Close your eyes and picture idyllic tree-lined streets in a cheery suburban neighborhood. If you open your eyes, however, you might still see that image — only there might be a lot of “for sale” signs posted in front yards or dark houses due to vacancy.
That’s because cities are now seeing a population influx. According to census analysis by William Frey of the Brookings Institution, this could be the decade of big-city growth.
Analyzing data from 2010-2013, Frey was able to figure out that cities themselves — not just their metropolitan areas — grew at a measurably faster rate than suburbs, with “primary cities” (those with a population over 1 million) growing 1.13 percent from 2011 to 2012. At the same time, suburban areas grew at only .95 percent.
While the difference (and growth rate itself) may seem minimal, it reflects more significant changes that are happening in a select number of cities such as New Orleans; Washington, D.C.; San Jose, California; Austin, Texas; Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina; Denver; and Seattle. All those cities have even faster growth rates even faster than the national average!
Although there are a variety of reasons that people may be migrating back to cities, one that we’ve mentioned before is the rise of the innovation district – urban areas that are easily accessible and combine a variety of organizations and people advancing ideas and promoting ingenuity. These areas attract not only jobs, but because of their cosmopolitan and integrated feel, residents too.
Another specific driver of growth could be the new transportation initiative in Minneapolis-St. Paul, another booming city, according to City Lab.
So, does this mean the demise of white picket fences and two-car garages? Hardly. As the study points out, the suburbs are continuing to grow, albeit at a slower pace. But with growth, comes innovation — giving cities the upper hand.
Tag: San Jose
An App That Turns Everyday Bystanders Into Everyday Heroes
When an airplane passenger is in physical distress, the flight attendant calls through the speakers asking if medical professionals are on board. It’s a simple action that can make a huge difference. What if we could mimic this same outreach, 10,000 feet below, everyday on the ground?
That’s exactly what the smart phone app PulsePoint (for download here) makes possible, according to Emergency Management. Using the gadgets we all carry every day, municipalities that use the free mobile service are able to send out alerts to CPR-certified citizens who are nearby someone in need. In many cases, there are just a few minutes between life and death, so every second counts. By quickening response times, this app can help save lives — before an ambulance is even in sight.
PulsePoint doesn’t replace dispatched responders, but as fast as ambulances and emergency medical technicians try to arrive, they’re often not quick enough. Once 9-1-1 is dialed and the available crew is actually with the patient, it can be too late – making those that can arrive quicker a vital resource.
San Jose became the first area city to use PulsePoint in 2012 — the app’s founder and CEO, Richard Price, is from the area, having worked as an ex-fire chief of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. Since then, it’s caught on thanks to support from a local hospital and the results it provides. A local hospital is also planning a public registry of automated defibrillators through a new, related app, PulsePoint AED.
With decreasing local budgets for emergency response, increasing populations and traffic congestion, the demand for innovations like PulsePoint is greater than ever. By alerting off-duty first responders, medical professionals, and other CPR certified individuals of a nearby need, PulsePoint turns them into valuable lifesavers, all with the tap of a phone, making the app early — and effective — when time means everything.
One Company’s Quest to Reduce Electronic Waste in Landfills
Every time you or your company gets rid of old phones, laptops or printers more and more electronic waste piles up. Case in point: According to the EPA, 2.37 million tons of discarded televisions, fax machines, keyboards, cell phones and other tech gear was trashed in 2009. With the proliferation of smartphones alone, one can only imagine how much that number has increased since then.
When this e-waste isn’t properly recycled, it just ends up in landfills, which is exactly why we need companies like the California-based GreenMouse Recycling, which makes sure that old and unwanted gadgets are safely processed and responsibly disposed.
But more than just looking out for the environment, GreenMouse Recylcing CEO Evelyn O’Donnell has another agenda — to give “unhireables” a chance at employment, as Good News Network reports. Since 2011, the CEO has partnered with the San Jose, California’s work2future program to provide training and employment opportunities for at-risk young adults. The e-waste company’s internship program trains these kids skills that will give them a leg up in the real world — such as social media marketing, computer refurbishing, and data management.
MORE: This Sandwich Shop’s Ridiculously Small Amount of Waste Will Shock You
And it doesn’t end there. According to the report, GreenMouse’s commitment for social equality also extends to their fundraising efforts, donating more than a quarter of a million dollars to schools, churches, and non-profits such as the YMCA and Alzheimer’s Association.
“From their employees to their interns, and from customers to non profits, GreenMouse is paving a new path for corporate-social responsibility,” said O’Donnell’s daughter Briana, who also works for the company. “Not everyone can say that they are not only excited but proud of what they do and I count my blessings that I get to wake up and say it every day.”