First Annual Robert Fitch Memorial Lecture, May 21, 2012 LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York I want to start by saying how honored I am to be giving this, the first Bob Fitch memorial lecture. I dearly hope there will be a second and many more after that, and it’s up to some of us in this room to make that happen. I admired Bob tremendously. I can’t … [Read more...] about EXPLAINING WHAT GOES ON IN THE WORLD: IN MEMORY OF BOB FITCH
ROBERT FITCH MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES FROM PROGRESSIVE CITY
Robert (Bob) Fitch was a writer, researcher, teacher and organizer. He was born in 1939, and died tragically in 2011 from complications resulting from a fall near LaGuardia Community College, where he taught for many years. Every year since, LaGuardia has held a Robert Fitch Memorial Lecture, in which writers present thoughts inspired by Fitch’s work. Progressive City is proud … [Read more...] about ROBERT FITCH MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES FROM PROGRESSIVE CITY
PLANNERS EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME
By Samuel Stein On May 2, City Limits published an opinion piece by long-term New York City planner Sandy Hornick about Mayor de Blasio’s housing plan titled “Misconceptions Drive Opposition to de Blasio’s Housing Plan.” The essay argued that protesters at recent zoning hearings fundamentally misunderstand not only the mayor’s plan, but the very idea of planning itself. … [Read more...] about PLANNERS EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME
GROUNDHOG DAY: PLANNING AS A FORM OF INJUSTICE AND STRUGGLE FOR THE BEDOUIN IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE
By Libby Porter The approach to the Bedouin village of Um al-Hiran, in the Negev region of Israel-Palestine, is a very steep track carved out of the desert hillside. Our bus driver expertly navigated the steep turns and difficult terrain – at once rocky and slippery with dust. A young village boy excitedly directed the driver into a parking spot outside the small community … [Read more...] about GROUNDHOG DAY: PLANNING AS A FORM OF INJUSTICE AND STRUGGLE FOR THE BEDOUIN IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE
MAY DAY IN CHICAGO
By Lauren Dean Chicago’s workers have always been central to May Day. This year, an estimated 20,000 marchers turned out onto Chicago’s streets not only in solidarity with workers, but with their immigrant neighbors. The march began at Union Park, the site of Chicago’s Haymarket monument, which memorializes the Haymarket Affair of 1886, and ended in Daley Plaza downtown, … [Read more...] about MAY DAY IN CHICAGO