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Russia: Now With American-Style Suburbanism

Posted by: Tim Halbur

14 July 2010 - 2:00pm

With the Russian spies being sent home, Clifford J. Levy wondered if they'd miss the comforts of U.S.-style suburban living. What he found is that today's Russia has imitated the way of life, including gated communities with American names.

Levy writes, "If Richard and Cynthia Murphy (now exposed as Vladimir and Lydia Guryev) are homesick for Montclair, N.J., they can peruse the brochures for gated communities in the Moscow region. They might fancy Linden Park or Greenfield, or others with names right out of an American atlas, not to mention architectural touches that would warm the heart of any American striver."

American products are now freely available as well: Tide, Pampers and Head & Shoulders shampoo are everywhere. But, Levy observes, the economic inequality hasn't changed and the American lifestyle isn't available to all.

Full Story: Time to Wake Up, Sleeper Spy
Source: The New York Times, July 9, 2010
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If hundreds of people in your community raised reasonable concerns about a planning program you developed, how would you respond? Perhaps you might call a community meeting, or ask community elected officials to reach out to community leaders.
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