America's Health Threat Summary
Running Head: America’s Health Threat: Poor Urban Design
Fatima Diaby
Professor Pier A. Broadnax
University of the District of Columbia College
October 4, 2013
America’s Health Threat: Poor Urban Design
By Scott Carlson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 22, 2012.
Summary
Scott Carlson in this article “America’s Health Threat: Poor Urban Design” published in the Chronicle of Higher Education Website (January 22, 2012), talks about the link between poor urban area design and public health threat. It takes into account the economic and political effects for the poor design, then, suggests a restructuring of urban areas to include assessable facilities and walking paths to promote good …show more content…
Nothing is also mentioned about the public contribution to urban development. Actually, in real life, better living areas are where well-to-do people live and the rest is up to availability of funds. In the article, a reference to John Norguist, and advocate for walkable and transit-oriented cities, has him saying that “urbanism has often been sold on aesthetic or energy-efficiency rationales,” which to me, translates to the neglect in public health and humanity. From the above commentary, the article should have shown percent comparison of their findings to that of other health hazard to really influence developers and policy makers. Dr. Jackson is a scientist who is not basing his claims on science but intuition, and thus, was attacked by interest groups like The National Association of Home Builders, indicating his article had no foundations scientifically, along with some members of the congress. I believe Dr. Jackson’s assertions are true but the world is designed this way from the beginning and no one saw it early enough to make changes. In conclusion, this article and Dr. Jackson’s publications have increased public awareness and other researchers are confirming his assertions, linking
Fatima Diaby
Professor Pier A. Broadnax
University of the District of Columbia College
October 4, 2013
America’s Health Threat: Poor Urban Design
By Scott Carlson, The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 22, 2012.
Summary
Scott Carlson in this article “America’s Health Threat: Poor Urban Design” published in the Chronicle of Higher Education Website (January 22, 2012), talks about the link between poor urban area design and public health threat. It takes into account the economic and political effects for the poor design, then, suggests a restructuring of urban areas to include assessable facilities and walking paths to promote good …show more content…
Nothing is also mentioned about the public contribution to urban development. Actually, in real life, better living areas are where well-to-do people live and the rest is up to availability of funds. In the article, a reference to John Norguist, and advocate for walkable and transit-oriented cities, has him saying that “urbanism has often been sold on aesthetic or energy-efficiency rationales,” which to me, translates to the neglect in public health and humanity. From the above commentary, the article should have shown percent comparison of their findings to that of other health hazard to really influence developers and policy makers. Dr. Jackson is a scientist who is not basing his claims on science but intuition, and thus, was attacked by interest groups like The National Association of Home Builders, indicating his article had no foundations scientifically, along with some members of the congress. I believe Dr. Jackson’s assertions are true but the world is designed this way from the beginning and no one saw it early enough to make changes. In conclusion, this article and Dr. Jackson’s publications have increased public awareness and other researchers are confirming his assertions, linking