects (originally considered "progressive") and urban expressways (Cross-Bronx Xway is a classic) that have decimated poor but viable urban neighborhoods.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), May 04, 2000.

Lars,

let's include Corrupt Boss Governments in your list. I'd say Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and probably other large, old cities with crumbling infrastructures might fit into this category. Also the entire states of Arkansas and Louisiana.

-- Questor (questor@search.for.tomorrow), May 04, 2000.

Flora, It seems to me that mass transit is almost non-existent in the "American City".

I can agree with that. Indeed the growth of American [and world for that matter] cities is such that destinations {services, etc} are totally decentralized. An economically viable mass transit system is probably not possible if it is meant to serve a large fraction of the population. It will remain a subsidized service for a few mass transit dependent people.

One that I would add to the list: the vast increase in the efficiency of agriculture during this century It is the single event that made large cities possible. Perhaps the development of hybrid plants and animals has had a larger effect on our society than anything else that we have done.

Best wish

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), May 04, 2000.

ok

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), May 04, 2000.

one more

[I fixed bold tag in your post for you since I happen to be reading it. OTFR]

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.comn), May 04, 2000.

Z,

OK, howzabout the refrigerated rail cars, which drove some of that agricultural change. Transportation technology developments and limits in general have played a tremendous role here.

-- flora (***@__._), May 04, 2000.

Mass transit? The most short sighted decision in our history( in my opinion ) occured when railroad rights of way were allowed to revert to adjacent property owners when those tracks were no longer used. Sounds good at first, but just think about it....thousands of miles of prepared road bed already in place, going thru the heart of every major city. If and when those right of ways become useful again because of higher fuel costs or elevated systems for city transportation it will be impossible to regain these infrastructures that are already in place.

-- Kelly Meek (romper1@aol.com), May 04, 2000.

Danke OTFR:

Flora:"OK, howzabout the refrigerated rail cars, which drove some of that agricultural change. Transportation technology developments and limits in general have played a tremendous role here."

I don't know if I would use the term "drove it". Made it possible; no question.

The development of hybrid corn alone made the farm family obsolete in much of the midwest. The development of hybrids, modern equipment and modern management systems permitted a few people to produce food for many. They were free to go to the cities. That's where they are now.

Without those changes we would either be hungry or primarily a rural society. Of course many things have changed us; but this is one important one that wasn't on a city planner's list.

Best wishes,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), May 04, 2000.

Z,

"They were free to go to the cities. That's where they are now."

I've opened a box of family letters from the teens & twenties. One branch was leaving the midwest behind for economic reasons. The letters from those left in the old hometown are heartbreaking. Another branch came out for professional opportunities.

Now, because of economic factors, many of the descendents they've left behind are moving away from the city.

-- flora (***@__._), May 04, 2000.