Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

How City Hall Causes Sprawl - A Case Study, Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

A book review addressing the city of Atlanta's pro-sprawl transportation, zoning and urban renewal policies.

Twenty-First Century Planning And The Constitution, Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

In 2002, The American Planning Association (APA), a nationwide organization of land use planners, published the "Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook", a collection of model laws governing zoning and other land use-related issues. This article evaluates a variety of constitutional issues related to the Guidebook.

Atlanta Jewish Times Op-Eds, Michael Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Sprawl, Growth Boundaries And The Rehnquist Court , Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

This article addresses the constitutionality and wisdom of Oregon's urban growth boundary (UGB) program. The article concludes that the program is constitutional under current precedent, and that (contrary to claims made by UGB critics) there is little evidence that the UGB has caused Oregon's runup in housing prices. On the other hand, UGB supporters may have exaggerated the UGB's positive environmental results.

Campaign Of Sabotage: Big Government's War Against Public Transportation , Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

This article discusses a variety of state, federal and local policies which have reduced transit ridership, such as unfunded mandates, anti-transit zoning policies, and highway funding policies that shifted development to areas with minimal or nonexistent transit service.

"Thou Shalt Not Put A Stumbling Block Before The Blind": The Americans With Disabilities Act And Public Transit For The Disabled, Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ordered local governments to make bus and train systems more accessible to the disabled. The ADA imposed costly requirements upon local public transit systems but did not give local governments funds with which to satisfy this mandate. By reducing the funds available to transit systems, the ADA has sometimes forced cutbacks in transit service for everyone (including, ironically, the disabled to the extent that disabled people were able to use public transit before the ADA's enactment). Thus, the ADA has occasionally been counterproductive.

The root cause of the ADA's inadequacy is that the ADA …

Buffalo Beat Op-Eds, Michael Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Assorted op-eds from Buffalo Beat, a Buffalo weekly (1998-2001)

Buffalo Beat Op-Eds, Michael Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Parents' Attempts At 'Protection' Do Children No Favors In Long Run, Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Some parents keep their children locked up inside Mommy's car and house until they learn to drive, fearing that their children will not be safe outside. But car accidents have killed far more children than pedophiles - a fact which suggest that the dangers of too little freedom may exceed the dangers of too much freedom.

Suburban Sprawl: Not Just An Environmental Issue, Michael E Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Explains why conservatives should be concerned about suburban sprawl, and how market-oriented solutions can mitigate sprawl.