Liberal Outsourcing

When my fellow interns and I would grumble about our tasks at the ACLU of Michigan a few years back, the legal director would like to remind us that he got his start in politics canvassing for the nuclear freeze movement in suburban Michigan — in winter. Is political canvassing — specifically outsourced canvassing — […]

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BAM-N Launches Organizing Drive in DC

Thought this was interesting. As usual, the issues they talk about are very important. Their usual tactics are another question; hopefully the DC organizers will be more democratic and civil than the Detroit group. Dear DC Public School Advocates, I’ve had the privilege of working with many of you in the DC Full Funding Campaign, […]

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Pondering the Unspeakable Option

I’ve been thinking about libraries lately. The DC Public Library‘s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, to be specific. There’s been a debate raging over the library’s future: some want the 1972 Mies van der Rohe structure renovated and maintained as the city’s main library. Others, including the mayor, his blue-ribbon library task force, and […]

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Project Approved in College Park

The city of College Park has given preliminary approval to a $68-million, 17-story residential project planned for a site just north of campus on Route 1. I thought this was interesting: “The university’s strategic plan calls for a higher quality college town,” said Brian Darmody, the university’s assistant vice president for research and economic development […]

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I Want My Stuff Back

Inspired by this NY Times article, I decided to post this little announcement … Yesterday at the highly successful and fun monthly blogger meetup I host, my bag containing a notebook and my digital camera was stolen. It was taken between 9:00 and 10:30 PM from the outdoor seating area at Pharoah’s Rock N’ Blues […]

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On Building a Neighborhood ‘From Scratch’

The Washington Business Journal recently published this interesting article about the baseball stadium district in Southeast, asking “How do you create character where there is none, without replicating Disney-esque environments found at suburban town centers?” In the article they talk to quite a few planners and developers and it’s clear the district will be resoundingly […]

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