Residents of a co-op in Washington D.C. make a plea to their neighbors to consider the negative implications of transforming their neighborhood into a gated community.
"River Park, the first housing complex to be built...after urban renewal cleared out the land in the 1950s. The co-op consists of two high-rises with a total of 384 apartments and also 134 townhouses, many with barrel roofs. Our apartments and townhouses are distinctive because of their aluminum panels. Many people who moved into the new Southwest...were idealists....A project to provide 'total perimeter fencing' with seven pedestrian and 11 vehicular electronically controlled gates is now under consideration at River Park....A total perimeter fence with 18 gates could suggest that there is a problem and could make the River Park community less desirable and, thus, less 'marketable'....How will people who come to the cooperative only occasionally be screened and admitted? Will there be cameras or guards at each entry point? How will home care workers, contractors (both for the cooperative and individuals), pizza deliverers, cleaners, emergency vehicles, etc., be admitted?"
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: Will a Fence Make Us Safer?

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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