John Rhea, Chairman of the NYC Housing Authority, discusses federal funding -- or the lack thereof -- as a huge challenge facing the future of public housing.
Re: What's a practical source of funding? Sadly, there are many who feel that any form of federal funding for social purposes is an encroachment on individual liberties. I am not sure that opposition to public housing is as vehement at the state level. Perhaps it varies by state.
public housing Public housing enaables young people to afford to live in cities where they could not afford private rents. If anything it adds to the economy that supports the suburbs.
Re: What's a practical source of funding? Public housing will become increasingly important in the near future. It's my firm belief that automation is going to be taking more and more jobs in the near future, making employment a serious long term problem. The problem is that as rising productivity reduces the wages required to produce goods, taxes are needed on the increase profits to the owners of capital to rebalance things out. Unfortunately as those with capital get wealthier, they are in a better position to lobby for even lower taxes and smaller government programs.
Eventually, we may create a dystopian world where most people are living in government welfare housing. I'm reminded of a book recently written by Marshal Brain called "Manna, Two Visions of Humanities Future". In his story, the U.S. devolves into a two class state, where the elites live in complete opulence while the rest of the population lives in prison like welfare housing. While across the big pond, Australia took a different approach; with something Marshal called the Australian project. The Australian project draws a lot of ideas from the Venus project which is real and which I am a volunteer on. The book is free for the Kindle and can be found here.
Re: What's a practical source of funding? I noted in my blog earlier this week about the presidential election that there's a battle in this country between the cities and the suburbs. From fierce proponents of the 'burbs, there's great opposition to the federal government providing more funding for public housing. As that extremist whose book I quoted made clear, he and others consider this to be "stealing from the suburbs."
I think fundraising is all well and good, and important, but I also genuniely don't see how something like public housing or other public programs can possibly survive without funding from the government.
What's a practical source of funding? Public housing seems to have fallen on hard times, particularly during the recessionary period we're still experiencing. It's tough to think of models that will help breathe some life where it's needed. Perhaps local incentives and fundraising are the best way forward right now?
3/19/2013 From Smart Building to Smart City In this Webinar, speakers from the industry and from IBM will explain how smart buildings become smart cities. Attendees will learn the basic characteristics and functions of smart buildings; how these facilities are interconnected; what kinds of urban systems can be included in such a network; and how the cloud model can create a smart, sustainable, and self-regulating city from the foundation of smart buildings.
Smart City Money Makers companies and solutions that are most prominent, and destined to be most profitable, in the smart city revolution.
How to Make Your City Smarter Cities all over the world need to become smarter and more sustainable. But where to start? Download this guide to learn the first, proven steps toward making your city smarter.
Site Moderators Future Cities is looking for engaged readers to moderate the message boards on this site. Engage in high-IQ conversations; earn kudos and perks. Interested? E-mail: moderators@ubmfuturecities.com
directory
Designed to provide the people with access to green building products all year round
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This