Blogroll - August 1

This week's Blogroll includes:

• Does Vancouver Ever Go Down?
• Critique of Riverview Housing Plan
• Use Web 2.0 for Civic Engagement

Does Vancouver Ever Go Down?

"Worst Mortgage Default Statistics Since the Great Depression"
From: Southern California Real Estate Bubble Crash Blog by Chuck Ponzi

Chuck Ponzi, a California blogger, says he started writing his Social Bubble blog back in the early days, when “no one believed there was a bubble. Only a few crackpots starting blogs on the internet even dared mention the word for fear of igniting a flame-fest of near biblical proportions.” What’s interesting about this post is the debate Ponzi sets off among his readers about whether Vancouver is or is not facing a similar kind of situation. In particular check out the response to commenter VancouverNeverGoesDown.

Excerpt:

“Since 1986, real estate prices have been rising, and they haven’t really stopped. For those familiar with the Vancouver housing markets, it has become a bit of a running joke trying to figure out where the ceiling is for investment here. The short answer is that there might not be a ceiling at all, at least for another 5-10 years.” Posted by VancouverNeverGoesDown on Ponzi’s blog on July 27, 2007

Critique of Riverview Housing Plan

" Riverview housing plan sparks political backlash "
From: Barry "Artiste" O’Regan’s World by Barry O’Regan

Prolific Vancouver blogger Barry O’Regan (who also contributes to Now Public (http://www.nowpublic.com/) with many of his writings) weighs in here on the debate about whether to turn the Riverview lands in Coquitlam into a massive housing development, mixing thousands of condos with social housing for the disabled, poor and mentally ill.

Excerpt:

“Turning an former psychiatric institution and the surrounding lands into thousands of condos seems like an idea whose time has come. It would certainly go a long way in easing the social housing crisis for the disabled, poor and mentally ill. Naysayers have opposing views views which unfortunately may not please all concerned. It is tragic the 90 year old outdoor arboretum will be lost, but people come first when

it comes to survival.”
Posted July 28, 2007

Use Web 2.0 for Civic Engagement

"“Blog Watch” - 2.0 for Civic Engagement"
From Alphablogs by Carol Sill

A blogger named Carol Sill raises some great points about civic engagement in this blog post about using blogging to raise a bit of consciousness.

Excerpt:

“How can a city use web 2.0 as an effective tool for citizenship? We know that apathy is one of the greatest problems of our time, and that a city thrives through the involvement of its participants. Particularly culturally, a city’s life comes through the active engagement of everyone involved. It’s just not enough to live here and pay taxes.”

Carol also includes a list of her favourite blogs in this post which may prove useful. One of our favourites from Carol’s list is Home BusinessWiz, a blog about succeeding in the work-at-home world.