(Re)Connecting Communities: Mid-October Update
Mid-October update of “Reconnecting Communities” news, which focuses on developments relating to overcoming discriminatory urbanism. Like last time, developments are arrayed along two axes: one axis which positions an item based on whether it represents progress towards reconnection, or the opposite; and another axis which (for better or worse) compares whether an item represents transformative change vs. something more ingrained in the status quo.
On the “Reconnecting” side are developments which are progress away from the legacy of “Segregation by Design.” These include projects which advance spatial justice, such as large-scale infrastructure redesigns for more equitable mobility/land-use/housing, legal victories for affected communities, reparative actions, etc. On the other hand, “Disconnection” is defined as items that are further retrenchment of exclusionary urban design and environmental racism.
Items on the “Transformative” half are developments that move away from present systems and procedures, potentially resulting in fundamental shifts to existing institutions and practices (again, for better or worse). This includes news involving novel legal arguments, funding mechanisms, infrastructure and design approaches, etc., or which indicate structural/long-term shifts to present institutions. On the other hand, “Status Quo” developments involve making use of established processes and represent less radical departures from existing systems.
Links:
Transformative Disconnection
Trump Pauses $2.1B for Chicago’s Red Line Extension and Other Infrastructure Projects, Citing ‘Race-Based Contracting (WTTW, 10/3/25)
Trump Seizes On Shutdown to Punish Political Foes (NYT, 10/4/25)
Trump’s Energy Cuts Punished Mostly Blue States. Red States Might Be Next (NYT, 10/8/25)
Lost Science: He Studied How Emissions Are Heating Up U.S. Cities (NYT, 10/8/25)
Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration (NYT, 10/8/25)
Black Unemployment Is Surging Again. This Time Is Different. (NYT, 10/12/25)
Trump Says Federal Layoffs Have Begun During Government Shutdown (NYT, 10/10/25)
Transformative Reconnection
The US town that pays every pregnant woman $1,500: ‘We’re not OK with our babies being born into poverty’ (Guardian, 9/25/25)
State DOT Scraps Cross Bronx Expansion Road On Highway Repair Plan (Streetsblog, 10/9/25)
Newsom signs historic housing bill to bring density to transit hubs (LAT, 10/10/25)
Pasadena explores ways to ‘reconnect’ 710 Freeway stub that displaced thousands of residents (LAist, 10/9/2025)
Kensington Expressway Project: Back to the Drawing Board, Fortunately (Buffalo Rising, 9/19/25)
Status Quo Disconnection
The Wave of Transit ‘Fiscal Cliffs,’ Explained (Planetizen, 9/29/25)
‘Goddamn Outrageous’: MTA Boss Blames Amtrak For Delaying ‘Penn Access’ Expansion (Streetsblog, 10/7/25)
Construction costs for U.S. transit projects are triple the worldwide average (Brookings Institute, 9/17/25)
Humanities Endowment Funds Trump’s Priorities After Ending Old Grants (NYT, 8/5/2025)
Tampa council dissolves racial reconciliation committee amid federal pressure: ‘Our hands are tied’ (10/10/25)
Status Quo Reconnection
FRA issues NOFO for National Railroad Partnership Program (Mass Transit Mag, 9/23/25)
I-75 CAP plan proposes parks, community spaces over highway (CBS Detroit, 10/3/25)
Transformative Flatbuzsh Avenue Bus Lane Installation Begins This Week (NYC.gov, 9/25/25)