Infrastructure backlogs: burden or opportunity?

Matt Chaban, policy director at the Center for an Urban Future, argues in Crain's that New York should take its maintenance and repair backlog as an opportunity to create good-paying jobs.
From water mains to public buildings, much of the infrastructure in use in the city today is 60-80 years old, Chaban explains. New York would need to spend $47 billion just to reach a state of good repair across the board, he writes, noting that "any major expansion or sweeping modernization would cost billions more."
While the de Blasio administration is investing in infrastructure maintenance, the piece details just how short those efforts fall of addressing the scale of the problem, and suggests several schemes to raise more funds:
Smart rezonings that tie growth to public improvements should be part of the equation. The Move New York congestion pricing plan is another idea whose time has come, as are storm-water management fees, which would encourage landlords to take some of the burdens off the sewers. Public infrastructure dollars also need to go further than they do today. The state benefits from design-build contracts that can cut costs and time, but Albany should extend the same authority to New York City, which could save billions over the decade ahead.
FULL STORY: NYC's infrastructure woes run deeper than the subway

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
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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.
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