A Fourth Coronavirus Surge is Likely
The plunge in daily new coronavirus cases has ceased and may be climbing again, but the news is brighter when looking at the summer. Most of the public health experts interviewed by The New York Times believe a surge is likely but not inevitable. March 1, 2021, 10am PST | Irvin Dawid Share
“We may be done with the virus, but clearly the virus is not done with us,” Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a Feb. 26 press briefing by the White House COVID-19 Response Team. She added that the latest data suggests that these declines may be stalling, potentially leveling off at, still, a very high number.
Noise Pollution Harms the Heart, Too
New research shows that excessive noise levels have significant negative impacts on heart health. February 28, 2021, 5am PST | Diana Ionescu |
Many urban dwellers know the familiar fatigue caused by persistent traffic and aircraft noise, but it s not just hearing and mental health that suffer. New research shows that sound can have deleterious effects on heart health, report Cypress Hansen and Knowable Magazine in The Atlantic.
A German cardiologist living near the Frankfurt Airport started studying the issue after the airport installed a new runway, adding to the daily air traffic and noise experienced by its neighbors. In the last decade, a growing body of research more directly links air and road-traffic noise to heightened risks for a number of cardiovascular ailments and scientists are starting to pinpoint the mechanisms at play. In the case of the Frankfurt airport, people living nearby have a 7% higher risk of stroke.
How to Fix Racist Housing Policies: Sue the Suburbs
Strengthening U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development s civil rights enforcement could send a powerful signal to communities resistant to changing discriminatory housing rules. February 25, 2021, 8am PST | Diana Ionescu |
Paul Sableman
A quick glance at current statistics shows the stark and continuing legacy of housing discrimination policies in American cities, writes Jerusalem Demsas for Vox. Studies show that moving to a wealthier neighborhood not only increased the likelihood that kids would go to college, but also increased earnings by roughly 31 percent by the time they’d reached their mid-20s. Yet neighborhoods remain largely segregated, with many areas inaccessible to the average family.
Boston Leaders Want A Dog Park in Every Neighborhood
City leaders want to build more off-leash dog parks, partly as a response to the trend of pandemic puppies that has led to a sharp spike in urban dog ownership. February 24, 2021, 7am PST | Diana Ionescu |
As the pandemic forced people to isolate from their friends and co-workers, many Americans took solace in adopting a furry friend. As Marcela García writes for the Boston Globe, the dog economy is booming. With so many pandemic puppies in new homes, soon-to-be mature dogs will be matriculating in public spaces and will insist that their voices are heard. Recently, city officials in Boston confirmed that they want to build a dog park in every neighborhood, but some opponents push back on what they see as a frivolous use of public funds.
Boston to Require Fair Housing Review for New Developments
The Boston Zoning Code is one of the first in the nation to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. February 23, 2021, 6am PST | James Brasuell |
Back in December, Boston took steps to become the first large city in the nation to include Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) requirements in its zoning code. The news broke about the city s historic action after a vote by the City Council and an announcement of support by Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
According to the press release from Mayor Walsh s office, the new zoning amendment will require developers in Boston to take substantial steps to stem displacement and provide further access to housing to those historically discriminated against.