Brian E.

Counting Race: How the Census Measures Identity and What Americans Think About It How the U.S. government measures race has changed substantially since censuses began in 1790. Today, Americans differ on whether the government should ask about race.

From the very first census in 1790, the U.S. has measured race – but never in the same way and rarely without controversy. In this new data essay, we look at how the census has approached racial and ethnic measurement over time.

Best time of year, by a longshot. Peak #Fall in Northern #Virginia @capitalweather.bsky.social @matthewcappucci.bsky.social

The vibrant colors of peak Fall in Northern Virginia @capitalweather.bsky.social @matthewcappucci.bsky.social

One reason safe streets advocacy is so critical is that there's no way to get media to even cover driver violence with basic journalistic integrity.

In some cases it's because ness outlets depend on car industry ads; in others, it's because many reporters/editors themselves have carbrain.

A sweet gum and a red maple a week earlier. #Fall #FallColors #November

Bring on the cool, cloudy days. November never disappoints as the leaves put on their last show

One aspect of US political history that I think is underplayed is that on several measures—health care, housing, transportation, basic assistance—by the late 60s/early 70s, the nation was headed in a similar direction as European social democracies. Domestic policy was ambitious & liberal.

The countries with the highest life expectancy are all rich economies. The countries with the lowest life expectancy are the poorest economies. Poverty cuts three decades of life expectancy figures. Source: buff.ly/aTxUtfE

Canada to Start $36 Billion Building Fund as Carney Seeks Economic Growth Canada is set to launch a C$50 billion ($35.5 billion) infrastructure fund to build projects in sectors such as hospitals, transportation and housing, as the government tries to boost an economy that’s being squeezed by US tariffs.

Canada is set to launch a C$50 billion ($35.5 billion) infrastructure fund to build projects in sectors such as hospitals, transportation and housing, as the government tries to boost an economy that’s being squeezed by US tariffs.

Will heritage stop housing development in the Annex? If a new heritage district is created, it should acknowledge the tradeoffs and explicitly define how the area will change

In Jane Jacobs’s old neighborhood, more heritage rules will mean more exclusion and gentrification.

We know how the story ends. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen again.

www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Some clouds from yesterday evening that didn't look real. Looked more like a painting. View from Northern VA. @capitalweather.bsky.social @matthewcappucci.bsky.social

We know a lot about urban data, mapping, and storytelling! Now so can you. We’ve published an online textbook of learning materials on data analytics, data visualization, and narrative techniques, to make complex urban trends understandable and engaging. https://tinyurl.com/4wur8jfk

Virginia’s GDP growth drops from 6.2% to 1.7%. Three new economic reports issue warnings about why and what comes next. The reports also suggest the state may be losing high-wage jobs but gaining lower-wage jobs.

Virginia's GDP growth drops from 6.2% to 1.7%. Three new economic reports issue warnings about why and what comes next. cardinalnews.org/2025/10/21/v...

New Mexico made childcare free. It lifted 120,000 people above the poverty line The state, which has long ranked worst in the US for child wellbeing, became the first and only in the country to offer free childcare to a majority of families

New Mexico made childcare free. It lifted 120,000 people above the poverty line | New Mexico | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/childcare-new-mexico-poverty

YouTube video by TEDx Talks How to respond to societal collapse | Sarah Wilson | TEDxSydney

You need to listen to this: "How to respond to #societal #collapse" | Sarah Wilson | TEDxSydney | www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Ay...

We often call better city-building ideas bold and visionary when they’re really just common sense given the real-life crises that cities are facing. But true common sense isn’t particularly common these days, so it’s considered bold.

In Most Regions, Metropolitan Planning Boards Overrepresent Homeowners and Drivers The appointed and elected officials who sit on the boards of a large share of regional planning organizations rarely reflect the people they serve.,Regional planning organizations help coordinate deci...

In examining regional planning organizations @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we've found that their boards rarely reflect the populations they represent proportionally: www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...

In new research, we show that this has consequences: boards vastly overrepresent homeowners & drivers ⏬

Assessing urban vitality in high-density cities: a spatial accessibility approach using POI reviews and residential data - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Assessing urban vitality in high-density cities: a spatial accessibility approach using POI reviews and residential data

Assessing #urban vitality in high-density #cities: a #spatial #accessibility approach using POI reviews and #residential #data | ‪@nature.com‬ | www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Adding tolled express lanes and widening roads has really paid off! ( i.e. Route 66 expansion in Northern #Virginia). Maybe more time and $$ should go to projects that take #cars off the road and make the region #healthier. Something like... expanding #publictransit options? Just spitballing here...

DC region’s ‘brutal commute’ ranks No. 1 for the country’s worst traffic - WTOP News Drivers in the D.C. region spend more time dealing with traffic than any other city in the nation, according to a new ranking from Consumer Affairs which looked at traffic data from the 50 biggest met...

#DC area dethrones #LosAngeles and takes #1 spot for worst #traffic in the country. Ranking from Consumer Affairs of 50 largest #metros in the #nation | Avg. #commute: 33.4 minutes | Regional traffic #congestion lasts 6 hours and 35 minutes | ‪@wtopnews.bsky.social‬ | wtop.com/dc/2025/07/d...

White text on black: WE ASK EVERYONE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR TO BE SAFE SO THAT DRIVERS CAN BE DANGEROUS THAT'S THE ENTIRETY OF OUR APPROACH TO ROAD SAFETY ROVÉLO CREATIVE

Always and forever

How climate crisis makes rainstorms that flooded New York more common More than 2in of rain fell in an hour in the region, killing two people, and such storms are only going to intensify

“We have an infrastructure that was designed for an environment we no longer live in,” Rohit Aggarwala, New York City’s chief climate officer, told the New York Times.

Riders Rise Up to Save Transit · Better Streets Chicago ## It's time for state legislators to get back to work to fix and FUND transit! Transit is in crisis because this Spring, the Illinois General Assembly failed to do their job and secure funding neces...

Legislators failed to fund transit in May, forcing agencies to begin planning 40% service cuts.

This is unacceptable – rise up with us TOMORROW and demand Gov. Pritzker and legislators return to Springfield this summer to save transit NOW!

⏰ July 12th @ 12pm
📍 Daley Plaza
➡️ rally.savetransit.org

Examining spatial expansion and stemming strategies of urban shrinkage: evidence from Detroit, USA - npj Urban Sustainability npj Urban Sustainability - Examining spatial expansion and stemming strategies of urban shrinkage: evidence from Detroit, USA

Examining #spatial #expansion and stemming strategies of #urban #shrinkage: evidence from #Detroit, #USA; New modeling paradigm called gravity-networked spatial interaction zones-based spatial panel modeling (GSIZs-Spanel) | #poverty #decline #suburbanization www.nature.com/articles/s42...

Cities at climate crossroads: Researchers investigate growth and degrowth approaches Can cities continue to grow without destroying Earth? A new paper from ICTA-UAB, Spain, offers insight into this complex issue.

Researchers investigate #growth and #degrowth approaches; Can #cities continue to grow without destroying #Earth? A new paper from ICTA-UAB, Spain, offers insight into this complex issue | #climate #urbanization #environmental #population #green @icta-uab.bsky.social | phys.org/news/2025-07...

Can Americans Just Stop Building New Highways? A new book argues that the expansion of the US roadway network has exacted social and environmental costs that far outweigh the benefits.

Can #Americans Just Stop Building New #Highways?
A new book argues that the #expansion of the #US #roadway network has exacted #social and #environmental costs that far outweigh the benefits | #interstate #cars #automobiles #harmful #carculture www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

International Vegetation Classification Groups v1.0 This layer presents information on the distribution of International Vegetation Classification (IVC) Groups for North America.

Map of Ecosystems of North America Completed!

@natureserve.bsky.social has released a first-of-its-kind map of ecosystems across the conterminous U.S. & nearby regions w/ a level of detail & consistency not previously available.
🧪 🌎 #GISchat
geohub-natureserve.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/Natures...

Britons lacking good public transport more likely to feel lonely, UK study finds Research finds correlation between car dependency and loneliness, particularly in rural towns

People who depend on cars to get around are more likely to feel lonely and disconnected than those who have access to good public transport, a UK study has found

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.

“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”

It costs a lot less to house people.

Who Killed the Streetcar? The State of Fort Worth's Public Transit When it comes to public transit, Fort Worth is getting left in the rearview. And we better catch up before it’s too late.

Who Killed the #Streetcar? The State of Fort Worth's Public Transit | #PublicTransportation #ForthWorth #Texas #FortWorthInc fortworthinc.com/news/who-kil...