Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Charting Migration And Miscalculation, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There was cause for celebration last March 6 at the Department of Commerce building in Washington, D.C. The achievement was the recording of 250 million on the bureau's "population odometer," a device which records the population of this nation at any moment.

Based upon average births, deaths, immigration and emigration, a number is added every 14 seconds to the odometer, for a daily increase of about 6300. It was expected that the population total of 250 million would be confirmed with the results of the April 1 census. But preliminary figures indicate that the country has not yet reached this …

Voting Districts Can Be A Bone Of Contention, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Size rather than number of voters is the criterion used in establishing district size. The difference in size between the largest and smallest districts from the ideal district, where all districts have the same population, is a source of contention. In 182 when Providence changed from 13 to 15 wards, there was a deviation of 10.6 percent between wards, deemed acceptable by the courts because, the judge ruled, the US Supreme Court has said 1.9 percent is acceptable. In the recent Johnston case, the total deviation came to 52.7 percent--a figure much too high to accept."

A Note To Candidates: Look At Housing, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The 1980s will be remembered as the time of the federal government's decimation of housing policies and programs that previous administrations had sought so diligently to design and implement. Candidates for federal and state offices need to be aware of current housing problems and possible measures that will improve housing in the state. The following are major concerns and suggested action proposals to help alleviate the housing plight of state residents.

Now We Are Counted, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There is an unusual clock in the Department of Commerce building in Washington. Looking like an auto's mileage odometer, it records the nation's population. Another single number is added to the total every 14 seconds. On March 6, the population odometer reached 250 million, which should be the number reported from this year's tally by the U.S. Census Bureau, the 21st decennial census in our country's history."

Cape Cod's Drive To Curb Overdevelopment, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

The mid 1980s in Rhode Island will be long remembered as a time of intensive real estate development, explosive house process and manmade growth sprawling over the countryside. These phenomena also generated a reaction in the form of environmental concerns, the NIMBY syndrome, affordable housing issues and the passage of the 1988 Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act.

New Development Is In For A Difficult Decade, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There is little question that during 1990s, proposed new development--whether residential, commercial or office--is going to be in for some rough going. Community aversion to development and what is perceived to be the resulting overcrowding, traffic and extra budget for schools, roads, water and sewage lines and other items pose major obstacles that developers are not encountering. It will likely worsen in the years ahead."