City Makers: American Futures
The people, organizations, and ideas reshaping the country. A journey piloted by James Fallows with Deborah Fallows.
Fresno, CA
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James Fallows Next Up From Fresno: High School for Overlooked 'Kids in the Middle'
Public schools often end up concentrating on students with obvious promise at the very top, and with obvious problems at the bottom. Here is one designed to foster opportunities for everyone else.
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Deborah Fallows Reinventing High School
How Fresno prepares the kids in the middle
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James Fallows Welcome to American Futures 3.0
A new season of reports on a renewing America
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UC Davis and Esri Talking With Dan Richard About High-Speed Rail
The chairman of California's costly and controversial infrastructure project explains why (in his view) it actually will get built—and whether its champion, 77-year-old Governor Jerry Brown, is likely to be able to take a ride.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail: The Collector's Edition
An index to the arguments pro and con about the most ambitious infrastructure project in the United States
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Wikimedia California High-Speed Rail: A Minor End, an Important Beginning
Who should get the benefit of the doubt when we consider the unknowable future?
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Esri and UC Davis That Winning Bid for California's High-Speed Rail: Is It Suspiciously Low?
"No one should have the illusion that this phase is going to be completed for $1.2 billion. This is a political number." So says a critic of the surprisingly low successful bid. The rail system's chairman begs to differ.
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Wikimedia California High-Speed Rail: It's Happening
Three weeks from now, a groundbreaking ceremony on the most important infrastructure project now underway in the United States
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Wikimedia commons Why You Shouldn't Get Your Hopes Up for the Self-Driving Car (California High-Speed Rail No. 14)
"Would you prefer a system where you can be instantly teleported from SF to LA? Of course. But that doesn't mean it's going to happen."
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Shanghai maglev authority California High-Speed Rail Lucky No. 13: Let's Look at Maglev and Other Alternatives
"Should we invest in infrastructure? Absolutely! But the right kind of infrastructure." Some ideas on what that might mean.
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Wikimedia Commons All Aboard for the California High-Speed Rail Chronicles!
In next month's election, Jerry Brown is seeking a fourth term as California's governor and public support for his plan for a north-south bullet train to transform travel in a car-dependent state. Here is more of what's at stake.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail No. 11: Thinking in Time
Everybody talks about the future, but nobody does anything about it.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail No. 10: Palate Cleanser
"The decision on HSR is going to shape the future in ways we can’t predict, and a touch of modesty in the arguments would be welcome."
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Marin County Library, via Calisphere California High-Speed Rail No. 9—the Chairman's Turn Again
You want to hear more about the biggest infrastructure project being considered anywhere in the country? You've come to the right place.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail—More Questions and Concerns
"Bad, bad, bad," and other critiques
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AP The Courts Speak Up for California High-Speed Rail
And so do some readers.
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James Fallows California High-Speed Rail: Some Views From the Valley
People in Los Angeles and San Francisco often say that the initial links in a proposed north-south system would be "trains to nowhere." People from nowhere weigh in.
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UC Davis and Esri California High-Speed Rail: 10 Readers With 10 Views
A solution looking for a problem? A genuine leap forward? The best we can expect from messy political half-measures? Or something truly brave? Take your pick.
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California Digital Library 7 Ways in Which High-Speed Rail Would Help California, According to Its Chairman
For your reference, a detailed pro-and-con about the most ambitious current attempt to change America's transportation infrastructure
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UC Davis and Esri California High-Speed Rail No. 3: Let's Hear From the Chairman
It's time for broader national attention to the most expensive and ambitious infrastructure proposal in America today.
