Professional and Career Topics

Recently discussed at a Street Lights meeting sponsored by Complete Streets America in Sacramento by a bicycle advocate from what was referred to as an “environmental justice” (EJ) community, the three signs of gentrification coming are a yoga business, a latte shop and a complete street.  What are the answers to improving the lives of folks in so-called EJ communities in terms of helping them get more active transportation, reduce air pollution and maybe even produce jobs that pay more than minimum wage but don’t require a college degree?  Can complete streets shut down good high school degree jobs in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, etc by shutting down freight access?  Have complete streets become an end to themselves?  Or are they a tool for achieving these community goals, but need to be used carefully to avoid the yoga/latte/gentrification outcome?

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John Harvey P.E., M.ASCE
Professor
University Of California
Davis CA
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Freight access can easily co-exist with complete streets -- it's all about how we design our towns and cities. Complete streets improve the local economy and create viable jobs nearby that don't require hours of commuting. Who wants giant freight trucks on main street, except for particular deliveries? They belong on freeways with no pedestrians for safety reasons.


Original Message------

Recently discussed at a Street Lights meeting sponsored by Complete Streets America in Sacramento by a bicycle advocate from what was referred to as an “environmental justice” (EJ) community, the three signs of gentrification coming are a yoga business, a latte shop and a complete street.  What are the answers to improving the lives of folks in so-called EJ communities in terms of helping them get more active transportation, reduce air pollution and maybe even produce jobs that pay more than minimum wage but don’t require a college degree?  Can complete streets shut down good high school degree jobs in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, etc by shutting down freight access?  Have complete streets become an end to themselves?  Or are they a tool for achieving these community goals, but need to be used carefully to avoid the yoga/latte/gentrification outcome?

------------------------------
John Harvey P.E., M.ASCE
Professor
University Of California
Davis CA
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