The Sidewalk Weekly

The Sidewalk Weekly is taking a break, so we can dedicate ourselves to City of the Future season 3. Here's how you can find us in the meantime:

• Subscribe to the City of the Future podcast
• Subscribe to the Sidewalk Weekly newsletter
• Email us at [email protected]

See you in the future!

In the first segment [1:18-11:30], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• The future of consumption and cities (Frank Trentmann, TNR) https://bit.ly/33YCxrC
• Portland's landmark zoning reform (Laura Bliss, CityLab) https://bloom.bg/2E16zA3

In the second segment [11:54 -21:58], Sidewalk Senior Software Engineer Samara Trilling explains why we need to temporarily ban mortgage lending algorithms during the pandemic. (Morning Consult) https://bit.ly/31TicBu / (Aspen Tech Policy Hub) https://bit.ly/2CqQsva

And in the final segment [22:05-23:55], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• Future predictions from 1964 (Bryan Walsh, Axios Future) https://bit.ly/2PSk087
• New job aspiration: official city wizard (Julia Hollingsworth, CNN) https://cnn.it/2DZlbzY

In the first segment [1:24-15:47], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• Covid and the affordability crisis: (Quoctrung Bui and Emily Badger, NYT) https://nyti.ms/2DMogn2 / (Wolf Richter, Wolf Street) https://bit.ly/3fywn3v / (Derek Thompson, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3ip3vwJ
• San Diego pushes back on "smart" streetlights (Sarah Holder, Bloomberg CityLab) https://bloom.bg/31yB8oM
• Cities consider reparations: (Dasia Moore, Boston Globe) https://bit.ly/2C7PQKV / (Rosanna Xia, LA Times) https://lat.ms/3a3s0we

In the second segment [16:09 - 22:45], the hosts talk to author Emily Anthes about her book The Great Indoors. https://bit.ly/3kmVQk2

And in the final segment [22:52-25:01], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• Cleaning robots (Lisa Prevost, NYT) https://nyti.ms/30BWgez
• Hairdressers (Marc Bain, Qz) https://bit.ly/2PuUyFw

In the first segment [1:32-16:15], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• Why eliminating single-family zoning isn't enough (Emily Hamilton, CityLab) https://bloom.bg/3gimtnR / (Ashley Salvador, Reasons to be Cheerful) https://bit.ly/3k8WRMK
• How algorithms could help detect — and prevent — discrimination (PNAS) https://bit.ly/2D9VnAW
• Walls are making a comeback (Amanda Mull, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3jXKra9

In the second segment [16:37-22:33], the hosts talk to journalist Laura Raskin about Studio Ma and "desert urbanism." (Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2BN9pbh

And in the final segment [22:38-25:13], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• Cute Laundry Shop Couple Stylishly Models Clothes Left Behind by Their Patrons (Jason Kottke, Kottke.org) https://bit.ly/2Pc3VtD
• 'City Dreamers': a documentary on four pioneering female architects (Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, NYT) https://nyti.ms/310W33E

In the first segment [1:50-12:55], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• Taiwan's digital minister Audrey Tang leverages open data in the fight against Covid (Andrew Leonard, WIRED) https://bit.ly/39opznI / (Eric Jaffe, Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/39paL8p
• The most important bike technology is … street design (Eric Jaffe / Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2CDgonE

In the second segment [13:15-21:55], the hosts talk to architect and accessibility consultant Karen Braitmayer about the state of accessible architecture 30 years after the passing of the ADA. (Michael Kimmelman, NYT) https://nyti.ms/32RaVEr

And in the final segment [22:00-24:30], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• Real-Time Crowding Info Helps Boston's Bus Riders (Transit Center) https://bit.ly/2CYkjuV
• Engineer makes robot to cut his hair (Digg) https://bit.ly/3eWPdkA

In the first segment [1:46-16:52], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• Good news? We have the clean tech we need to get to net zero by 2050. Bad news? They're so not ready yet. (David Roberts, Vox) https://bit.ly/3haOBcy
• The tech industry is built on serendipity. If workers flee the Bay Area, what then? (Steve Levine, Marker) https://bit.ly/2ZDW0Lz
• Who gets to make noise about who gets to make noise in the city? (Kate Wagner, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3h9tirR

In the second segment [17:12-23:30], the hosts talk to journalist Philip Preville about Kansas City's stormwater innovation. (Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2B7BrxG

And in the final segment [23:34-26:25], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• Noise-canceling headphones for your apartment (David Waldstein, NYT) https://nyti.ms/30psWXm
• New York's streateries (Diana Budds, Curbed) https://bit.ly/3h8GflH

In the first segment [2:00-17:12], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• Renewables vs. Natural Gas (Ivan Penn, NYT) https://nyti.ms/2BVUQC4 / From Peaker Plants to Publicly-Owned Solar (Clarisa Diaz, Gothamist) https://bit.ly/3iQau2z
• Singapore's Home Ownership Success (Adam Majendie, CityLab) https://bloom.bg/38GZ7Wa
• The New Boomerang Kids (Joe Pinsker, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/2W6j7fU

In the second segment [17:35-23:35], the hosts talk to Laura O'Reilly, the founder of the placemaking organization Wallplay, about pop-ups and ground-floor retail recovery. (Carrie Denning Jackson, Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2ZRlaW4

And in the final segment [23:42 - 26:40], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• A brief history of the ice cream truck (Colin Dickey, Smithsonian) https://bit.ly/2WnfTVt
• Elsa Majimbo, the star of Kenya's lockdown (Helen Sullivan, Guardian) https://bit.ly/3gYbm3F

In the first segment [1:39-16:23], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• The perils of facial recognition: Wrongfully accused by an algorithm (Kashmir Hill, NYT) https://nyti.ms/2CLC00L
• 11 ways Covid Recovery is Changing Cities (CityLab) https://bloom.bg/2CKVqTr
• Analysis finds millions of Americans can't afford their water bills (Nina Lakhani, Guardian) https://bit.ly/385U8xU

In the second segment [16:46-22:59], the hosts talk to Deirdre Mask, the author of The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power https://bit.ly/2Ny0Pzk

And in the final segment [23:05 - 26:25], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• Barbershops Lead the Reopening Effort (Bloomberg) https://bloom.bg/2ZgN3Xr
• Nashville Public Library's "Curb Side, Baby" https://bit.ly/38bYaoA

Today, June 19th or Juneteenth, commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Rather than airing a show, we are dedicating this day to reading and reflecting on America's history of racial injustice and the ways in which racism has permeated our policies and, in particular, our cities. 

If you're interested in going on this journey with us, here's a short list of some readings that explore issues of equity and racial justice from the angle of making cities more inclusive. 

• The Case for Reparations (Ta-Nehisi Coates, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3hIYjUz
• The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power (Deirdre Mask) https://bit.ly/3fEM6Pa
• When the protests end, fixing cities will not begin or end with buildings (Ron Thompson, GGWash)  https://bit.ly/2UXAFKB
• Urban Density: Confronting the Distance Between Desire and Disparity (Jay Pitter, Azure) https://bit.ly/2Yby2Xk
• How to End Anti-Blackness in Cities (Alissa Walker, Curbed) https://bit.ly/3hK86tB

Please let us know your thoughts — or recommendations for other reads — by emailing us at [email protected]

In the first segment [1:04-15:32], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

• The policing case study of Camden, New Jersey (James Doubek, NPR) https://n.pr/37psgEq / (Scottie Andrew, CNN) https://cnn.it/2XXn8Ey 
• Study finds that rental property managers screen minority households into more polluted neighborhoods (Eric Jaffe, Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/3hoZ1qb 
• Scientist studies how face-masks change human behavior on city sidewalks (Craig Timberg, Washington Post) https://wapo.st/3hpG6LC 

In the second segment [15:56 - 23:02], the hosts talk to reporter Perla Trevizo about how Texan cities are supporting local businesses (especially those owned by minorities) that didn't get help from the federal pandemic program (ProPublica / Texas Tribune) https://bit.ly/2MPRcM7 

And in the final segment [23:05 - 25:33], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

• "Why the Golden Gate Bridge Is Now a Giant Orange Wheezing Kazoo." (Gabe Meline, KQED) https://bit.ly/3ffU2Gn
• Astoria diner hosts drive-in movies (Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker) https://bit.ly/3hm1lxT