While evidence showing the benefits of trees continues to mount, urban and suburban areas are losing tree cover at an alarming rate. In debating the removal of trees in urban areas, let’s not forget why we like living in Atlanta.
Trees: Taking Up Space Since 385 Million B.C.
Housing Crisis? What Housing Crisis?
This week, amid a nationwide housing crisis, HUD proposes cuts to housing subsidies for the poor, elderly, and disabled. Also, Roanoke incorporates beer into their official marketing and economic strategy, MARTA released its list of proposed transit projects, and California will require solar panels on all new homes.
Tenants Suffer Yet Another Loss at the Georgia Court of Appeals
The Georgia Court of Appeals recently ruled that landlords can severely limit legal actions against them by tenants. Even if you’re not a tenant, the decision is important because it’s another example of how consumers are routinely forced to forgo their access to the judicial system in order to participate in everyday transactions. Tenants did, though, score a major victory in the Georgia Legislature.
Last Year’s Hurricane Season Was Intense and Unpredictable. Get Ready for 2018.
The 2017 hurricane season was one of the most intense and unpredictable on record. The 2018 season officially begins on June 1, only a couple months after the release of a proposal to cut the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by nearly 25 percent.
Not Only is the EPA’s Wasteful Spending Unpopular, Its Entire Mission is Unpopular
This week, another poll shows President Trump’s environmental policies are widely unpopular, though people don’t seem too concerned about drastically cutting the National Weather Service’s budget. Also, Sweden introduces the first road capable of charging electric vehicles while they drive. And a study by AAA shows hit-and-runs are increasing as more people are walking and cycling, though the report mentions nothing about creating less car-friendly and more people-friendly cities as a solution.
Public Access to Beaches is Under Attack
This week, a new Florida law prohibits local governments from passing laws designed to protect the public’s access to beaches, the line dividing the arid part of the country from the moister part is moving eastward, and metro Atlanta residents spend over $10,000 a year on driving-related expenses.
You Don’t Own That Parking Spot in Front of Your House
Throwing eggs and leaving angry notes are just a couple ways people have shown their dissatisfaction with someone parking in front of their house on a public street. These actions come despite the angry note leaver or egg thrower having no legal right to the parking spot. While parking restrictions may be necessary in some situations, burdensome auto abandonment laws and inappropriate restrictions could raise rents and create more trouble.
We Should Have Taxed Ridesharing
This week, the advantages of suburban annexation by cities, the increasingly popular bi-partisan caucus in Congress looking to combat climate change, and the debate over self-driving cars and traffic congestion shows why ridesharing should be taxed.