I've never heard of this guy either, and I'm less than enthused.  Seems like a very odd place to put a Republican.  On the other hand, the article hints that this strategy may be the only way to get transit priorities through congress.  Although that's only if one infers "transit" from "other infrastructure projects."  It's becoming apparent that mass transit is not going to be a priority at all, and I hope I'm wrong about that.  I can't think of one mention so far, and this guy here is not a good sign.

^There are quite a few Republicans who are extremely pro-street car, pro-light rail, pro-public transit period. You'd be surprised!

^ Yep, I work with one!

The office of urban policy got me thinking: Does the state of Ohio have a comparable office?  Is there an urban counterpart to the Farm Bureau?

 

Somewhat off topic but thought I'd ask regardless.

^There's a lot of agencies on the state level that deal with planning related issues. The Clean Ohio fund, which has had a profound impact on transforming brownfield sites in Ohio. Board of building standards, architects examination board, Department of Development (which deals with business climate and competitiveness), EPA, Engineers and Surveyors Board, Historical Society, Landscape Architect's Board, Public Utilities, Works, Real Estate, Rail Development Commission. The Rail Development commission works with Ohio Department of transportation. Whether or not they all operate effectively and creatively may be a whole other story.

^Agreed, David.  Perhaps its better to have all those diverse organizations working separately, but part of me thinks Ohio needs someone who focuses on urban areas exclusively.

 

^^update: National League of Cities: http://www.nlc.org

 

Ohio's league needs some revamping ... duh

Sounds promising.

 

Reaction To LaHood Cabinet Nomination

By Tom McIntyre

WEEK-TV

 

Ray LaHood is scheduled to be introduced as the nominee for U.S. Transportation Secretary on Friday. The news conference will be in Chicago.

 

Thursday, GOP Presidential candidate John Mccain praised LaHood, saying "He has always fought for the best interests of our nation--recognizing that bipartisan compromises often provide the best solutions to the problems facing our country."

 

" Ray LaHood's experience will be critical to forging reasonable solutions to these challenges and I trust that he will be quickly confirmed by the U.S. Senate."

 

Meanwhile, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement "Congressman Ray LaHood has been a long-time, strong ally in the Teamsters' unwavering fight to stop unsafe Mexican trucks from traveling freely throughout the United States.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

^Agreed, David. Perhaps its better to have all those diverse organizations working separately, but part of me thinks Ohio needs someone who focuses on urban areas exclusively.

 

^^update: National League of Cities: http://www.nlc.org

 

Ohio's league needs some revamping ... duh

 

Definitely. It works for Oregon but I don't know if the politics are right in Ohio for that to work. Hopefully the state will eventually exert authority over responsible land use controls and smart growth boundaries in the future. As well as re-vamping its (what seems to be) overly bureaucratic agencies. Like I always say, if you want to see the worst case scenario of bureaucracy, look at Katrina.

This is kind of old but I don't think it's been mentioned on the forum

 

Barack Obama names NY housing commissioner to head Housing and Urban Development

 

BY CELESTE KATZ

DAILY NEWS POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/12/13/2008-12-13_barack_obama_names_ny_housing_commission.html

Updated Sunday, December 14th 2008, 1:11 AM

 

President-elect Barack Obama chose his head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Obama tapped New Yorker Shaun Donovan, former housing boss for Mayor Bloomberg's administration.

 

President-elect Barack Obama welcomed New York's housing boss into his fold Saturday, announcing Shaun Donovan will be the new secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

 

"With experience that stretches from the public sector to the private sector to academia, Shaun will bring to this important post fresh thinking, unencumbered by old ideology and outdated ideas," Obama said in his weekly radio address.

 

MORE: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/12/13/2008-12-13_barack_obama_names_ny_housing_commission.html

 

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I thought Obama was forming an urban policy department? HUD has been around for a while. I wouldn't count on Obama's administration actually focusing on urban planning. He's going to be much more concerned with creating jobs than going green or spending on new mass transit systems. I don't think we have enough time to really plan for something different. Besides, it's hard for the federal government to use money for the purpose of influencing planning policies on a city and regional level.

 

So far, HUD's Hope for Homeowners" program ( http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=73,7601299&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL ) is an epic failure. Only a few people have actually applied since October. Creditors simply aren't willing to refinance due to their standards of income to payment ratios. They also require you to pledge that you didn't lie at all on the original loan application, which of course people did.