UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Yet, Ben Griffin Stadium holds more than 88,000 spectators, which says volumes about the popularity of the Gators football team.
But sports is not all that is notable about this university.
It is also among the top 10 public colleges and universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The physical and programmatic
accessibility for wheelchair users ranks highly, as well.
RANDOM IMAGES THAT SAY ROMA
Colorful
Trastevere
Funky, bohemian
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
The Yacoubian Building, a novel by Egyptian author Alaa al-Aswany takes place in Downtown Cairo.
Published in Arabic in 2002 and in an English translation in 2004, the book is a scathing portrayal of modern Egyptian society since the 1952 Revolution.
The titular apartment building (an art deco classic that actually exists) serves as both a metaphor for contemporary Egypt and a unifying location in which most of the primary characters either live or work.
Most novel's action takes place. In the building, where the author, a dentist by profession, had his first office.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Downtown
Cairo is home to both the splendid, old Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square.
Tahrir
Square (Liberation Square) is a major public town square.
It has been the
location and focus for political demonstrations.
The most
notable is the Arab Spring gathering that led to the 2011 Egyptian revolution and
the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Downtown Cairo
is filled with unusual buildings that feature cheap clothing shops or cafes on
the ground floor, storage for that retail on the next floor, low-cost
apartments next, then a floor or two of tourist class hotels.
All within
the elegance of a fading building that, if located in Paris, would have one
million dollar apartments, rather than the rent controlled units that go for a
few hundred per month.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Egyptians
love their food, and the center of town offers it in abundance.
There are
cheap chains and independent holes-in-the-wall that have been kept in the
family for generations.
As
millennials and hipsters begin to revive Downtown Cairo with their presence,
you’ll also find some gourmet gems.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
A stroll
through the district takes pedestrians past buildings that meld Islamic and
European motifs, neo-classical columns and ornate decorations.
But its
elegance and prestige are fading, as the one-way streets and former palaces
fall into ruin and shops selling cheap clothes and odds and ends have moved in.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Historically a meeting place for the upper crust and intellectuals, it’s no surprise that there are several spots to have a drink in Downtown Cairo.
Don’t expect mixology and million-dollar interiors, though.
The charm of downtown watering
holes is the wear and tear on the historic spaces and the no-frills experiences.
YOUR
COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE AND REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CLEARLY-WRITTEN
LETTERS SEEKING COMPENSATION DUE – MEANS I WILL NOW STEER ALL MY
ASSOCIATES TO RIVAL CARRIERS
The call
went out for passengers of Flight TK691 to come to the boarding area. Rumors
abounded but there were zero announcements. We ultimately left more than three
hours late. There never was a single announcement and there was no gate agent
for 90 minutes.
Finally,
someone brought water for parched people who had to give up liquids at the
boarding area security check. The gate agent, who never used the speaker, but
talked to a few people one-on-one before hiding for more than an hour – flat
out lied. He said there were across the board 3-hour delays in Istanbul, so
even though we would arrive 3 hours late, we would make our connections.
In flight,
the crew claimed it had no way of checking in on connections – a claim I do not
believe. When we landed in Istanbul, folks learned they had missed about a half
dozen connections to North America, as those flights took off on time – proving
the gate agent who hid and never made a public announcement was lying. This is
the opposite of what I expect from Turkish Airlines. I have told hundreds of
friends that TA combines old world Turkish hospitality with modern aircraft and
the best connections around the world.
When we arrived – at what is one of the largest airports on earth – there was not a single person to help. Hundreds of us walked past passport control, connecting international flights area, visa purchase and more. Some mistakenly exited too soon. Finally, after almost giving up, I found a Turkish Airlines desk.
A female in a TA uniform handed out my boarding
pass and said to get a visa. Because I have visited Turkey many times in the
past few years, I knew about this – but others were confused and given little
information. Once I got my visa, I
walked thousands of feet back to the TA desk – only to be told I wasted my time
and should have gone through passport control and found the TA hotel desk.
I doubled
back, went through the lines, and then exited. There were still dozens of
football field sized parts of the concourse to navigate – without a single TA
employee to help. Finally, I found an area marked Turkish Airlines. They man
took my boarding pass and said to wait. No more information, no sorry, no we’ll
take care of you.
Maybe 15
minutes later, I was given my boarding pass and herded into an area to wait for
a shuttle. The drive spoke Turkish only and kept complaining to the group for
the hour drive. There was no Turkish Air employee on board to tell us where
were we going, what kind of hotel we’d be getting, etc.
Finally, we
reached a Ramada and were checked in and told dinner was set, not off a menu of
choices, at 7 p.m. I was even charged for a simple stomach-settling Sprite when
I wanted it in addition to juice and water provided. We were told at the
airport that we’d be reimbursed for the $30 USD visa, but no one ever came to
the hotel, got on the shuttle back to the airport or was at the gate to help or
give us that money. We also never received a text, email or phone call to
explain.
When the
shuttle arrived at the airport at noon Sunday March 14, I realized my ticket (for
Flight TA 77 IST-MIA) was far back in coach. I had paid $109 to upgrade to a legroom
seat – but lost all value of that by being seated in the back. By being delayed
a day – 100% the fault of TA for leaving Cairo 3+ hours late, my wife, who uses
a wheelchair for mobility, had to hire a personal care attendant to watch after
her for two shifts on March 14 – at a total cost of $66 USD.
I tipped the
hotel waiter for dinner and breakfast and the maid with Lira left in my room.
The total, plus the sprite, is about 60 TRY + 60 TRY I spent at the airport on
a bottle of water and pizza – fearing that I better line my stomach in case we
would once again be 3 or more hours late taking off and trapped with zero
provisions after security (like it was in Cairo). So that’s the equivalent of about $18.50
USD.
I understand
weather and other circumstances delay flights. What I cannot comprehend is how
my once-beloved Turkish Airlines dropped the ball so much on customer service –
at both Cairo and Istanbul Airports. There were hundreds of TA employees around
– why couldn’t dozens of them deployed to keep us informed with honest
information (Cairo) and precise directions (Istanbul)?
At a
minimum, I am due: $30 for Turkish Visa, $109 for seat upgrade lost when flight
forced to next day (Turkish Airlines at fault for delay), $66 for my wife’s
care and $18.50 for food, beverage and tip associated with the one-day delay in
departure. That is $223.50 for pure reimbursement, calculating in nothing for
the time I have spent gathering figures and composing this letter.
To truly be
the elite air carrier it claims to be, TA should refund the $223.50 + double
that amount in a voucher valid for future travel, once it is safe to fly post
pandemic.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Downtown is a shared meeting point for Cairenes of every age and socioeconomic background.
Built in the late 19th century, Downtown Cairo is still home to architectural gems from Egypt’s ‘belle epoque’ and streets designed with pedestrians in mind.
The area has become a lot more crowded, especially
among the city’s younger citizens, who head there to eat, shop and visit art
spaces and cinemas.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Downtown Cairo is haunted by fading classics such as Café Riche, which opened in 1908 and has been a meeting place for intellectuals and revolutionaries.
Downtown’s cafes witnessed many historically significant events over the 20th century.
Patrons
included the iconic Egyptian Nobel Prize winner and novelist Naguib
Mahfouz and the then-future president Gamal Abdel Nasser.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Downtown
Cairo was once home to the prosperous elite of late 19th and early 20th century.
It is a
relic of a bygone era — Egypt's belle epoque and demonstrates the vision
for developing Egypt.
Decades of
neglect by the neighborhood's landlords and tenants have left the splendor of many its ornate edifices mired in decay.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
Discovering Downtown Cairo: Architecture and Stories is a highly-recommended book about the fading glory and hope for the future.
The guide presents a detailed survey of the plans and typologies of apartment buildings from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in downtown Cairo.
It also maps the changes in use of these
spaces over time and shares some of the inhabitants' stories.
https://www.jovis.de/en/books/details/product/discovering-downtown-cairo.html
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
The Radio Cinema was opened in 1948.
This impressive cinema features a large office block above the entrance and retail spaces on either side.
One passes beneath a
towering original neon-ornamented vertical sign tower and marquee which appears
to be partly original and partly a fairly recent Post-Modern Neo-Classical
redo.
DESIGNED TO BE THE PARIS OF THE EAST
A GUIDE TO WHEELCHAIR-FRIENDLY HIGHER EDUCATION
I am proud
to be a major contributor to Wheels on Campus, published by New Mobility Magazine.
I wrote
three stories about the top 20 universities for: access, accommodations,
housing, extracurricular activities and study abroad.
Read the
essential stories at https://www.newmobility.com/wheels-on-campus/
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
“We are the ones who are professionally trained and emotionally prepared to imagine our communities in 5, 10, 20, 100 years.
In terms of climate change, civil unrest, wild fires, pandemics
— we are most capable of addressing social and environmental issues and we must
ensure we do it in a way that maximizes the health, safety and economic wellbeing
of the entire community.”
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
He
urged planners to get past the “lunacy” of zoning processes that are not inclusive
and stand in the way of building communities that are diverse, walkable, bikeable,
livable and mixed (incomes and uses).
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
Their ownership was taken from them and they became renters,” he continued.
“The one thing we know the greatest source of integrational wealth transfer is homeownership.
Even in gentrification, if the businesses and houses are owner occupied, everyone reaps the benefits.
When bad policies took away
ownership and made people renters, now a gentrifying neighborhood displaces renters
and (deepens the wounds from property takings done generations ago).”
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
 |
| George Homewood |
George Homewood is the planning director for Norfolk, Va., and served on the task force that created the APA equity policy guide.
“Unfortunately, a legacy that planners have to face up to — one of the key components to the equity policy guide — is the tools of our profession got co-opted and used to divide rather than bring together,” Homewood said.
“When properties were acquired for highways, African American businesses and houses were taken.
These were properties folks owned.
Not only were properties taken, to further compound the crime, they were given a discounted, unfair market value.
They were not paid what would allow them to replace
their business or living conditions."
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
 |
| Andy Mills |
“Serving all areas, communities and people to ensure equal access to a healthier, safer and environmentally friendly transportation options are a few of our top priorities.
Central Ohio is known for the “Columbus Way,” public private partnerships serving the greater good of our communities and providing equal access to all.
We are proud of our work and look forward to the implementation phases of building additional trails.
It goes
without saying, we affirm our commitment to Fair Housing but we are also committed
to equality and serving all neighborhoods,” said Andy Mills, 2020 Columbus REALTORS®
president.
AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY VIVIDLY TOLD BY MASTER ARTIST/JOURNALIST/STORYTELLER JOHN “DERF” BACKDERF
“Kent State:
Four Dead In Ohio,” by northeast Ohio artist John “Derf” Backderf is essential reading
for every American and 100% relevant to the times of Black Lives Matter, protest
and Trump.
Derf shares
the stories of the four students who were killed by the National Guard on
Kent’s campus on May 4, 1970, during a protest.
I never
thought I’d be much into graphic novels, much less buy one in hardback. But it
works and is worth every penny.
I have a
close connection to Kent State. It’s where I met my soulmate Heidi, nearly 40
years ago.
She lived in
Prentice and her dorm room overlooked the parking lot where four innocent students
met their deaths because of right wing idiots such as Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes and moronic gung-ho Ohio National Guard
leaders.
I was a journalism
student and for four years of my life spent more time at Taylor Hall than my
dorm on the other side of campus.
Taylor is at
the top of the hill overlooking the commons, where heavily armed/poorly trained
guardsman raced towards, taking fire on unarmed students.
It also now
is home to the Kent State May 4 Visitor’s Center, housed exactly where the
Daily Kent Stater newsroom was located for years, including when I was a staff
member.
Derf spent
three years studying the archives at Kent State University and other repositories.
He interviewed witnesses and victims of the shooting.
Far from a long
comic strip about a tragic even in American History, “Kent State: Four Dead In
Ohio” is a fine piece of journalism.
I thought I knew
everything about the shootings (which took place when I was five and my family
lived about 25 miles from Kent.)
I learned all
kinds of behind the scenes plus front and center facts from Derf’s book, including
the intriguing case of Terry Norman, a narc/gun nut/unstable spy who later
served time as a convicted felon for crimes unrelated to the events at Kent.
I laughed at
the insider Kent things (live music at J.B.s, townies, black squirrels anyone?)
sprinkled through the book.
And even
though I was well-aware of the outcome, I wept when the students – so brought
to life by Derf – met their bloody deaths at the hands of ruthless National
Guard, that never should have had high powered military loaded weapons on a
largely peaceful college campus.
I have communicated
with Derf – who also penned an amazing graphic novel on his high school
classmate Jeffrey Dahmer – to share my praise for his gripping, crucial and
essential piece of vivid journalism.
Here’s the Amazon link:
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
The planning effort acknowledges that many Central Ohio low-income and minority neighborhoods have traditionally been underserved and lack access to safe transportation and recreation options.
With equity for all, benefits would
include cleaner environment, health cost savings and support of a transportation
mode-shift away from car dependency.
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
“Redlining still takes place today, as African Americans are in lending deserts.
In some communities, they are twice as likely to be turned down for a mortgage as a non-African American,” he said.
We promote democracy in housing.
Lawmakers need to pay attention to lending patterns and trends.
Most have no idea what lending rates are, broken down by racial
demographics.”
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
Thompson said
too many cities dedicate most of their millions in infrastructure to mega developments
or new neighborhoods, instead of investing in maintaining core neighborhoods.
“Look at the demolition budget vs. housing rehab dollars. Many cities spend 10 to 1 on knocking down houses instead of spending a little to help people on upkeep,” he said.
“People get written up for code violations.
It’s hard to get a mortgage or rehab loan, so it drives people to walk away from their homes.
That makes it a market for speculators who don’t have the same commitment to the neighborhood.
In minority neighborhoods,
we need comprehensive, sustainable community strategies that rehab houses; stabilize
mortgages; fix curbs and sidewalks; provide convenient transit; upgrade water and
sewer lines; maintain parks and streetscapes; and build arts and cultural facilities.”
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
 |
| Antoine M. Thompson |
Antoine M. Thompson is executive director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the largest organization of African American real estate professionals in the United States.
He said planning for equity can be as simple as placing caps over expressways
or removing them — to reconnect communities separated by such major transportation
projects that almost always were built through African American neighborhoods.
Thompson, who
severed as a state legislator in Buffalo, said the planning and zoning departments
of most American cities could benefit from having more diverse staffers, noting
a staff that lacks diversity may have good intentions, but it’s likely to make paternal,
detrimental decisions.
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
“New growth practices need to consider who they are accountable to — rather than focus on financial return to investment and highest and best use of land.
There is an opportunity to assess the broader impacts to the community — environmental, social, economic, etc.,” she said.
“If we look at the impacts of existing growth policy — often favoring big box, chains, national retailers/hotels/services, and other similar types of development — the costs of supporting infrastructure and long-term sustainability far outweigh the benefits to community.
In order to support mom and pops/local/diverse businesses,
it’s imperative that local planning decisions not only prioritize these types of
developments, but also support their success.”
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
Guerra said addressing
planning flaws requires that planners understand:
The many ripple
effects of racist and inequitable planning practices;
That planning
expertise offers important technical knowledge, but it should not outweigh the local,
lived expertise of community members; and
Planners must
look beyond the built environment as the outcome of design. That it requires engaging
in meaningful conversations across disciplines to understand the deep social impacts
of inequality and a path forward that centers on both place and community.
Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality
 |
| Monica Guerra |
Monica Guerra,
PhD, a senior planer at Raimi + Associates in Riverside Calif., contributed to the APA’s
planning equity guide.
“I’d start by acknowledging that the most egregious impacts, such as that of redlining, have not been done away,” she said, outlining her best practices for equity.
“The reason such inequalities exist in parks, transit systems, and playgrounds in many communities is because of these impacts.
It’s a mistake to separate the built environment from
the social issues present in a community.”