As the city struggles with garbage collection, an all-volunteer force rises to the challenge.
"[Volunteers] converge on New Orleans' neighborhoods to attack what many now consider its greatest enemy: trash. They are tackling the heaps of paper, cartons, blankets, tattered clothing, wood and rug remnants that litter the city's streets and median strips â€" referred to here as "neutral ground" â€" six months after Hurricane Katrina tore through...[The] trash force calls itself the Katrina Krewe and includes students, homemakers, retirees, teachers and other professionals...
Residents acknowledge that the city has always struggled with garbage collection. But the local government has faced a myriad of other post-storm challenges, and only Friday kicked off a city-sponsored volunteer cleanup. Garbage has become New Orleans' new emblem; in many neighborhoods, more rubbish than cars line curbs...the magnitude of the trash appears to dwarf the official cleanup effort...
The number of volunteers has soared from 15...to between 150 and 500, the Katrina Krewe founder said. The helpers hail from all over the city â€" and sometimes the country â€" and typically cover a 15- to 20-block radius during each cleanup."
FULL STORY: Trash Force Sweeps New Orleans
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
Oakland to Add 244 New EV Chargers
Oakland plans to launch its new charging network at eight locations by the end of 2025.
Jane Goodall Inspires with Message of Hope, Resilience, and Environmental Action
Speaking in Pasadena, Jane Goodall offered a hopeful and inspirational message, urging global compassion, environmental responsibility, and the power of individual action to shape a better future.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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