Congratulations to Janet Downs for correctly identifying our last sidewalk photo as West Jefferson Street from 20th Street looking toward 21st Street. On the left, you can see Russell’s grand mansion’s sitting, still boarded up. On the right is the historic Hughlett Temple AME Zion Church.
Here’s a new sidewalk challenge for this week ready to be identified in the comments below for your chance to win an official Broken Sidewalk magnet. (The rules: First correct response wins; Leave a real email so we can get in touch if you win; No repeat winners for four months; Comments must be left on this news roundup.) Good luck!
And now on with the week’s top urbanism #cityreads:
How Legalizing Squatting Became a Winning Issue in the Barcelona Mayor’s Race. What happens when a city government realizes that housing is a right not only a commodity? CityLab
What if Detroit were nuked? A 1979 government report found out. This isn’t a new idea for dealing with urban “blight.” Just a simulation of Cold War over preparedness. boinboing
From Oakland To Baltimore, Lessons Learned From Cities Of Unrest. Cities are often at the forefront of uprisings against injustice. What can policymakers learn from these instances? NPR
Welcome to the Age of Animals as Infrastructure. “Animals are more than just guests or co-habitants in our cities, according to an article in New Scientist—they’re a critical component of the infrastructure that keeps cities running.” Planetizen
Using Open Data to Strengthen Tenants’ Rights Activism. “Open data, and the interactive mapping and data visualization that can come of it, has become a de facto engagement and storytelling tool among contemporary journalists, social justice activists, and civic-minded technologists. But despite its allure, open data’s potential for fostering civic engagement and creating transparency and dialogue is plagued by issues of usability, access, and quality control.” Urban Omnibus
Where Sidewalk Chalk Laws Clash With Free Speech. “A federal court has ruled that a Las Vegas ban on street chalking can’t be enforced selectively. Across the country, there’s more at stake than hopscotch.” City Lab
The Building Blocks of Deprivation. “To understand the building blocks of deprivation in Baltimore, it is necessary to examine both the historical legacy of city planning and the “comeback” of America’s old industrial centers.” Jacobin
How Civic Insight Is Making City Data Meaningful. Although information is accessible, it is not always digestible. Impact Design Hub
The Case for Giving Homes to the Homeless. Housing First has proven to be a great success at getting some folks off the streets. While it’s not a panacea for the more systemic issue of poverty and homelessness, it certainly serves as a short term remedy for a few. City Lab
Revitalization by Gentrification. Detroit is evicting tens of thousands from their homes this year, even as it trumpets an urban revival. Jacobin
Bellaire Ave looking towards Frankfort Ave in Clifton