Sustainable and Affordable Housing Near Rail Transit: Refining and Expanding a Scenario Planning Tool

65A0533What are the travel behavior goals of transit-oriented developments (TODs) and are they achieving them? Does TOD policy fit all goals? This report examines the relationship between travel behavior, transit access, income, and neighborhood type in the context of environmental, system efficiency, and social equity goals. Based on analyses of four metropolitan areas in California, the findings indicate that higher-income households reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) most, relative to households in other income categories, when living near transit regardless of neighborhood type. In contrast, lower-income households use the transit system more when living in denser, transit-served neighborhoods. Furthermore, empirical evidence suggests that lower-income households tend to own older vehicles, and are less likely to own hybrid or electric vehicles. Thus, although higher-income households reduce their VMT more relative to lower-income households when living near transit, households\u2019 reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may be even larger across income categories. In light of these observations, it seems that joint consideration of the needs and behaviors of both higher-and lower-income populations are integral when planning and establishing goals for TODs

African Americans, Gentrification, and Neoliberal Urbanization: the Case of Fort Greene, Brooklyn

This article examines the gentrification of Fort Greene, which is located in the western part of black Brooklyn, one of the largest contiguous black urban areas in the USA. Between the late 1960s and 2003, gentrification in Fort Greene followed the patterns discovered by scholars of black neighborhoods; the gentrifying agents were almost exclusively black and gentrification as a process was largely bottom-up because entities interested in the production of space were mostly not involved. Since 2003, this has changed. Whites have been moving to Fort Greene in large numbers and will soon represent the numerical majority. Public and private interventions in and around Fort Greene have created a new top-down version of gentrification, which is facilitating this white influx. Existing black residential and commercial tenants are replaced and displaced in the name of urban economic development

Is variety the spice of life? An experimental investigation into the effects of species richness on self-reported mental well-being.

<div><p>Losses in biodiversity and trends toward urbanisation have reduced people’s contact with biodiverse nature, yet the consequences for mental well-being are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that greater plant and animal species richness in isolation causes an improvement in mental well-being. To do so, the present research experimentally manipulated species richness and assessed widely-used indicators of mental well-being. Participants viewed short videos of either high or low tree (Study 1) or bird (Study 2) species richness and reported on positive (i.e., vitality, positive affect) and negative (i.e., anxiety) indicators of mental well-being. Building on Study 1, Study 2 included an urban environment as a reference treatment and explored the role of giving participants information on the presented environment. We find that, in line with expectations, watching videos containing greater species richness consistently leads to higher mental well-being. We discuss findings in light of the importance of connecting people to biodiverse environments.</p></div

A psychosocial study of ‘self-immolation’ in India

The phenomenon of self-immolation was studied in 22 young people, mostly students, who had indulged in this act to protest against the decision of the Government of India to enlarge the scope of reservations in jobs and educational institutions. Within a short span of time of arriving at one of the two treatment centres after attempting self-immolation, the subjects were interviewed and assessed on a semi-structured interview schedule to elicit sociodemographic and attitudinal data. The subjects were also rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Pierce's Suicide Intent Scale, the Superego Paranoia Depression Scale, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, the PGI Locus of Control Scale and the Alienation Scale. All subjects except one were free of manifest psychopathology. The group as a whole had a high score on Pierce's Suicide Intent Scale and displayed internal locus of control orientation. Most were ambitious, aggressive, hostile and felt alienated. The absence of manifest psychopathology sets this group apart from cases of deliberate self-harm arising in the context of psychiatric morbidity. Thwarted ambitions, a sense of alienation and intropunitive hostility can lead to protest which at times becomes altruistic and results in self-immolation

Psychological Strengths and Cognitive Vulnerabilities: Are They Two Ends of the Same Continuum or Do They Have Independent Relationships with Well-being and Ill-being?

Strength of character, Dysfunctional attitude, Predisposition, Well-being, Major depression, Recovery,