As NY area commuting patterns shift and trains are getting less comfortable, more eyebrows are raised over a pricey, members-only club car on Amtrak.
"A conductor near the car will raise his hand and politely say: "Sorry, sir. Can't ride in here. It's private." And just then, a passenger will stride confidently past into the roomy car, nodding at the conductor, who nods knowingly back.This is because that passenger belongs to probably the most rarefied group of train riders in the Northeast, a private commuting club of about 75 stockbrokers, lawyers, writers and business owners who get not only a guaranteed seat every evening and morning but also often an empty one next to them, too, just for stretching out."
Thanks to Amy C. Verel
FULL STORY: Lots of Seats, but Sorry, This Car's Taken

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A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure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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