Valley Queens

Parking seems like an afterthought when it comes to discussing systemic inequities in our towns; however, it's anything but. Parking ordinances and regulations can make or break a downtown, gentrify our spaces, and boost or kill development. In a talk with Tony Jordan, founder and president of the Parking Reform Network, we talk about how parking basically decides who comes and goes in our communities, and how we can use examples of parking reform in other cities to create conscientious and evidence-based regulations to get us to where we want to be.

The New York State Board of Regents has drafted a diversity, equity, and  inclusion call to action. Did they finally acknowledge the oppressive  effects of systemic racism? Did they recognize their role in  perpetuating such? Will they hold schools accountable for inaction and  silence surrounding this topic? Larry Levy (Hofstra), Brandy Scott  (LIBEA), Dafny Irizarry (LILTA), and I discuss if this call to action is  enough.

Exclusionary zoning on Long Island has historically and systematically excluded BIPOCs, those in lower socioeconomic classes, and even women. What does exclusionary zoning mean? What does a community that practices exclusionary zoning look like? What can we do about it? Should we do something about it?