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The Planetizen News Brief - 7/30/09

30 July 2009 - 5:00am
Smart City Radio

The Planetizen News Brief is a weekly rundown of some of the most interesting and important news and issues of the past week.

The Planetizen News Brief airs every week on the nationally-syndicated radio program "Smart City", which is broadcast in cities across the U.S. Learn more about Smart City and listen to archived shows.

Full Transcript

Endorsed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is on her way to the nation’s highest court – and it’s got some property owners shaking. What’s got them worried is the precedent Sotomayor helped set in a 2006 case over the use of eminent domain in the name of economic development. A recent piece from the Christian Science Monitor looks at the history of that case, ruled upon after the controversial eminent domain case of Kelo Vs. New London which established that local governments could use eminent domain for economic development that benefits the public. Sotomayor’s role on a 3-judge panel affirmed the constitutionality of a similar use of eminent domain in that 2006 case. And in recent confirmation hearings, she has defended her ruling on that case – a pro-eminent domain stance that could mean bad news for small property owners as cities try to revive their economies.

Meanwhile, Chicagoans are trepidatiously broaching the prospect of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. The city is widely believed to be the favorite of four finalists for the event, but anti-Olympic sentiment is growing in the Windy City. Organizers have estimated that hosting the event would cost about $3.3 billion, but they say no city money would be required to pull it off. About $60 million in private funding has been raised so far, according to an article in the New York Times, but the economic recession has many in the city worried that private investments won’t filter through and the balance will be left to the city and its taxpayers. And indeed the gamble is already underway. The city recently agreed to invest $86 million to build the Olympic village, months before an official 2016 host has been chosen. Officials say private developers will come in and foot this $86 million bill, not to mention the $3.3 billion overall that will be required. This has left many opponents asking “What if they don’t?”

And if Chicago’s $3.3 billion price tag sounds bad, brace yourself for what’s facing Brazil. The country is going to be hosting the 2014 soccer World Cup, and a recent article from the Associated Press looks at a report that estimates the total infrastructure investment related to the month-long event at more than $42 billion. The 12-city event will require new stadium development, the expansion of road and transit infrastructure and broad improvements to public safety. Despite the infrastructure-focus of the work, the majority of spending will be directed at the soccer stadia, and many worry these will serve only as underused monuments to wasteful spending once the World Cup has come and gone.

Stories discussed in this week's Planetizen News Brief

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