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New Urbanists, Keep Your Hands Off My Suburbs

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Picture this: a four-story residential building perched atop an artisanal coffee shop and a yoga studio, its micro-apartments stacked like shoeboxes in the name of “sustainability” and “resilience.” Now picture something else entirely: a pristine, master-planned community where every house has a front porch, the streets are lined with picket fences, and everything looks as if it were plucked from a Norman Rockwell painting — except there are few if any houses of worship, the zoning codes are suffocating, and the price tag ensures only the elite can afford to live there.

These are the two faces of New Urbanism, an ideology that, masquerading as “traditionalist,” conservatives have tolerated for far too long. On one end, you have high-density urbanism, where developers — in cahoots with machine politicians — cram as many people as possible into apartment blocks, eliminating cars and personal space under the guise of environmentalism and a sense of community. On the other, you have the faux-traditional, highly regulated enclaves of Seaside and Celebration, Florida, prohibitively expensive and ironically more artificial than the suburban developments they criticize.

Despite their aesthetic differences, both forms of New Urbanism share a common goal: reengineering American life by discouraging homeownership. The “planning and development approach,” as the Congress for New Urbanism puts it, champions “walkability” and “human-scale” design but, in reality, is about control — limiting choices and creating a transient, economically dependent population that tilts politics permanently leftward. Led by figures like Andrés Duany and Charles Marohn and pushed by crony capitalist “scholars” at libertarian think tanks, New Urbanism further advocates for zoning reforms that restrict homebuilding outside city centers and end up inflating the cost of housing.

At the heart of this movement is a fanatical hatred of the automobile. New Urbanists dream of a “car-free” America, where individuals are herded onto public transit or forced to walk and bike their way through life, regardless of their needs or preferences. DPZ CoDesign, founded in 1980 by Duany and his wife Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and the firm behind much of New Urbanism’s expansion, once gleefully tweeted, “We look forward to a ‘car-optional’ #Miami!” 

Cars, however, epitomize freedom and choice. They allow families to escape crime-ridden urban centers, access better schools, and enjoy homeownership in safe, thriving communities. That’s exactly why New Urbanists and their left-wing allies despise them. They yearn for us all to be confined to dense housing and reliant on mass transit. Yet Americans of all backgrounds overwhelmingly view homeownership as a cornerstone of the American Dream, representing stability, financial security, and the ability to build generational wealth.

Meanwhile, the cities that New Urbanists idolize, such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, are collapsing under the weight of crime, homelessness, and deteriorating infrastructure. Instead of addressing these failures, urban planners double down on the same policies that created the problems: more density, fewer cars, and an obsession with “public spaces” that inevitably become magnets for vagrancy and disorder.

Master-planned communities such as Seaside and Celebration, Florida, also sold a false bill of goods. They were initially marketed as idyllic, walkable neighborhoods that would foster affordability and community. Celebration, just south of Walt Disney World Resort, envisioned as a nostalgic return to small-town life, now sees median home prices at nearly $619,000, almost 50 percent higher than the average U.S. home price, while its per-square-foot price hovers around $332. In the small zip code that contains Seaside, arguably the ultimate showcase of New Urbanism, the median home sale price has surged to $1.1 million, with median properties selling around $500 per square foot. These developments have largely shut out middle-class families. Predictably, they have become bubbles where exclusivity triumphs over affordability.

The hypocrisy of New Urbanism’s leading figures is also staggering. James Howard Kunstler, one of the movement’s loudest voices, openly boasted that he chose to homestead in Greenwich, New York, complete with “a large garden, an orchard, and chickens.” Charles Marohn, founder of Strong Towns, resides in a single-family home in Brainerd, Minnesota, a quiet, prairie town. And then there’s Richard Driehaus, the late financier of New Urbanism, who endowed, among other initiatives, the now defunct New Urbanist column at The American Conservative. He owned multiple mansions, including a 40-acre estate in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which sold for a record-breaking $36 million in 2022. (Two Driehaus Prize-winning architects designed Celebration, Florida.) It’s high-density for thee, but sprawling luxury for me.

Now it’s time to knock down three New Urbanist pieces of propaganda. First, we don’t have a “housing crisis.” We have an artificial crisis created by politicians and developers who restrict supply to inflate costs and further solidify Democrat voting blocs. The answer is cutting red tape and unleashing the free market to build more homes where Americans actually want to live. Report after report confirms that Millennials are fleeing the cities faster than a hipster from a chain restaurant, trading urban grit for suburban bliss.

Second, contrary to what New Urbanists claim, the suburbs aren’t some artificial contrivance foisted upon unsuspecting Americans. They’re the result of people voting with their feet. Suburban life offers homeownership, safety, and stability — values conservatives should champion. Yet Addison Del Mastro, formerly of both The American Conservative and The Bulwark, and his ilk sneer at the idea of single-family homes, dismissing many as “McMansions” and symbols of excess. Hilariously, New Urbanists cheered Houston’s lax zoning laws as the perfect stage for their grand urban vision. But when given the freedom to choose, people didn’t flock downtown but instead stampeded to the suburbs.

It’s frankly absurd that conservatives — who are pro-family — would entertain the idea of cramming kids into tiny apartments with no yards. How exactly are parents supposed to raise multiple children in a 600-square-foot box? Where are kids supposed to play? On a rooftop patio shared with strangers? Instead of capitulating to left-wing planners pushing this dystopian vision, conservatives should be fighting for policies that encourage more single-family homes.

The reality, underscored by Covid lockdowns, is that the information economy has made living in the suburbs more affordable. Remote work also reduces the need for long commutes. Suburbs offer less crime, less noise, and more privacy. A third piece of New Urbanist agitprop: Everyone must endure a “two-hour commute.” Really? Jobs exist in the suburbs. 

It’s worth recalling that the Obama administration’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule aimed to reshape suburban demographics under the pretense of promoting so-called equity. This initiative sought to impose high-density housing in suburban areas, effectively eroding local control over zoning laws. The true objective was to fundamentally alter the American political landscape by turning traditionally conservative suburbs purple and eventually blue. During the Trump administration, there was an opportunity to dismantle AFFH and defend the suburbs. Alas, some self-proclaimed “conservatives,” much to the delight of developers poised to profit from these changes, resisted efforts to repeal the rule. Their actions betrayed the very principles they claimed to uphold, all in pursuit of financial gain.

The right has mistakenly accommodated doctrinaire libertarians, neoconservatives, and, yes, New Urbanists. But just as we’ve exposed the deep state and fake news, it’s time to unmask the New Urbanists’ left-wing assault on property rights and personal mobility. The future of America is not a high-density, corporatist nightmare. It’s the spacious, family-friendly suburbs where liberty thrives.

The pandemic put New Urbanism on life support. Now it’s time to flick the switch. As true conservatives, we must stand firm and defend homeownership, a pillar of the American Dream.

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Liked on YouTube: BREAKING NEWS: Rand Paul Lists Example After Example Of 'Wasteful' Spending By USAID

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BREAKING NEWS: Rand Paul Lists Example After Example Of 'Wasteful' Spending By USAID
At today's Senate Homeland Securty Committee hearing, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) listed examples of what he called wasteful spending at USAID. Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more: <a href="https://ift.tt/0rZT1bX" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/0rZT1bX</a> Stay Connected Forbes on Facebook: <a href="http://fb.com/forbes" rel="nofollow">http://fb.com/forbes</a> Forbes Video on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/forbes" rel="nofollow">http://www.twitter.com/forbes</a> Forbes Video on Instagram: <a href="https://ift.tt/OTA8We6" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/OTA8We6</a> More From Forbes: <a href="http://forbes.com" rel="nofollow">http://forbes.com</a>
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Liked on YouTube: Critical Race Theory | Ricky Gervais #standupcomedy

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Critical Race Theory | Ricky Gervais #standupcomedy

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Liked on YouTube: Top 7 Board Wargames | With Designer Mark Herman (Short Version)

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Top 7 Board Wargames | With Designer Mark Herman (Short Version)
Top Wargame Designer Mark Herman (Empire of the Sun, For the People) visits the channel and shares the Top Seven Wargames thaTop Wargame Designer Mark Herman (Empire of the Sun, For the People) visits the channel and shares the Top Seven Wargames that he enjoys playing. Mark has designed over 100 war games over a 50-year career and is in the Charles S. Roberts Hall of Fame. In this video he shares his top wargames and wargame designers. Thanks for joining, Mark! To buy many of the games Mark talks about... Noble Knight Games: <a href="https://ift.tt/O48mL1l" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/O48mL1l</a> If you'd like to support my work creating historical wargaming videos, here are some ways: Join our Patreon community: <a href="https://ift.tt/fhAx4VL" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/fhAx4VL</a> Buy a boardgame on Noble Knight Games store with this link: <a href="https://ift.tt/O48mL1l" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/O48mL1l</a> Buy me a coffee via Kofi: <a href="https://ift.tt/yYaZWLx" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/yYaZWLx</a> Thanks! Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:33 Game 7 03:58 Game 6 05:32 Hardest/Easiest Designs 10:42 Game 5 14:38 Game 4 16:29 Current Design Projects 21:32 Game 3 24:26 Most Inspirational Game 27:03 Game 2 28:15 Favorite Designed Games 29:36 Game 1 31:25 Outtakes Links to specific games discussed (in random order) Axis Empires BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/4ERrWNV" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/4ERrWNV</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/BQtPFSy" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/BQtPFSy</a> Tower of Skulls (book referenced): <a href="https://amzn.to/3CLTuJA" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3CLTuJA</a> Empire of the Sun BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/0c9UIi1" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/0c9UIi1</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/zBxE4C5" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/zBxE4C5</a> Krieg BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/lOXB7KL" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/lOXB7KL</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/4K2M9aX" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/4K2M9aX</a> Wargames According to Mark (book) GMT Games: <a href="https://ift.tt/253vjuz" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/253vjuz</a> Army of the Potomac BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/fzxW6L3" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/fzxW6L3</a> GMT Games: <a href="https://ift.tt/3gGKfym" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/3gGKfym</a> Unhappy King Charles BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/IWBMykp" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/IWBMykp</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/J30nM4m" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/J30nM4m</a> Terrible Swift Sword BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/ODxzwkS" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/ODxzwkS</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/JK19CEj" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/JK19CEj</a> For the People BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/7ErK1bw" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/7ErK1bw</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/jG9zQnH" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/jG9zQnH</a> Brazen Chariots BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/OvhN0Ec" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/OvhN0Ec</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/3ZNDP78" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/3ZNDP78</a> Book: <a href="https://amzn.to/3CEB5yt" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3CEB5yt</a> Atlantic Chase BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/OZb13tY" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/OZb13tY</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/ABF9DCQ" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/ABF9DCQ</a> Lee Moves North BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/jpWfGrl" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/jpWfGrl</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/eKzjV03" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/eKzjV03</a> The Last Blitzkrieg BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/PjqlrTi" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/PjqlrTi</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/0MScT3x" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/0MScT3x</a> Triumvir BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/1ULbVcq" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/1ULbVcq</a> GMT Games: <a href="https://ift.tt/FsYtOeu" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/FsYtOeu</a> Frederick the Great BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/1oMZNY3" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/1oMZNY3</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/1J7kQfT" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/1J7kQfT</a> Defiance GMT Games: <a href="https://ift.tt/FczbCMT" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/FczbCMT</a> Across Suez BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/taY9kFN" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/taY9kFN</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/BLYMj0G" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/BLYMj0G</a> Ardennes Offensive BGG: <a href="https://ift.tt/2E4vaUh" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/2E4vaUh</a> Noble Knight: <a href="https://ift.tt/u9nx0tY" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/u9nx0tY</a> —---- My Current Wargaming Tools- • Oregon 2.0mm Counter Clipper: <a href="https://amzn.to/3SUyDX7" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3SUyDX7</a> • Oregon 2.5mm Counter Clipper: <a href="https://amzn.to/3SzYJPs" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3SzYJPs</a> • Bent Tip Lighted Tweezers: <a href="https://amzn.to/4hyCOVx" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/4hyCOVx</a> • Long Tweezers (for bigger counters): <a href="https://amzn.to/45Oaw3Y" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/45Oaw3Y</a> • Dice Tower #1: <a href="https://amzn.to/3EcoQHU" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3EcoQHU</a> • Dice Tower #2: <a href="https://amzn.to/3RweSDS" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3RweSDS</a> • Black Dice: <a href="https://amzn.to/3dXLd92" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3dXLd92</a> • White Dice: <a href="https://amzn.to/3rmQcn1" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/3rmQcn1</a> • Laser Line Sight: (out of stock) Amazon & Noble Knight links are affiliate links. If you’d like to help the channel, you can use those to purchase. —---- #boardwargames #markherman #wargames This video produced by Zilla Blitz. Top 7 Board Wargames | With Designer Mark Herman (Short Version)
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Liked on YouTube: FULL REMARKS: JD Vance Puts European Leaders On Notice About Trying To Regulate U.S. Tech Giants

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FULL REMARKS: JD Vance Puts European Leaders On Notice About Trying To Regulate U.S. Tech Giants
Vice President JD Vance warned European leaders against heavily regulating U.S. tech companies and said excessive efforts by the European Union to regulate artificial intelligence could stymie its growth, during an AI summit in Paris Tuesday that marks his first foreign trip since taking office. READ MORE: <a href="https://ift.tt/eA8Tqb1" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/eA8Tqb1</a> Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more: <a href="https://ift.tt/MFYvul6" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/MFYvul6</a> Stay Connected Forbes on Facebook: <a href="http://fb.com/forbes" rel="nofollow">http://fb.com/forbes</a> Forbes Video on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/forbes" rel="nofollow">http://www.twitter.com/forbes</a> Forbes Video on Instagram: <a href="https://ift.tt/2hkjJtW" rel="nofollow">https://ift.tt/2hkjJtW</a> More From Forbes: <a href="http://forbes.com" rel="nofollow">http://forbes.com</a>
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Disco Elysium lead says original Fallout is an RPG "that's almost Biblical in its annihilation," making "other post-apocalyptic worldbuilding seem like an amusement park" | GamesRadar+

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According to Disco Elysium lead writer and designer Robert Kurvitz, Fallout has stood the test of time since its monumental 1997 release as one of the best RPGs – with some of the best post-apocalyptic worldbuilding.

Speaking to author Marijam Did in a recent stream, Kurvitz explains how significant Fallout is to Eastern European gamers and developers in particular before Did plays its opening – an opening Kurvitz dubs "the perfect beginning." He describes the old RPG as an "incredibly important game in Eastern Europe" where it was "tremendously and totally adored," detailing how Fallout "showed them that video games can be a total work of art."

As the two move into Fallout's character creator, one Kurvitz calls "the best thing on Earth," the Disco Elysium lead admits he was "mystified" by the menu when he first played. It's one of many features that make the game so unique for its time – but its worldbuilding is where Fallout truly shines. The dark, post-apocalyptic setting comes up while answering viewers' questions, when Kurvitz is asked what Karl Marx's favorite Fallout entry would be.

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He says it would be the "second Fallout, definitely" – but that's because the first leans more into establishing a convincing environment marked by destruction whereas the sequel focuses on "trade and social economics and about all of these settlements influencing each other." The original Fallout is a "mood piece," as Kurvitz puts it. "The first Fallout is like a perfect mood capsule that's almost Biblical in its annihilation," he explains.

"Humanity is truly on its knees. It makes other post-apocalyptic worldbuilding seem like an amusement park – except maybe Threads or some of the really darker TV series." It sounds like high praise from the Disco Elysium director, and it speaks to Fallout's influence decades on. While the 1997 smash hit likely isn't for everyone, especially those more accustomed to Bethesda's more recent shooters, it arguably still stands as one of the best Fallout games yet.

After forming a new studio at an "apocalyptic" time for game devs, Disco Elysium writer says "this industry is finished" but "video games are not"

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