Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Pre-Disaster Planning And Mitigation And Its Impact On Comprehensive Emergency Management And The Nation: Pre-Disaster Mitigation (Pdm) Program And The Population Protected, Thomas Lyons Carr Iii

Thomas Lyons (Thom) Carr III Appl.Sc., CEM

A Project for a Professional Degree submitted to The Faculty of School of Engineering and Applied Science of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Applied Scientist of Engineering Management May 21, 2006

On October 10, 2000, The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000 or DMA 2K) (Public Law 106-390) was enacted, amending the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and established new requirements for the national for hazard mitigation planning. States, Tribes, territories, and local governments now must have an approved mitigation plan in place prior to receiving certain …

Land Values As A Source Of Local Government Finance, Tom Dunne

Books/Book Chapters

Funding local government has been a permanent feature of debates about public policy in Ireland and Many feel that the balance of power between local and central government is weighted too much in

This paper suggests that the concept of economic rent, on which the justification for property taxes rests and its relevance to the property market in a modern, economically successful and urbanised Ireland, needs to be vented, discussed and debated.

The proposition is that if a greater understanding was created about the economic characteristics of landed property both value capture and local property taxes would achieve greater public …

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."

Wanted: Live-In Teachers, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland all have it--a residency requirement--and so does Providence. Having to live in the city for which you work has been deemed to be an important measure in helping to bring people back into the city, and that was the reason it was included in the 1980 Home Rule Charter."

How To Keep Teachers In R.I., Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Should Providence city employees be forced to live in the city? The Home Rule Charter, adopted five years ago, requires them to do so. The executive secretary of the Providence Teachers' Union states that this requirement should not apply to teachers. But, is dropping the residency requirement the answer to the problem of finding adequate numbers of substitute and full-time teachers?"

Residency And The Charter, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When Providence voters approved a home rule charter in 1980, they took a major step forward in choosing their own destiny, rather than relying on the General Assembly to approve many of their actions. To implement the resulting changes, the date for full compliance of the charter was set at 1983. And since that time, newly hired city workers are required to live in Providence."

High Price Of Housing Has Some Unseen Costs, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Affordability is the major problem in the housing industry today, at least in this part of the country. The Northeast, now the most expensive area in the nation in which to build a house, is fine for those who are sitting in their appreciating houses, but the region is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to attracting a pool of talented people to live and work here."

Looking To Suburban Malls For Lesson On Envisaged Providence Company, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"During next month, some major decisions must be made that will have long-term effects on the future health and prosperity of our capital city's central business district. One of these decisions relates to the proposed establishment of a 'Providence Company,' a management and marketing organization for the downtown, recommended in the recently completed Carr, Lynch and Levine report on downtown Development."

Regulating Video Arcades Is No Game, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Improvement on Washington Street is needed. The Providence Board of Licenses is about to determine if the Saturn's Rings video arcade on Washington street should have its license renewed. The issue is as critical as it is controversial."

Tourism's Full Potential Waiting In Wings For R.I., Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Question: What industry in this country involves 8 million consumers daily, employs between 4 and 6 million people directly, generates nearly $200 billion in annual expenditures and is our second largest retailing activity? If you answered tourism, you are correct."

The Stimulus Of City Success Stories, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When George Voinovich, mayor of this city, spoke to the 300 persons gathered from all parts of this country to discuss successes in cities, he had the undivided attention of the audience. After all, this was the man who brought the city back from the brink of bankruptcy and has now given it clear direction and a solid financial base."

Providence Needs An Effective 'Land Bank' Policy, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Recent disclosures on the purchase of vacant lots in Providence by certain city officals have raised two serious questions, only one of which has been addressed."

Key Factor To A Better City, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The Providence Charter Commission is now moving into the homestretch. After a full nine-month period in which more than 60 meetings were held, culminating in three public hearings in late June, the nine-member commission has gone back to the drawing board to review ideas, revise where deemed appropriate, and have a completed document ready in September. Voter acceptance in November, with General Assembly validation of certain provisions in 1981, will allow home rule for the state's capital city to become fully operational in January of 1983.

Union Traditions And Economic Policy In Ri, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When compared with the rest of the nation, Rhode Island stands out as a highly unionized state. A recent study released by the Department of Labor shows that 108,000 of the 398,000 employed in the state in 1978 were union members. Membership in associations such as the National Education Association and others adds a further 11,000 persons to the list. This total of 119,000 union and association members represents 29.9 percent of total employment on non-agricultural payrolls, ranking Rhode Island 13th in the nation and highest in New England which, as a region, averages 26.6 percent, and the same figure, …

A 2% Room Tax Would Help Providence Sell Itself, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"They've done it again! There it was as a feature story on page A14 of the April 7 issue, with pictures of the Arcade, Benefit Street and the mayor of the city included. The New York Times once more has singled out Providence, Rhode Island as a city on the move, one which is reclaiming its historical heritage and one which has a "resurgent city center.""

Retailing Is Key To A Strong Downtown, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The future of Providence, if Rhode Island's capital city has a future, must be keyed to retail sales, all pols and pundits to the contrary. If Mayor Cianci, the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups really want an appealing city, one that hums with activity day and night, they have to redouble their efforts to put a solid economic footing under the still-eroding retail sector."

Right Mix For Successful Downtown Renewal, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It is sometimes called a 'big, small town.' It has all the trappings of a large urban center: from outdoor concerts at the Civic Center to a Go-Go lounge; parking problems and traffic congestion, to a Worthinton Street where bars and prostitutes prevail; and vacant old buildings , to new, high-rise office blocks. Sheer numbers alone in this city bring visible evidence of the activities and characteristics common to the downtowns of most large American cities."

Role For Business Leaders In A Cleaner Downtown, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The recent sales promotion by the Providence Intown Merchants Association proved quite successful. Five-cent bus rides and bargain sales generated considerable business, especially on Saturday, normally a quiet day for retail sales in the downtown. This well illustrates what is possible when salesmanship and cooperation among downtown merchants are used to full advantage."

Stimulus For R.I. Housing, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It was the single largest bond issue in the state and one of the largest in the nation. The Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (HMFC) has sold $163 million of tax-free bonds, $142 million of which will be made available at below market interest rates to persons with annual incomes up to $30,000, to buy homes in Rhode Island. This will have a sizable impact on the local real estate market and increase housing opportunities for many prospective home buyers."

'Down City' Has Gone Downhill, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"There is essentially only one downtown in this city-state of Rhode Island, and it is accessible to the entire state in less than one hour's driving time. Yet over the past 10 years the Providence downtown has been in a steady decline, with a limited selection and lowered quality of goods offered from fewer shops. The familiar names of a few years ago, such as Shepards, Gladdings, City Hall Hardware and others, no longer serve as retail focal points in the captial city's central business district (CBD)."

Would A Westerly Mall Benefit The Entire Town?, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It is the largest urban center in southwestern Rhode Island but, in reality, it is just a small town with a population approaching 20,000. A good example of small-town America, it is an attractive community and one in which residents take a good deal of pride."

City Need Is Jobs For Young, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The federal Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 was a landmark piece of legislation which continues to benefit communities in need. Over the past three years Providence has received close to $27 million which has been spent to improve housing, parks and historic buildings in addition to building and servicing community centers. The focus of this major legislation was on physical and social improvement of the community. The one unprovided area was economic development."

Jacksonville's Commitment To Downtown, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The largest city in the Sunshine State is quite different from the cities we know in the Northeast, especially in its downtown."

What To Do With Lasalle Square, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The recent proposals to the Providence Redevelopment Authority for the development of the once-acre parcel of land at LaSalle Square have raised some interesting questions about the use of this valuable piece of downtown property."

The Benefits Reaped From Block Grant Fund Will Increase, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 signed into law by President Ford was a landmark piece of legistlation. It provided federal money for communities in block grants, with each local community making its own decisions as to the distrubution of these funds in areas such as housing, parks and community facilities."