As downtown Manhattan is being reconfigured, there seems to be chorus of voices. But who is in charge of planning?
"The public authority charged with coming up with a plan for the land, John Whiteheads Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, has so far managed to pull the neat trick of being both sprawling (at this rate, well probably all be appointed to it sooner or later) and opaque. Whos really in charge? Of the countless interest groups with a stake, which voices ring louder than others?In short, how do you cut through the cacophony? How do you tell which plans are for real and which are just well-intentioned static?"
Thanks to Stephen Arrendell
FULL STORY: Who's at Center of Ground Zero? Permanent Elite

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.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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