Weekly Links: The money used to educate kids about science may be the most influential and significant piece of the multi-billion dollar settlement agreement with BP. Plus, a transit-oriented soccer league is developing in Atlanta, a new study shows exposure to television news decreases your ability to discern fact from opinion, and e-scooter companies are finally being sued for negligence.
Ice Displaces Water, So Melting Ice Won’t Cause Oceans to Rise
Weekly Links: water does expand when it freezes, but this theory is missing some critical facts. Plus, the Supreme Court isn’t buying the argument that advertising toxic substances is a protected speech under the 1st Amendment. And, more parking is needed for the Olympics, so Tokyo’s famous fish market has to go.
Forty Percent of Land in America is Dedicated to Cows
Weekly Links: America dedicates 40% of its land to raising and feeding livestock, California’s Carr Fire may have produced an actual fire tornado with winds of 150 mph, and an intriguing map shows that the land that now comprises modern day Atlanta was a nexus point for three major Native American communities.
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.
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.
California’s Japanese-Style Takeover of Local Zoning Control
This week, California attempts to usurp zoning control from cities to increase affordable housing, rivers used to catch on fire in pre-EPA America, Melbourne’s trees get email addresses, and what does the term ‘Orwellian’ actually mean?
Chattanooga Could Spell Disaster for High-Speed Rail in the Southeast
Chattanooga is a beautiful city tucked in the mountains of Southeastern Tennessee. Choosing it to be the first city to connect to Atlanta via High-Speed Rail would be a disastrous plan.
Update: California Supreme Court Says GIS Data is Public Data and Must be Disclosed
In an earlier article I urged the California Supreme Court to interpret the California Open Records Act in such as a way as to require local governments to disclose certain GIS data […]