fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
If It Fitz: Tracking Illegal Parking with Machine Learning
By: Erik L
Tags: NYC, Cycling, Nyu Cusp, Signal 2, Machine Learning

A sight too common in NYC: a car parked on a bike lane and a cyclist forced onto traffic. For cyclists this situation can lead to dangerous environments where cyclists have lost their lives. As a cyclist myself I’ve found myself walking my bike to avoid this same scenario. But how do we quantify this problem? How can we know this is an extensive problem?

Thankfully computer scientist Alex Bell was able to train a machine learning (ML) algorithm using camera footage to track cars parked on bike and bus lanes with better accuracy. Before, the best data we had on illegal parking were reports from NYC’s 311 app, which although a good start they only capture a small percentage of illegal parking instances. By running this ML algorithm on traffic cameras we can gain a better understanding of what streets are hot beds for illegal parking. This information can help us better deploy police officers to areas with high traffic violations to mitigate their danger while we deploy better bike lanes.

However as the picture above shows, authorities and other public servants will need to meet us halfway if we are to make our cities safer for everyone.
Why California Is the State for Cycling Enthusiasts
By: Joanne Trealoff
Tags: California, Sports, Leisure, Cycling

Group of cyclers Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Riverside, California resident Joanne Trealoff is the co-owner and CFO of Eclipse RV Inc., a leading maker of recreational vehicles. In her free time, Joanne Trealoff enjoys cycling in her home state.

California is one of the best states for cycling. Lovers of biking in the mountains will enjoy the Golden State’s many mountain rides like the 23-mile Highway 39 to Angeles Crest and the famous Gibraltar road climb in Santa Barbara. Other notable climbs are along Mt. Diablo and Mt. Baldy. For people who enjoy cycling with scenic views of the ocean, California’s State Route 1 stretches 650 miles, offering varied views of the Pacific, and for cyclists who prefer protected trails, the state has miles of protected roads that can be found on sites like traillink.com.

Besides the cycling routes and trails, California has a strong cycling culture with many cycling events organized around the state. From mountain biking clinics to 100-mile tours, dozens of these events are held throughout the state every weekend and can be found through sites like raceplace.com and socalcycling.com. Cycling tours are also organized regularly by local companies, while USA Cycling has a fairly long list of registered cycling clubs in the state for people who enjoy cycling in groups.
Citi Bike plans its expansion to the outer boroughs
By: Sarah Gabrielli
Tags: Bronx, Transportation, Citi Bike, Cycling, Dot

The Citi Bike dock at East 137th Street in Manhattan is the closest station to the Bronx which stretches for miles above that. But next year, the ride share program plans to expand to the northernmost borough.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) held a Citi Bike planning workshop on Wednesday at Betances Community Center in the Bronx. Representatives presented information on the project, held group discussions and asked participants to map out docking stations in their community district, Bronx 1.

Lisa Rivera lives in the district and works in the local education system. She spends a lot of time traveling between different schools in the area.

“I definitely see myself using [Citi Bike],” she said in her discussion group. “This would be beneficial to me. All the money I would save on transportation; it cuts down on gas and cuts down on traffic.”

Bronx residents point out potential stations for Citi Bike docks at a DOT planning meeting.

This meeting was the first part of the department’s plan to integrate Citi Bike into this community district as well as Manhattan Community Districts 9 and 10. After listening to locals, they will present ideas to the community board and then aim to complete the expansion by Spring of 2020.

“With any program, you want to start in the densest part of the city and then work your way out,” said Bronx Borough Commissioner for the DOT Nivardo Lopez.

In 2013, Citi Bike premiered six thousand bikes in Manhattan and Brooklyn. A couple years later, it doubled the number of bikes and expanded to Queens. Throughout that time, Bronx residents have largely relied on bus services for transportation.

“In the Bronx, on the East-West Corridors, we have somewhat of a transit desert,” said Amril Hamer, the Bronx Organizer for Transportation Alternatives. “Citi Bike would help people that live in those corridors get to their jobs.”

Citi Bike runs slightly less expensive than passes for the bus and subway with an annual fee of $169. Additionally, the DOT proposed reduced fares for affordable housing residents, food stamp recipients and Community Development Credit Union Members. This would bring the cost down to $5 per month for those that qualify.

“This is going to be another way of improving mobility throughout New York City for people might not have as many transit options,” said Commissioner Lopez.

According to the DOT, Citi Bike will reach all of the Bronx with a total of over 40 thousand bikes throughout New York City by 2024.
Infrastructure Vision for Sydney’s Disconnected Cycleways
Tags: Smart Cities, Environment, Zipidi Cities, Cycling, Infrastructure

Micromobility and Pedestrian bridge safely connecting Sydney’s North to Major Commuter Locations

By Stephen Coulter & Krystyna Weston

Like many cities around the world, Sydney lacks vision for cycleways and infrastructure for micromobility.

Federal and State governments fund so-called “Major” projects and leave smaller local governments to “plan” local cycleways — more often than not resulting in a hotch-potch(technical term) of disconnected cycle paths which don't actually help riders complete local journeys or commuting safely.

Look how disconnected Sydney’s cycleways are compared to roads…

Our recent article “Why do Micromobility Advocates Have Tiny -Demand Syndrome” commended Terenig Topjian’s call for micromobility and cycling advocates to think big and call on governments to commission major infrastructure projects for micromobility and pedestrians.

We’ve put together a high-level concept showing how a connected network of safe, separated, protected micromobility paths can connect Sydney for active transport.

W e’re not going to talk it down and say it can be done cheaply by local governments. This is a big infrastructure project, Utopia would call it Nation Building, which can create huge transport and environmental benefits.

The showpiece statement item is the Middle Harbour Skyway — a micromobility and pedestrian-only bridge crossing Middle Harbour and connecting Sydney’s Northern Beaches safely with Northbridge and access to Chatswood, Macquarie Park, St Leonards, North Sydney and the City.

This vision looks after Sydney’s North shore — we need a similar vision for other key parts of Sydney and cities generally.

Yes, we’re sure the NIMBY’s and CAVE people will protest but unless we set a bold vision for micromobility, we will continue to have a piecemeal strategy and disjointed implementation.

Brisbane’s 450m Goodwill Bridge

The Middle Harbour Skyway will provide easier level access for over 300,000 Northern Beaches and other Northern residents — currently around 80% commute by driver only cars. It will also connect many hundreds of thousands west of Middle Harbour with an easy carless route to Manly and Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

The view from the Seaforth End of the Middle Harbour Skyway

The bridge would be about 100 to 150 m longer than Brisbane’s 450m Goodwill pedestrian and micromobility bridge. The views will be spectacular.

Beyond the commuter connectivity, the Middle Harbour Skyway will become a huge attraction for locals and tourists for regular recreational and tourist walks and rides — connecting some beautiful parts of Sydney with a spectacular bridge providing stunning views.

Yesterday, the Federal Government has announced a new infrastructure tax incentive.

Let’s focus on infrastructure for micromobility and pedestrians — not another major road which creates traffic by inducing demand.

The time has come. Think Big for Micromobility.
Mountain bikers most at risk of shoulder and collarbone injuries
By: Alison Green
Tags: Collarbone Injuries, Mountain Bikes In India, Cycling, Wimbledon Clinics, Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder and collarbone injuries are the most common injuries suffered in mountain biking, new research shows.

The findings underline the importance of shoulder strength and training — at all levels of the sport — to help prevent these injuries.

Thought to be the largest medical study ever undertaken in mountain biking, the research was conducted by Edinburgh Napier University and funded and supported by the Enduro World Series (EWS).

The study was undertaken to learn more about rider health and track injuries in order to develop the sport and drive forward safer riding and competition.

A team of sports scientists from Edinburgh Napier University analysed injury information from over 2,000 athletes at 10 EWS races, across the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Just 8.9% of riders over the 10 races suffered an injury — a lower injury rate than for mountain biking during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (23.8%), and lower than injury rates seen in rugby, the EWS said.

The shoulder/collarbone (clavicle) was the most commonly injured body location, followed by the head, hand and lower leg. Shoulder/clavicle fractures and hand fractures were the injury diagnoses causing the greatest burden (total days needed to recover from injury).

Over half (56%) of shoulder/clavicle and two-thirds (66%) of hand fractures occurred during falls on rocky stages.

Interestingly, the rate of concussion injury was low — statistically, a rider would have to race 263 EWS events to be in with a chance of suffering just one concussion. However, the researchers noted that female competitors suffered three times the number of concussion injuries seen in the men’s field, an important finding that further research could look to explore.

The research also highlighted the need for more education on head injuries , with a third of riders not taking any time off the bike after a concussion and only 74% of riders aware of the existence of concussion assessment protocols.

To address this, the EWS has released a free pocket guide to concussion for race event staff, organisers and marshals. There is also a concussion pocket guide for riders — detailing how to spot concussion, and how to get help and advice about how to return to riding after a concussion.

The second part of the study involved a rider health and injury survey of almost 2,000 riders from over 60 countries. Survey respondents included elite athletes, amateur racers and recreational riders, and again showed that mountain bike riders are more at risk of suffering shoulder or collarbone injuries than any other.

https://www.enduroworldseries.com/news/1309-ews-publish-three-yearinjury-study--concussion-guidelines/

https://admin.enduroworldseries.com/uploads/documents/EWS%20Medical%20Study%20v6.pdf
Final Year Project (VRycle)
Tags: Oculus Go, Cycling, Virtual Reality, Gamification, Multiplayer

Background

In my final year at the National University of Singapore (NUS), I opted to do a FYP because I wanted to try my hand in a big VR project and learn more about VR applications beyond just for gaming.

My professor proposed developing a project that focuses on using VR for fitness, and upon further discussions we decided to focus on developing a VR cycling simulator for a Oculus Go. Go was only released in mid-2018, and as such there was not many simulators out there developed for it. The core idea was to strike a balance between immersion and cost-efficiency in such a solution.

My market research suggests that most solutions are either costly and highly immersive, or cost-effective but not immersive enough. I wanted to use the portability and power afforded by the standalone nature of Oculus Go to develop a solution that motivates cycling but in a convenient and cost-effective way.

For my project, the scope focuses on a solution targeted at young adults and adults (15 to 60 years old). Extreme ends of the age spectrum would require additional considerations which fall out of the project scope.
Jacobs Lake to the North Rim bike ride.
By: Randy Chipman
Tags: Grand Canyon, Kaibab Trail, Cycling, Kaibab National Forest, Grand Canyon North Rim

From the park gate it was just about 15 miles to the visitor center and views for days.

There is a water spigot where the North Kaibab Trailhead meets Hwy 67

Our biggest concern before we started was if we would be able to get water at the North Rim. Given that its not open until the 15th we where not really sure and despite our repeated efforts to call people and find out, nobody really gave us a confident answer. But with all the employees and maintenance staff out there getting things ready we assumed they’d have to have water on. And sure enough, there was plenty of water and even fully functioning bathrooms. In fact, I think there is water on almost all the time for the hikers that do the rim to rim. I didn’t take a picture, but right at the top of the Kaibab Trailhead before you get to the the visiter center there is a water spigot.

North Rim Country Store

About 20 miles from Jacobs Lake there is the North Rim Country Store. It was closed but we did stop and spoke with the owner that was getting things ready. Really nice guy. I think next year, I will pay him to bring in some cold drinks for us. This is not an easy ride and a coke here would be worth whatever he wants. Across the highway from this store is the Kaibab Lodge. If you ever want to come during the open season and you plan far enough ahead, this would be an amazing place to stay.

With perfect roads, very limited traffic, amazing scenery, this is truly a cyclists dream ride. We can’t wait to do it again next year.
Let’s design more-inclusive street signs
By: Scott Owades
Tags: Design, Transportation, Cycling, Urban Planning

As I walk and bike around my neighborhood, I’m continually disappointed by street signs that are designed only for cars. If you’re among the many who aren’t seeing the world through a windshield, a street sign likely means the opposite of what it says. I’d like to give three examples of what I mean, and to offer some ideas for more inclusive signs.

“Road Closed” and “Do Not Enter”

Here is an Emeryville “quick build slow street”, closed entirely to cars and trucks, but open for everybody else to use. When I see a “Road Closed” sign from my bike, my brain says guess I better find another route before I realize that this road is actually intended for me! Emeryville is about to install a permanent version in this location which will hopefully be better-marked.

Another example is this “Do Not Enter” sign, with an image of a person below. Are people on foot not supposed to enter, or are we referring to cars?

Since the purpose of both signs is to safely open the street to people, we need to clarify who it is closed to, and who it is open to. Perhaps we can use something like this:

This approach focuses on what is allowed before saying what isn’t allowed. As a pedestrian or bike rider, I would feel explicitly welcomed by this street, and as a car driver I would feel encouraged to return on my bike.

“No Outlet”

At an entrance to a Berkeley “Bicycle Boulevard” is this sign, that says, “No Outlet”. If you’re in a car, you’ll have to either turn around or drive illegally around some bollards in order to get out from here. But if you’re walking or on a bike, you are in the right place!

Another example is at the entrance to Willard Park — the sign says “No Outlet”, but if you’re walking or in a wheelchair this is a perfect outlet! A better sign might say “Come on in.”

Maybe we can update these sign to say for whom there is no outlet. Something like this:

The sign clarifies which modes have “no outlet”, and shows which modes are welcome. And note that everybody is welcome here — they may just need to leave the car at home.

“Road Closed to Thru Traffic”

Finally we have“Road Closed to Thru Traffic”, used lately for marking Slow Streets in Oakland. The idea is that the only cars and trucks allowed on the street are people who live there, and people make necessary stops on that street (deliveries, services). All other car and truck drivers should find another route.

Part of the purpose of these streets is to create a safer bike route across town…bring on the thru traffic! How about we get more specific:

Let’s start expecting more inclusive signage from our cities. What street signs would you like to see changed?
Concept: Unithumb, simple navigation for urban cyclists
By: Hongyi Tian
Tags: Product, Technology, Cycling Navigation, Cycling, Innovation

Biking into the daily commute is positive for health and time saving from urban life, but the cyclists won’t be able to enjoy all the benefits if they get lost or unsafe.

Today, let’s talk about navigation for urban cyclists — the group of people living in the cities and using their bicycles to head out to different places.

There are many navigation products for cyclists exist on the market, and most of them can be grouped into two categories: a navigation app on mobile devices, or a standalone GPS enabled cycling mini-computer. Both type of products are mature on the market, but when it comes to urban cycling, there is still room for improvements.

For cycling mini-computer, price and practicability are the problems. These devices normally come with features for cycling enthusiasts, such as heart rate monitoring or heat/altitude acclimation, but they could be redundant for urban cyclists who commute within the city. A common price of over 300 USD would stop many urban cyclists from purchasing. For navigation app on the phone, battery is the problem. To read-on the mapping information under straight sun light, the screen will display the map at max brightness with apps running constantly which will eventually exhaust battery quickly.

And most importantly, these two types of products didn’t address the No1 problem urban cyclists are facing: security.

urban cycling in Beijing, China — from “The Rise and Fall of China’s Cycling Empires”

In a chaotic urban environment where a cyclist is inevitably surrounded by vehicles, motorcycles, other bicycles, finding the way by regularly stopping to check maps or prescribed instructions is not a safe approach. It is a hindrance, not a help.

Sometimes, simplicity beats complexity, and this is the principle of our product. Instead of giving user a map and a set of instructions, we only provide a direction to follow.
Q&A: Rockin’ Your Ride at Cyclebar with Anna Schrank
By: Maggie Bunting
Tags: Interview, Exercise, Tampa, Cycling, Fitness

University of Tampa Student Anna Schrank has always been passionate about fitness. After finding herself always coming back to Cyclebar, she decided to turn her love for fitness into a career as the Assistant/Marketing Manager of the South Tampa Cyclebar location.

Anna Schrank showing off her favorite merchandise at the South Tampa Cyclebar location. Photo by Maggie Bunting.

What duties does your job as Assistant/Marketing Manager entail?

I focus on all of Cyclebar’s marketing, finding new ways to reach out to the public. I also focus on maintaining relationships in our many partnerships, and I am always finding new ways to bring in potential clients.

Why did you choose to work in the fitness industry?

I really never expected to work within the fitness industry, and I originally started out as just a front desk employee for a year. However, this position opened up and our owner and current manager thought it would be a good fit for me. It turned out to be an awesome position where I could be around what I am passionate about while also working around my academic schedule.

What is your favorite part about working at Cyclebar?

I get to work with some of my favorite people everyday, and I have an awesome platform to promote a brand that I truly believe in. A job is so much better when you actually care about and believe in the company that you work for.

How do you feel about the fitness industry after working in it first hand?

The fitness industry can be very rewarding to work in but it does have a lot of judgement involved. Our company does not base instructors or staff off of physical appearance. However, it can be difficult to navigate the fitness industry itself if you do not have a strong sense of yourself and of your capabilities.

Can you explain an aspect of your job that you do not enjoy?

I like a lot about my job but I think it is difficult dealing with all of the competition in the fitness industry. Everyday, I have to look at the Tampa Bay Area and ask what do other studios have that we don’t. You have to be very aware of weaknesses and that can be hard. I also am always thinking of ways to individualize Cyclebar from the many other studios in the area and it is difficult to always be brainstorming. It is easy to identify the things that I would like to change but actually implementing those changes can be difficult.

Interview has been edited for brevity, clarity and style.
The MSM Main Stream Media are intentionally ignoring Bernie Sanders in my opinion.
By: Frank Ontario
Tags: Media, Climate Change, Bernie Sanders, Diversity, Equality

The MSM Main Stream Media are intentionally ignoring Bernie Sanders in my opinion. He represents the people. ABC as part of the MSM is corporate controlled and is against Bernie as representative of the 99% of us and is terrified that Bernie will cut into corporate profits. It’s only logical that the MSM doesn’t want the trajectory of profits touched by any of the progressive candidates and most of all Bernie.

The Washington Post ignores Bernie completely save for one or two mentions. In an article not long ago they named Biden and Warren as front runners, no mention of Bernie at all.

An economy based on income equality between all peoples, a focus on vigorous restructuring of the justice system especially for those in prison and a full bore effort to address climate change are desperately needed if we are to save the planet and regain out democracy. Bernie Sanders knows that our economy does the best when the middle class flourish in all areas of life.

It feels like the Corporate - Wall Street — Military Industrial Complex are cementing their power with the GOP to strangle democracy to death.

I long for the days when the League of Women Voters moderate the debates. Let’s bring them back.
Dumdumleft Bonus Tracks: Bernie ‘Sounds Like He’s Death On Stage’
By: Matthew Dimitri
Tags: Politics, Jimmy Dore, YouTube, Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard

-Jimmy Dore says “Bernie’s voice sounds like he’s been gargling with gravel and sand and he’s not surrounding himself with people who aren’t the brightest. You grab people that you know, look at his old press secretary, now, she’s working for Joe Biden. That was a bad hire. By his campaign. They didn’t go on The Young Turks, at the time in 2016, Young Turks owned alternative progressive news- they were it. They didn’t go on Cenk’s show til March of 2016, as they were being shut-out of all mainstream media.They didn’t go on TYT til march of 2016, that’s how smart his campaign was last time. And this time they let him go on TV sounding like he’s about to die. What you’re supposed to do, dummies in the Bernie Sanders’ campaign, is you’re supposed to have him pullback. He’s 70-something years old, what you do is tell him to pullback a day or two before the debate, so he doesn’t blowout his voice, which is what you didn’t do and he blew out his voice and then he sounds like he’s death on stage. The worst performance he had so far because of it. He already has a horrible speaking voice. Let’s make it even worse, let’s make everyone think he’s sick.”

-Aimee Terese declares ‘the impact of’ cancel culture ‘is on those challenging the status quo, or lacking the power to do so.’ I guess that means Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Don Imus merely challenged the status quo, when facing advertisement exoduses.

-Kyle Kulinski asserts that “Hillary Clinton played Elizabeth Warren in 2016, because they approached Elizabeth Warren in 2016 and said oh we’re considering you for VP in 2016. And we’re gonna vet you, we’ll get back to you soon. And then what happened? That was Hillary’s chess move to block Elizabeth Warren from even considering endorsing Bernie. Because Elizabeth Warren thought, oh, shit I might be Elizabeth Warren’s VP.” Hate to burst Kyle’s bubble, but Warren endorsing Bernie before the Massachusetts primary wouldn’t have made much difference…MA delegates are awarded proportionally. (Shout-out Kid Showbusiness for catching that.)

-Fiorella Isabel thinks Ana Kasparian and Emma Vigeland are vilifying Tulsi Gabbard as pro-gun. Fiorella also feels its fine for Tulsi Gabbard to label herself as a Democrat Independent Conservative Libertarian because that’s just canvassing.

-Tulsi Gabbard dog-whistles to her base: “There is a problem with the guns, and the kinds of shootings that are happening every single day in cities like Chicago.” She then agreed with Dave Rubin that Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws. “Yeah, it is. And we’ve got to recognize that. I think that its unfortunate that those who are calling for gun safety reforms often turn a blind eye to the reality that’s happening in cities every day like that.”

-Niko House finds black-face jokes hilarious.
Why Is Bernie Sanders Campaigning Harder Than Anybody Else For Joe Biden?
Tags: Kamala Harris, Democratic Party, Bernie Sanders, Biden

This video (link below pic) shows how and why Bernie Sanders has been campaigning harder than anybody else, including Biden/Harris, for Joe Biden to be America’s next president.

(Credit: Flickr.com)

https://youtu.be/TisjvDylBlc

Bernie Sanders has never masked his primary reason for working so hard to get Joe Biden elected: To oust President Donald J. Trump from office!

This is not the first time Sanders has expended a great amount of time and energy to get a rival candidate elected to the highest office of the United States of America. In 2016, despite what Hilary Clinton and many on her campaign have stated, Bernie Sanders campaigned vigorously for Hilary Clinton. Sanders knew then, as he does now, that President Trump is absolutely NOT a man of or for the people.

I make no judgement on anybody voting for the Biden/Harris ticket or if you are still undecided. However, if you are undecided, consider this: Bernie Sanders has been Steady Freddy on his policies for decades. If he decided to throw his all into keeping/getting Trump out of office two presidential elections in a row, how dire must he think any Trump presidency? What does that mean to you?

Whether it will come to fruition, only time will tell, but I do know that Bernie Sanders 100 percent believes that Progressive policies have a much better chance of getting to the table and passing under a Biden presidency.

I have little confidence in that possibility myself, but I do believe Sanders does. And I still believe in Bernie.

I still believe that if not for critical actions by key Democratic agents, Bernie Sanders would have been our Democratic presidential candidate and that he would have won by a much bigger margin than any of his Democratic competitors…but, unfortunately, that ship has sailed.

Given the existential threat that the Democratic Party, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, has made President Trump out to be, why is Bernie Sanders campaigning harder than anybody else for the Biden/Harris ticket? And why aren’t they bending over backwards in gratitude? Crap like this is why many Democrats are saying goodbye to the Democratic Party and also highlights why Independents like me have always been and very likely always will be independent.

Quite frankly, I am anticipating local politics more, and Sanders campaigning for local politicians is very much appreciated. Bernie, you understand that the movement isn’t about you, but many of us in the movement appreciate how much you have done for us. Thank you, Senator Bernie Sanders! Keep going strong!
Public Housing Green New Deal Act Statement
By: Peter Harrison
Tags: Public Housing, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Green New Deal, Housing

Stanley Isaacs Houses

Statement on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Public Housing Green New Deal Act:

To end the housing crisis, it’s crucial that we fully fund and fix our publicly owned homes in a way that empowers residents, upholds strong labor standards, and addresses the challenges of climate disaster head-on. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Public Housing Green New Deal Act would be an important part of making sure that public housing, one of our most threatened sources of deeply and permanently affordable housing, remains livable, safe, and sustainable for years to come.

In New York City and across the country, the condition of our public housing stock, long starved of much needed and deserved federal funding, is dire. Just last week, 5,500 NYCHA residents were left without heat as the boilers failed in 23 buildings across 3 different developments. This is nothing new, as residents, the vast majority of which are people of color, are routinely at risk from mold, lead paint, lack of heat and hot water, and buildings urgently in need of structural repairs. What’s more, a significant portion of NYCHA’s portfolio is located in flood zones and is extremely vulnerable in the event of extreme weather and sea level rise.

The Public Housing Green New Deal Act addresses these problems in a number of innovative ways. Through 7 different federal grant programs, the act would decarbonize the United States’ entire public housing stock, provide funding for renewable community energy production, improve resiliency measures, ensure all tenants have a say in their building and development through the strengthening of resident councils, and provide good paying jobs and economic opportunities for residents. Importantly, this act also repeals the Faircloth Amendment, which currently prohibits the construction of new public housing units, allowing us to build the new non-speculative homes that we need.

Public housing isn’t a failure. Over the past decades, our state and federal governments have systematically disinvested from our public housing authorities while pushing privatization programs like RAD that put residents at risk of rising rents and eviction. Under the Green New Deal, these developments can instead be transitioned into a model for sustainable and equitable housing while centering the needs of residents who have long been ignored.

As this act makes clear, Housing is a human right. No one should have to live in substandard conditions. In Congress, I will be a tireless advocate for homerenters, especially those living in publicly owned homes, as we fight for a Green New Deal for Cities and a Homes Guarantee.

In Solidarity,

Peter Harrison

Democratic candidate for NY-12

www.peterfornewyork.com
We Asked San Franciscans Which Presidential Nominee They’re Backing
By: Matt Charnock
Tags: San Francisco, Politics, Weasked, Election 2020, Bernie Sanders

Remember when Mayor London Breed endorsed Michael Bloomberg — you know, the NYC billionaire who supported stop and frisk and reportedly told women at a male colleague’s wedding to “line up to give him a blow job as a wedding present” — for president? Yeah, so do we. (Though it’s pretty clear as to why Breed did such a thing. Hint: Bloomberg donated millions on policies she supported.)

Breed’s constituents, unsurprisingly, couldn’t be leaning further from her endorsement. In light of California’s primary taking place today (go vote!), we canvassed San Franciscans on who they’re planning to vote for as the 2020 Democratic nominee and why. It wasn’t a huge shocker to find out that our residents are largely torn between progressives Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders. (We did get a couple people leaning toward former Vice President Joe Biden!) Perhaps if you’re undecided, hearing how fellow SF voters made up their minds will help you make up yours.

And once you do, don’t forget to vote. We have everything you need to know about California’s primary, including information about registering, finding your polling place, and what’s on your ballot.
Unanswered Questions from the Iowa Caucus
By: Cody Leblanc
Tags: Democratic Party, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Iowa Caucus

Iowa is known for its farmland, in addition to its first-in-the-nation voting status for the presidential nominating contests.

What is shocking about the unique mess of the Iowa’s Democratic Party caucus reporting this week is the absence of calls for accountability. Specifically, who in the Iowa Democratic Party is responsible for the decision to pay a private company to supply a faulty app? This decision appears ludicrous considering the effectiveness of traditional and vetted methods (like email). No one has explicitly accepted responsibility for this debacle.

A hollow apology from Iowa Democratic Party chair Troy Price about the results being “unacceptable” was given. However answers to the important questions remain elusive. The optics and lack of transparency for the app (developed by a company called “Shadow”) are disturbing. Some highlights include:

The silver lining is that at least the Nevada Democratic Party has decided not to use the Shadow app for its caucus on February 22.

Looking Forward

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Iowa Democratic Party needs to be more transparent about their decisions. Famously, leaked emails revealed that the DNC tried to interfere in the 2016 primaries to promote the Hillary Clinton campaign over Bernie Sanders. This latest fiasco adds to the mistrust constituents feel about internal DNC decision making.

The debacle has also shined a light on another “shady” issue with the caucus system — how a candidate can win the popular vote while not being considered the winner. This outcome is possible because the winner of the state traditionally is the one who receives the most “state delegates.” Bernie has received thousands more votes than Pete, however Buttigieg has received 1.5 (or 0.1%) more state delegates (Buttigieg also shamelessly declared victory in Iowa before any official results were released). It seems almost paradoxical that a political group that calls itself the “democratic party” would allow the possibility of such an outcome.
Apparently the Atlantic didn’t have any reporters onsite in Iowa for the caucuses.
By: Helene W
Tags: Caucus Conspiracies, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Iowa Caucus

Apparently the Atlantic didn’t have any reporters onsite in Iowa for the caucuses. If they had, you would have known that EVERY campaign had Precinct Captains and volunteers at each precinct helping with the caucus. Pete’s people and Bernie’s people alike. Because of this each campaign actually knew the caucus results on caucus night. The campaign people had no trouble calling, texting or emailing the public results from their individual caucus to campaign headquarters.

So whether or not the Iowa Democratic Party had working apps or phone lines, ordinary citizens did and the campaigns were able to know pretty well how the numbers had come out from the very first. WHY DO YOU THINK BERNIE INSISTED ON THIS VERY SYSTEM?? Why do you think Bernie also declared himself a winner the first night? They knew.

You can write as many derogatory articles as you want, the facts will not change. Competing campaigns can float as many conspiracy theories as they can spin, the facts will not change. Please go look for factual news to report.
In Sports Media, Experience is King
By: Patrick Foster
Tags: Sports, Public Relations, Internships, Broadcasting, Sports Media

Sports Journalism students help to cover a University sporting event. Photo courtesy of UF College of Journalism and Communications via jou.ufl.edu

After the final buzzer sounds, the final out is recorded and the clock finally hits zero in any athlete’s career, the question immediately arises, what’s next? For most, a career in sports media. While getting into that industry may be simple for former division one and professional athletes, getting a foot in the door for those who concluded their athletic careers in high school or lower division collegiate program is significantly harder; however, not impossible.

A Twitter survey showed an unsurprising balance of sports media students who have had experience and those who have none.

Experience is key

So, how does an average joe break into the sports media industry? It’s all about experience.

“We want to see experience that’s leading you up to where you want to be,” said Executive Director of Public Relations for CBS Sports Jerry Caraccioli when asked about hiring interns. “So, have you had any lower level experience that, so say you want to be on-air or even work in PR, how much have you worked in other areas of PR to show natural progression in terms of the type of companies that you’ve worked for.”

Where to start

But in a field so difficult to find internships and entry level positions, how does one gain this experience. Caraccioli says its much simpler than most people think.

“Go to you school’s Sports Information office. Any Sports Information Director at any school, if you volunteer to work for free, they’re not going to say no. Through that alone and those connections, you’ll meet plenty of different people.” Caraccioli added, “There’s no event or experience that’s too little to put on your resume its all good experience.”

CBS Sports Publicist Walt Scher emphasized the need for experience when reviewing intern applicants. “ Especially with CBS Sports, we have the luxury of being a big network and big internship opportunity, we’re something that not everybody is going to get to this certain level and so our mindset is that you should have done an internship or two before you get to us.”

Everyone agrees, experience is invaluable

Survey results show that those who have been able to land sports media internships, despite the size of the company, have earned valuable knowledge of the industry.

So, start small. It’s important to be humble and accept any opportunity that presents itself because any experience is good experience and starting small can always lead to somewhere big.
Communication, Impacts.
Tags: Startup, Public Relations, Bengaluru, Corporate, Communication

Communication has always been the lynchpin of human evolution, from cave paintings to hand gestures, from languages to machine-learning! We can safely assume that the next big thing is just around the corner!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to and interacting with mavens from the Corporate Communication industry at the India Impact Communication Conclave (IICC) 2019, held at Bangalore. With the worlds of Fortune 500 companies and startup Unicorns merging through these wordsmiths, interesting insights were hidden in every nook and corner.

Here are some of my take-aways from the event.

Just conveying information is not communication! Digital ideas are based on simple analogous truths. Take a cue from First Principles. In 9 out of ten cases, vernacular content consumption will win over English by 2022. New age communication is a dynamic mix of art and science. You no longer have to rely on your gut. Data can help you measure, optimise and multiply your efforts.

When you’re a part of young startups like Wizikey, such interactions are food for thought. I leave you with the questions that are running circles in my mind, in the hopes that you will join my marathon. How can we communicate better to our investors, customers, potential talent and the in-house teams?

I think that keeping it simple, original and human, is the way to go. What about you?
Public Relations firm work behind the curtains to position their clients as the industry leaders…
By: Sakshi Arora
Tags: Pr Firms, Best Pr Firms, Public Relations, Pr Services

Public Relations firm work behind the curtains to position their clients as the industry leaders, presenting them as reliable and positive role models by sending press releases, building relationships with the journalists, and analyzing the industry and public opinion. PR companies employ multiple channels to make this successful, their efforts, however, remain invisible to the public eye.

PR work involves building a positive brand image through media coverage. The public tends to find news coverage more credible than advertisements. It is also important to present the leaders as role models, experts in their fields. PR professionals can help in making this possible by training the leaders to master the skills of communicating with media and establishing them as the thought leaders of the industry.

Social Media Management is another aspect of PR that is gaining attention now. The world is now digital, therefore, it becomes necessary to target the audience through social media. This gives the public a platform to engage with the brand in real-time.
Working of a PR Firm
By: Sakshi Arora
Tags: Public Relations, Pr Agencies, Pr Workings, Pr Services

Public Relations firm work behind the curtains to position their clients as the industry leaders, presenting them as reliable and positive role models by sending press releases, building relationships with the journalists, and analyzing the industry and public opinion. PR companies employ multiple channels to make this successful, their efforts, however, remain invisible to the public eye.

PR work involves building a positive brand image through media coverage. The public tends to find news coverage more credible than advertisements. It is also important to present the leaders as role models, experts in their fields. PR professionals can help in making this possible by training the leaders to master the skills of communicating with media and establishing them as the thought leaders of the industry.

Social Media Management is another aspect of PR that is gaining attention now. The world is now digital, therefore, it becomes necessary to target the audience through social media. This gives the public a platform to engage with the brand in real-time.
#7 Why traditional media still matters and how to generate positive coverage
By: Eo Ipso Comms
Tags: Media, Press, Public Relations, Journalism

Read the article or click here for a video summary by Oliver Aust, CEO of Eo Ipso Communications

According to recent studies, social media is about half as trusted as traditional media sources. Despite accusations of bias and disinformation, traditional media and journalists remain trusted and influential sources of news. It is therefore in your best interest to prioritise positive coverage.

If you open a newspaper, you will probably notice that most articles about organisations or companies are negative. However, journalists are not hell-bent on writing a negative story. Negative stories are the end-product of companies handling media relations poorly and fundamentally misunderstanding how journalists work.

Journalists are incredibly busy and under substantial pressure to publish quality content while simultaneously promoting their organisation’s brand. It is unrealistic to expect that journalists will simply turn up when called or publish any self-promotional story given to them. They are proud of their voices and it would be naïve to expect them to become true friends of your organisation.

However, this does not mean that it is impossible to establish a mutually beneficial relationship. At the end of the day, journalists are doing their job and you are doing your job. Help them to help you: share industry information, speak at their events, help with sponsored content or provide quotes and unique insights.

For more on how to build positive media relations, watch this video as Oliver breaks down what he learned over two decades of media experience, including this interview with the Associated Press.
Updates from Timothy Oulton, The Vice & More
Tags: Agencylife, Public Relations, NYC, Pr, Agencynews

The Food, Wine and Spirit Team

Last week, members of the Maker’s Mark team joined SAVEUR Magazine in Cincinnati for this year’s 10th annual blogger awards! Joined by the best food/drink bloggers, content creators and writers from all over the world, Maker’s Mark was able to play a part in an impactful week by celebrating those who are a part of the culinary scene.

Timothy Oulton

“For the past 10 years, Timothy Oulton has served as the creative force behind his eponymous furniture brand, which he believes encapsulates a sense of “humble luxury.” Timothy Oulton was showcased in a full feature piece in Elle Decor titled “The Art of “Humble Luxury” is the Key to Timothy Oulton’s Business.” The article gave a in depth look into the business model of the brand and how each piece of Timothy Oulton furniture is made in Gaoming, China. Read the full article here.

The Lowell was highlighted in a L’Officiel article titled, “Find a Holiday Oasis at The Lowell Hotel.” The article showcases The Lowell’s Warmth & Wine Offer, which is described to include “especially luxurious amenities” like daily breakfast, newspaper delivery, shoe shines, and a personal Fireplace Butler, “who will hand-light your suite’s wood-burning fireplace (did you expect any less?) and supplement it with one of the hotel’s signature scents upon request.” Read the full article here.

On Monday, November 19, The Vice team organized a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Taste-Off at BLACKBARN NoMad, where guests blind-tasted The Vice wines among their peers — 14 wines to be exact! Guests included Wine Spectator, Well+Good, and Thrillist.

This week, four of our hotel clients were included in an article by Whenever Family. The article, titled “Over-the-Top Hotel Holidays,” featured The Lowell’s Warmth & Wine Offer, The Knickerbocker’s NYE Rooftop Offer, Halekulani Okinawa’s Firefly Experience and Half Moon’s Rose Villas. Read the full article here.

“The point of these sparkling waters is to help you find your focus, which is why they keep all the bad stuff out and the good stuff in.” Phocus was featured in Guilty Eats this week and the article highlighted why sparkling caffeinated water is the new “go-to” for consumers who want to be energized all day. Read the full article here.

On Tuesday, November 19, a member of the EVINS Digital team attended the Tech Up For Women Conference at the Javits Center. Keynote speakers included Rima Alameddine from Nvidia who demonstrated new Jarvis AI technology, Sanyogita Shamsunder from Version who discussed the evolution of 5G and what’s next, and Randi Zuckerberg from Zuckerberg Institute who talked about the challenges she faced throughout her career. Key Takeaways are that Adobe is creating a new program called “Adobe Sensei” where the technology is able to understand and point out different objects within images. Several keynote speakers and panelists noted that although AI is making some jobs obsolete, the technology has created “new collar” jobs that are technology based to help manage the AI. Think of it like HR management for AI.