The Sidewalk Weekly

Latest Episodes:

Going on hiatus Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

The Sidewalk Weekly is taking a break, so we can dedicate ourselves to City of the Future season 3. Here's how you can find us in the meantime:

Subscribe to the City of the Future podcast
Subscribe to the Sidewalk Weekly newsletter
Email us at podcast@sidewalklabs.com

See you in the future!

Zoning wins, lending algorithms, and bare naked boar chases Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:18-11:30], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

The future of consumption and cities (Frank Trentmann, TNR) https://bit.ly/33YCxrC
Portland's landmark zoning reform (Laura Bliss, CityLab) https://bloom.bg/2E16zA3

In the second segment [11:54 -21:58], Sidewalk Senior Software Engineer Samara Trilling explains why we need to temporarily ban mortgage lending algorithms during the pandemic. (Morning Consult) https://bit.ly/31TicBu / (Aspen Tech Policy Hub) https://bit.ly/2CqQsva

And in the final segment [22:05-23:55], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

Future predictions from 1964 (Bryan Walsh, Axios Future) https://bit.ly/2PSk087
New job aspiration: official city wizard (Julia Hollingsworth, CNN) https://cnn.it/2DZlbzY

Streetlight fights, reparations, and no-drama llamas Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:24-15:47], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

Covid and the affordability crisis: (Quoctrung Bui and Emily Badger, NYT) https://nyti.ms/2DMogn2 / (Wolf Richter, Wolf Street) https://bit.ly/3fywn3v / (Derek Thompson, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3ip3vwJ
San Diego pushes back on "smart" streetlights (Sarah Holder, Bloomberg CityLab) https://bloom.bg/31yB8oM
Cities consider reparations: (Dasia Moore, Boston Globe) https://bit.ly/2C7PQKV / (Rosanna Xia, LA Times) https://lat.ms/3a3s0we

In the second segment [16:09 - 22:45], the hosts talk to author Emily Anthes about her book The Great Indoors. https://bit.ly/3kmVQk2

And in the final segment [22:52-25:01], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

Cleaning robots (Lisa Prevost, NYT) https://nyti.ms/30BWgez
Hairdressers (Marc Bain, Qz) https://bit.ly/2PuUyFw

Desert urbanism, algorithms, and inebriated emus Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:32-16:15], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

Why eliminating single-family zoning isn't enough (Emily Hamilton, CityLab) https://bloom.bg/3gimtnR / (Ashley Salvador, Reasons to be Cheerful) https://bit.ly/3k8WRMK
How algorithms could help detect — and prevent — discrimination (PNAS) https://bit.ly/2D9VnAW
Walls are making a comeback (Amanda Mull, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3jXKra9

In the second segment [16:37-22:33], the hosts talk to journalist Laura Raskin about Studio Ma and "desert urbanism." (Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2BN9pbh

And in the final segment [22:38-25:13], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

Cute Laundry Shop Couple Stylishly Models Clothes Left Behind by Their Patrons (Jason Kottke, Kottke.org) https://bit.ly/2Pc3VtD
'City Dreamers': a documentary on four pioneering female architects (Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, NYT) https://nyti.ms/310W33E

Taiwan's open data, the ADA's legacy, and a robo hair cut Jul 24, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:50-12:55], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

Taiwan's digital minister Audrey Tang leverages open data in the fight against Covid (Andrew Leonard, WIRED) https://bit.ly/39opznI / (Eric Jaffe, Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/39paL8p
The most important bike technology is … street design (Eric Jaffe / Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2CDgonE

In the second segment [13:15-21:55], the hosts talk to architect and accessibility consultant Karen Braitmayer about the state of accessible architecture 30 years after the passing of the ADA. (Michael Kimmelman, NYT) https://nyti.ms/32RaVEr

And in the final segment [22:00-24:30], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

Real-Time Crowding Info Helps Boston's Bus Riders (Transit Center) https://bit.ly/2CYkjuV
Engineer makes robot to cut his hair (Digg) https://bit.ly/3eWPdkA

Serendipity, stormwater, and streateries Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:46-16:52], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

Good news? We have the clean tech we need to get to net zero by 2050. Bad news? They're so not ready yet. (David Roberts, Vox) https://bit.ly/3haOBcy
The tech industry is built on serendipity. If workers flee the Bay Area, what then? (Steve Levine, Marker) https://bit.ly/2ZDW0Lz
Who gets to make noise about who gets to make noise in the city? (Kate Wagner, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3h9tirR

In the second segment [17:12-23:30], the hosts talk to journalist Philip Preville about Kansas City's stormwater innovation. (Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2B7BrxG

And in the final segment [23:34-26:25], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

Noise-canceling headphones for your apartment (David Waldstein, NYT) https://nyti.ms/30psWXm
New York's streateries (Diana Budds, Curbed) https://bit.ly/3h8GflH

Peaker plants, pop-up shops, and "NOT MISSING YOU!" Jul 10, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [2:00-17:12], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

Renewables vs. Natural Gas (Ivan Penn, NYT) https://nyti.ms/2BVUQC4 / From Peaker Plants to Publicly-Owned Solar (Clarisa Diaz, Gothamist) https://bit.ly/3iQau2z
Singapore's Home Ownership Success (Adam Majendie, CityLab) https://bloom.bg/38GZ7Wa
The New Boomerang Kids (Joe Pinsker, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/2W6j7fU

In the second segment [17:35-23:35], the hosts talk to Laura O'Reilly, the founder of the placemaking organization Wallplay, about pop-ups and ground-floor retail recovery. (Carrie Denning Jackson, Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/2ZRlaW4

And in the final segment [23:42 - 26:40], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

A brief history of the ice cream truck (Colin Dickey, Smithsonian) https://bit.ly/2WnfTVt
Elsa Majimbo, the star of Kenya's lockdown (Helen Sullivan, Guardian) https://bit.ly/3gYbm3F

Facial recognition, cities after Covid, and yoga bubbles Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:39-16:23], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

The perils of facial recognition: Wrongfully accused by an algorithm (Kashmir Hill, NYT) https://nyti.ms/2CLC00L
11 ways Covid Recovery is Changing Cities (CityLab) https://bloom.bg/2CKVqTr
Analysis finds millions of Americans can't afford their water bills (Nina Lakhani, Guardian) https://bit.ly/385U8xU

In the second segment [16:46-22:59], the hosts talk to Deirdre Mask, the author of The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power https://bit.ly/2Ny0Pzk

And in the final segment [23:05 - 26:25], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

Barbershops Lead the Reopening Effort (Bloomberg) https://bloom.bg/2ZgN3Xr
Nashville Public Library's "Curb Side, Baby" https://bit.ly/38bYaoA

A short urbanist reading list for Juneteenth Jun 19, 2020

Show notes

Today, June 19th or Juneteenth, commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Rather than airing a show, we are dedicating this day to reading and reflecting on America's history of racial injustice and the ways in which racism has permeated our policies and, in particular, our cities.

If you're interested in going on this journey with us, here's a short list of some readings that explore issues of equity and racial justice from the angle of making cities more inclusive.

The Case for Reparations (Ta-Nehisi Coates, Atlantic) https://bit.ly/3hIYjUz
The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power (Deirdre Mask) https://bit.ly/3fEM6Pa
When the protests end, fixing cities will not begin or end with buildings (Ron Thompson, GGWash) https://bit.ly/2UXAFKB
Urban Density: Confronting the Distance Between Desire and Disparity (Jay Pitter, Azure) https://bit.ly/2Yby2Xk
How to End Anti-Blackness in Cities (Alissa Walker, Curbed) https://bit.ly/3hK86tB

Please let us know your thoughts — or recommendations for other reads — by emailing us at podcast@sidewalklabs.com

Camden policing, housing discrimination, and sociable cows Jun 12, 2020

Show notes

In the first segment [1:04-15:32], hosts Eric Jaffe and Vanessa Quirk discuss this week's top stories:

The policing case study of Camden, New Jersey (James Doubek, NPR) https://n.pr/37psgEq / (Scottie Andrew, CNN) https://cnn.it/2XXn8Ey
Study finds that rental property managers screen minority households into more polluted neighborhoods (Eric Jaffe, Sidewalk Talk) https://bit.ly/3hoZ1qb
Scientist studies how face-masks change human behavior on city sidewalks (Craig Timberg, Washington Post) https://wapo.st/3hpG6LC

In the second segment [15:56 - 23:02], the hosts talk to reporter Perla Trevizo about how Texan cities are supporting local businesses (especially those owned by minorities) that didn't get help from the federal pandemic program (ProPublica / Texas Tribune) https://bit.ly/2MPRcM7

And in the final segment [23:05 - 25:33], the hosts share what made them smile this week.

"Why the Golden Gate Bridge Is Now a Giant Orange Wheezing Kazoo." (Gabe Meline, KQED) https://bit.ly/3ffU2Gn
Astoria diner hosts drive-in movies (Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker) https://bit.ly/3hm1lxT

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected