Green Line extension project in increasing jeopardy

[keithn.livejournal.com]

There have been two new developments over the last 24 hours, from the Globe:

• Yesterday: State won’t rule out canceling Green Line extension
• Today: Several Green Line extension firms lose T contracts

I'm not seeing much of a reason to be optimistic about the GLX project at this point.

Comments

Re: dystopia or no? a guessing game!

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of the Cambridge candidate who wanted to bring in more homeless people to bring housing prices down.

There is a logic to it: if more people want to live in your area, then you have exactly three choices: you can build more housing for them, accept people being priced out, or do something to make people not want to live in your area.

Since laws and politics here are pretty hostile to new housing, that leaves soaring rents or self-sabotage as the only options.

And more people do want to live here. The GLX might be part of it but wouldn't explain e.g. Davis rents going up 20% a year. Lots of people are moving back into urban areas in general. Millennials don't want to drive as much. Cambridge students and workers spill over into Somerville.

MA, Boston, and Cambridge all went up 12-13% in population between 1990 and 2013; Somerville went up only 3%. I suspect that difference reflects Somerville zoning more than anything else.

RE: Re: dystopia or no? a guessing game!

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

I wish the citizens such as yourself who actually understand the simple supply/demand dynamics would speak up to alderman. My impression is that all of the alderman are lacking in rudimentary economics education, and only the mayor has a grasp on addressing the supply issue. Meanwhile the alderman are trying to stop development and in the same breath complaining about high prices and trying to paint the mayor as being in the pockets of developers in order to further their political ambitions.

Pretty frustrating, like trying to have a conversation with my in laws that yes climate change is real.

Re: dystopia or no? a guessing game!

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

I share your frustration. I'm a Cambridge resident and voter though, so I assume my voice carries little weight with your aldermen.