Interesting Article: RIP Suburbs (Los Angeles, San Jose: 2010, houses, neighborhoods)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by NewportBorn

Who says it has to be noisy and crowded?

You have obviously never been to a big city where people (regular middle class folk) all live in a high rise, just cause its tall doesn't mean its hell.

I put very little into much of what is written in the NEw York Times. the article is interesting, but factual, Heck who knows???

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

The problem is this is focused only on one side.

For example, if part of the "downfall" is due to increasing commuting costs what if people do not physically commute?

How many suburbs may become telecommuter centers? People would work from home, eliminating the need to go to an urban center high-rise every day.

But then we could write an article that telecommuting will lead to the decline of urban living.

good points, two things I think we have already seen more of and will in the future: many companies no longer have their corporate headquarters in a downtown location and telecommting is the trend of the future..

Our daughter and son in law work for a major corporation that is not headquartered in a city but in the burbs, near the city. Our son in law telecommutes 2 days a week and our daughter does the same, depending on how busy her schedule is..Before she got a recent promotion, even at the level of director she actually shared a cubical, not even an office. 10 years ago and a couple of levels ago, she had a huge private office. By telecommuting sharing became much easier...

I remember reading a couple of articles on the death of the burbs and the re-vitalization of the urban areas about 30 years ago...

Nita

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

- most suburban and exurban communities in CA are THEIR OWN CITIES with their own tax base and get their own share of money from the STATE, not the city they happen to be an exurb to.

And where does this state money come from????

Besides, I live in a city with far reaches like Almaden and I'm targeting them just the same.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

And where does this state money come from????

Besides, I live in a city with far reaches like Almaden and I'm targeting them just the same.

You either accept that you pay taxes to support others or you don't. You don't get to pick who. That's how "the system" works. Nothing to argue about, unless you want to debate "the system", I would say it's irrelevant to this discussion. In a state like CA, with multiple large cities, who is to say that Red Bluff gets more money from SF or LA? They don't divvy it up based on proximity.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

You either accept that you pay taxes to support others or you don't. You don't get to pick who. That's how "the system" works. Nothing to argue about, unless you want to debate "the system", I would say it's irrelevant to this discussion. In a state like CA, with multiple large cities, who is to say that Red Bluff gets more money from SF or LA? They don't divvy it up based on proximity.

I don't mind the dispersal; I'm criticizing the carelessness which leads to excessive spending. I understand and respect that some people want to live on quiet streets in detached homes with big yards. I do mind that it has such an impact on everyone and perpetuates the culture. More burbs mean bigger freeways mean less money for public transit means more drivers means more suburbs and big freeways. In the end, big money is spent to satisfy that new extension of the urban agglomeration instead of more people who use the core areas. My point is that the money could go a lot further.

[Adriatica]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

And where does this state money come from????

Monies for federal, state, and local transportation projects and maintenance come from:

• Motor vehicle taxes
• Gas taxes
• Toll fees on roads/bridges (where applicable)
• City/County general funds
• Bond measures
• Some property taxes, but this is not very prevalent

The primary sources, by far, are vehicle taxes and gas taxes.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

My point is that the money could go a lot further.

Not disagreeing but a discussion on the efficiency of government seems to be veering off the OP's topic.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Adriatica

Monies for federal, state, and local transportation projects and maintenance come from:

• Motor vehicle taxes
• Gas taxes
• Toll fees on roads/bridges (where applicable)
• City/County general funds
• Bond measures
• Some property taxes, but this is not very prevalent

The primary sources, by far, are vehicle taxes and gas taxes.

And without drivers paying into transportation funds, some of which gets spent on mass transit, where would mass transit get its money? Tax on walking shoes or bottled water?

[Adriatica]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

And without drivers paying into transportation funds, some of which gets spent on mass transit, where would mass transit get its money? Tax on walking shoes or bottled water?

True--some of the same funds I listed above are diverted to mass transit. Some other sources for mass transit include fares, grants and subsidies, and local measures. The primary sources for mass transit funding vary widely around the state since some areas use public transit heavily and others have little to no services.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Not disagreeing but a discussion on the efficiency of government seems to be veering off the OP's topic.

Fair enough. Sorry.