Ever find yourself waiting for the next bus, not knowing when it will arrive? Think it would be great if you could check a subway countdown clock from the sidewalk? Or get arrival times on your phone? Giving transit riders better information can make ridng the bus or the train more convenient and appealing. And transit agencies are finding that the easiest and least expensive way to do it is by opening data about routes, schedules, and real-time locations to software developers, instead of guarding it like a proprietary secret.
Tacoma Urbanist
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Sep. 2, 2010 at 12:44am
Will the City of Tacoma Be Able and Willing to Get Parking Rates Right?
With pay stations going in around Tacoma, the question remains whether the City of Tacoma will be willing to adjust the price of parking so as to benefit rather than harm downtown Tacoma.
If the price is set too low for parking there will be no parking spaces available. If the price is set too high causing a greater vacancy than 15 percent (one out of 7 spaces empty), potential shoppers and other visitors will be driven out of downtown Tacoma harming the city. If there is already a 15 percent vacancy in an area, the price of parking should be free.
Will the City of Tacoma take the recommendations of Dr. Shoup and remove the counterproductive time limitation for parking?
History
Parking meters were removed in the 1970s in Tacoma because it was perceived that the demand was too weak for parking price charged and the meters were driving people out of downtown.
Questions:
In areas where demand is weak and significant parking vacancies occur, will the city reduce the price of parking in the area of weak demand as recommended by Dr. Shoup or will the city collect whatever money it can for the benefit of the city treasury oblivious to the consequences?
Current demand for Parking downtown
The area around UWT certainly has sufficient demand for parking. However, the north portion of Pacific Avenue and streets such as 7th Avenue already have a greater vacancies than 15 percent downtown.
Time Limits
Unfortunately, the city erroneously choose to go against the best practices for parking management as discussed by Professor Donald Shoup:
DS: The other thing I think that San Francisco is doing and that Redwood City did and that Ventura has done is eliminate any time limits on the meters. They removed the time limits and they rely on pricing to create turnover and vacancies and this has been the most popular part of the policy in Redwood City. People now don't have to worry -- a driver and three friends want to go for dinner some place and they park -- they don't have to worry that they have to get back to their meter in an hour or two hours. Whatever they're doing, they don't feel like they're pushed around so much by the city. It still creates a lot of turnover because the price is higher, but the user is more in control of their life than when somebody who manages meters says you can only stay here for an hour or two hours.
Imposing time limits shows that the City simply did not trust or understand a market based approach to managing parking spaces. A 2 hour time limit places a scarlet letter of sorts on visitors downtown making them abandon downtown even with available empty spots available to avoid being ticketed.
Prediction:
I predict that at 75 cents per hour, the south side of downtown will benefit and the north end of downtown Tacoma will experience vacancies far higher than 15 percent much of the day. If the city does not quickly lower the price of parking in the north end of downtown Tacoma to compensate for the weaker demand, businesses will soon be detrimentally effected.
What is your prediction of what will happen when the pay stations come online?
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Aug. 25, 2010 at 12:13am
Lady Gaga Declares World Domination of Twitter in Backstage Tacoma Dome Video
Tacomans appreciate more than most cities celebrity exposure when it comes their way.
Hence, they were appreciative of Lady Gaga who, upon becoming the most "followed" person on Twitter, declared her domination of Twitter in a special video Gaga filmed backstage in the Tacoma Dome. What an honor!
That's right folks. This video was shot just a few hundred feet from Freighthouse Square!
Source:
While Lady Gaga was strutting her stuff (mostly fishnet stockings and tiny leather pants, from what I've seen) onstage Saturday night in Tacoma, she was becoming "queen of Twitter" online.
The pop star surpassed Britney Spears to become the most-followed person on Twitter over the weekend with more than 5.7 million followers.
Lady Gaga recorded a video message for her "little monsters," vowing to be a good and gracious "queen of Twitter." The video was released Saturday night around the same time she performed at the Tacoma Dome.
According to her Twitter page, it was recorded "while changing backstage at The Monster Ball in Tacoma."
There is no promise that Gaga will ever step foot in Tacoma again to walk among the cars in the LeMay Museum or add to the hipness of the Weekly Volcano. Yet, for a brief moment, Tacoma had its day in the vortex of the entertainment world.
Gaga's flagship song sung in the Tacoma Dome:
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Aug. 19, 2010 at 12:01am
Spend A Romantic "Movie Night" in Tollefson Plaza Tonight!
Tonight (Thursday) at 8:30 p.m. in Tollefson Plaza!
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Aug. 5, 2010 at 8:58am
Could Struggling Pierce Transit Benefit from Employing Open Data?
Pierce Transit is struggling for funds.
Could the percentage of Tacomans who use the bus in the city of Tacoma be increased if Pierce Transit employed "Open Data" to increase the predictability and perceived value of bus service?
PIERCE TRANSIT 930 Commerce St Tacoma, WA (253) 581-8000
From Streetfilms:
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Jul. 30, 2010 at 7:34am
Today at 5: Mayor Strickland and Councilmember Boe To Cut Ribbon at Grand Opening Party for Amocat Cafe
Make sure and attend this event today fellow Tacomans:
The Official Grand Opening Gala of the Amocat Cafe!
Amocat Cafe
625 St Helens Ave
Tacoma, WA5 - 9 pm
NOW featuring:
- Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Councilman David Boe!
...
- Local Wine Tasting Taste-Off featuring Tacoma's 21 Cellars, Lake Tapp's Kalamar Winery, UP's Stina's Cellars, and Eatonville's Stringtown Cellars
- Live Music from singer/acoustic guitarist Gina Belliveau, jazz guitarist Andrew Sherbrooke, and more!
- Tasty Cold Beer!
- Fresh Amocat Blend espresso custom roasted in Tacoma by Valhalla!
Plus, starting in August by popular demand: OPEN EVENINGS!
Politicians usually reserve ribbon cutting ceremonies for the opening of new roads, bank branches or some other highly visible media event. That is why it is encouraging to see Mayor Strickland helping to celebrate the grand opening of Amocat Cafe 625 St. Helens at 5:00 p.m.
Amocat Cafe is owned by Morgan Alexander:
Commentary:
The City of Tacoma has tried to revitalize itself by landing the "big fish" downtown with the development of the Tacoma Dome, Convention Center and trying to lure big companies downtown. Yet, it is the small businesses such as Amocat Cafe who make the biggest mark on adding life to downtown Tacoma and who take the most risk.
The redevelopment of Tacoma is most likely to succeed block by block and storefront by storefront.
It is great to see that Mayor Strickland and Tacoma City Council member David Boe can find time to celebrate the opening of a small coffee shop downtown. (Has a mayor in Tacoma ever cut the ribbon for the opening of a stand alone coffee shop?)
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Jul. 22, 2010 at 1:07am
Support Mark Lindquist Via Wine Auction on Saturday at Kings Books
.........
Urban venacular from the Volcano re: the event:
Pierce County Prosecutor and author Mark Lindquist has a lot of
famous friends.
Dude dated Molly Ringwald, for god
sake. I mean c'mon. Not only does he know a lot of famous people, he's
not above using their names to raise a little dough - as evident by the
fact he'll be auctioning off autographed books and bottles of wine
Saturday at King's to help support his campaign.
Perfect if you like stuff signed by famous people, or just want to hear Lindquist talk about the time he accidentally (sic) Anthony Michael Hall.
[King's Books, 6:30 p.m., $50 per person, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, marklindquist.org]
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Jun. 7, 2010 at 12:44am
Adam The Alien Harasses People at Famers Market With Politically Insensitive "Hobo" Puppets
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Jun. 1, 2010 at 9:29am
Full Length Amocat Cafe Guerrilla Marketing Viral Trailer Released on Spew
Another scoop by Spew. Check out the Guerrilla Marketing Viral Trailer re: opening of Amocat Cafe from Tacoma's Weekly Volcano via Spew today:
Amocat is open today from 6:30 to 3.Share via:
May. 28, 2010 at 12:13am
Meet Prosecutor Mark Lindquist At Campaign Kickoff At Heidelberg Brewery
(Lindquist giving a presentation in Tacoma)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindsay Westnedge | Campaign Manager | 253.273.5208| manager@marklindquist.org
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist announces campaign kick-off event
Tacoma, Wash. - Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist will officially kick off his campaign on Saturday, June 5 at 7 p.m. in Tacoma's historic Heidelberg Brewery building at 2210 S. "C" St.
Lindquist, the former Chief Criminal Deputy, has been with the Prosecutor's Office for 15 years. He was appointed Prosecutor by the Pierce County Council's unanimous bi-partisan vote. Lindquist has earned the support of leaders from both political parties, including former Republican Governor Daniel J. Evans, and former Democratic Governor and Pierce County Executive Booth Gardner.
"I am committed to leading a professional, non-partisan office that serves the people of our community well," Prosecutor Lindquist said.
Under Lindquist's leadership, the Prosecutor's Office has aggressively prosecuted violent street gangs, held accountable all the defendants who assisted cop-killer Maurice Clemmons, reduced the criminal case backlog and increased access to justice.
Police and firefighters are among Lindquist's dedicated supporters. Detective Ed Troyer said, "Mark Lindquist is a cop's prosecutor. He's tough, aggressive, and in the trenches with us. That's why law enforcement is supporting him."
Troyer will serve as the emcee of the kick-off event. Sheriff Paul Pastor, Congressman Adam Smith, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson will be featured speakers.
"There will be more music and socializing than speeches," Troyer promised.
Popular local band The Beatniks and unnamed musical guest stars, including a member of a nationally known multi-platinum band, will provide entertainment.
Mark and his wife Chelsea live in Tacoma, and the couple is expecting their first child in August. They belong to St. Leo's Church. Mark is an accomplished author with four published novels. He and his wife Chelsea enjoy hiking, reading, and attending Tacoma's non-profit theater, The Grand Cinema.
Visit http://www.marklindquist.org for more information.
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May. 20, 2010 at 9:42am
Amocat Cafe "Making of Trailer" Released on Volcano's Spew!
Check out the latest breaking news on imminent opening of Amocat Cafe from Tacoma's Weekly Volcano via Spew Today:
_____________________
BETTER THAN A SHOT OF ESPRESSO
The Tacoma Urbanist, who drinks this cocktail, sent us a video of the making of the Amocat Cafe marketing trailer.
Revealed in the video are the "drinks" that will be available at the new downtown Tacoma coffee house, which might open in a couple weeks - you know how those things go. The video shows the new paint inside one of the three rooms in Amocat - some walls are gold, others are red.
You can also see Amocat owner Morgan Alexander ripping the paper away from the windows during the shot. Amocat will be using "Go Local" products such as Valhalla Coffee, tea from Mad Hat and many other local products. However, they flew in New York City-based journalist Heather Robinson to star in this video.
_________________
Can't wait till they open!
About
A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.
See my downtown Tacoma and neighborhood pictures of coffee, food, people, art, urban blight and Frost Park Chalk Off events.
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-Erik Bjornson
Be sure to visit:
1. The Tacoma Sun, an online Tacoma urban magazine.
2. The James Howard Kunster podcasts broadcast weekly discussing the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl..
3. Tacoma Coffee Shop Showdown
4. Tacoma Document Archive - Key City Documents, Court Documents, Links, Books, and Videos.
5. Is your city worth caring about? James Kunstler discusses how to make your community a place worth caring about.
Useful Links
Tacoma Streetcars - Join the citywide effort to restore streetcars to Tacoma's Neighborhoods.
Congress for New Urbanism - the leading organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl.
Planetizen - A one-stop source for urban planning news, commentary and interviews.
New Urban News - Discussing traditional neighborhood development focusing on building mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods instead of conventional suburban subdivisions, shopping centers and office parks.
Heather Robinson Middle East Commentator - Human Rights and Middle East Issues.
VA Loans in Washington State - Obtain a VA loan today: for civilians and U.S.Servicemembers.