Skip to Content

Victoria Wilson

Victoria Wilson's picture
Plymouth, MN
Commenter for
2 years 38 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 11/08/10 at 11:13 pm in response to Election fallout: Republicans offer different solutions, but metro challenges haven't changed

A pragmatic approach to an urban issue is exemplified in a recent article by Cynthia Boyd:
Project Spirit offers homework help and a lot more for African-American children in St. Paul school (posted 10/30/10)
A community effort to improve their school scores, when successful, will open up the neighborhood to a broader base of home buyers. This in turn will fulfill the goal of a more densely populated metro area. This in turn will lighten the stress on our transportation...

Posted on 10/28/10 at 06:28 pm in response to Central Corridor light rail: Researchers watching if it's changing residents' health

Dick and John, the public cost of poor health is significant; a quick check at HCMC will verify the sizable burden of emergency health services provided to the least advantaged of our citizens. So an effort to study improving health seems like a worthy and parsimonious endeavor. I don't feel the benefit can be found in design, however, as much as patterns of behavior. I wonder if measuring the time residents spend on a variety of activities would be helpful? For instance if one is...

Posted on 10/17/10 at 08:14 pm in response to Met Council: More focus on growing in place

Mr. Holtman~ (I respectively reciprocate the title even though I find a bit stuffy) Other than an assumed increase in consumption of gasoline, what are the externalities or social costs of sprawl? I don't believe you can show that an individual who moves to a new development is driving more miles. They very well could be moving to get closer to work. I am confident that an informal poll amongst your friends will reveal that lowering commute time placed in the top five priorities of their...

Posted on 10/16/10 at 06:59 pm in response to Met Council: More focus on growing in place

@ #10. Market failure does not cause sprawl, consumer demand does. I agree with you that the consumer is not adequately aware of the total cost incurred by the metro with the development of one new residential lot. Maybe they should be told? Consumers make decisions everyday that favor a collective benefit over self interest, e.g. organic foods, fair trade products, recycling. Perhaps with the proper information more consumers would choose not to expand our infrastructure. Citizens do...

Posted on 08/26/10 at 04:49 pm in response to Planning makes a comeback: Getting the Twin Cities ready for the next economy

Instead of 'planning' maybe urban decision makers and thinkers are grappling with understanding of our collective economy. It is in the collective economy where we experience the expense of "traffic congestion and pollution as well as to the cost of roads and the commuting cost for employees." Cost and benefits are the result of everyday consumer decisions. Consumers who allow the public good to factor into their decision making, value being closer to public transit; which in addition to...