Despite the protestations of local advocacy groups, councilmembers, and the former director of planning, Mayor Jean Stothert is moving a head with a budget proposal that would eliminate Omaha's only planner dedicated to bike and pedestrian plans.
"Despite rainy weather, about 300 people gathered this Saturday in Omaha to protest the city’s plans to eliminate its 'bike czar' position," reports Angie Schmitt.
According to Schmitt, "Protesters demanded three things, said Stephen Osberg, vice chair of the advocacy group Mode Shift Omaha: 1) They want the position maintained; 2) they want a complete streets policy; and 3) they want a citizen’s advisory board for bike and pedestrian projects."
Kevin Cole of the Omaha World-Herald provides these details of the budget cuts and the "bike czar" position in a separate article: "Mayor Jean Stothert’s 2015 budget, which goes before the City Council on Tuesday, eliminates the position of bicycle and pedestrian coordinator that Carlos Morales has held since 2010. The position, which was created by then-Mayor Jim Suttle, pays $80,000 a year and was funded with grants from Alegent Creighton Health, Live Well Omaha and the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency."
FULL STORY: Hundreds Protest After Omaha Mayor Scraps City’s Only Bike/Ped Planner
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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