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September/October 1999 Criminal Justice • A
high incarceration rate may have a negative impact on communities
Researchers studying a Tallahassee neighborhood have found evidence to support a controversial theory that says a high incarceration rate may contribute to more crime and less stability in a neighborhood. The study found that the crime rate in a neighborhood that is the historic center of the city’s African American community was higher than in neighborhoods that had similar socioeconomic characteristics but lower incarceration rates. The researchers theorize that when a large number of a community’s people are incarcerated, prison changes from a crime deterrent to a contributor to disorder in the area by breaking up families, fostering negative perceptions of the criminal justice system and leaving the community populated with people hardened by the prison experience. Incarceration rates are disproportionately high in African American neighborhoods. Of African American males born this year, more than 25 percent may go to state or federal prison sometime during their life, according to Justice Department statisticians. This compares to an estimated 16 percent of Hispanic males and slightly more than 4 percent of white males. Other researchers say more study is needed before a definitive conclusion can be drawn. A University of New Mexico sociologist, Bert Useem, is conducting a national study of the relationship between incarceration rates and crime. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Colorado
lawyers soon will be able to file suits online statewide
Colorado soon will be the first state to have a statewide system through which lawyers can file suits online. Electronic filing will be available for all of the state's civil courts through a system being set up by JusticeLink of Texas. A pilot project is scheduled to begin in November 1999, and the full system should be implemented by December 2000. Courts will not be charged a fee to access or use the system. A fee of 10 cents per page for documents filed or served online will be charged to attorneys who join the JusticeLink system and send the pages to other members. Nominal fees will be charged to people served documents who are not members of the system. Printing, viewing or downloading documents once they have been filed or served is free to the filer or the served party. In addition, viewing other documents within the system is free. Judges will be able to issue orders and decisions via e-mail. Password access to the filings over the Internet will be available only to the parties to the case and court officials. The general public will be able to read either paper copies checked out from the court or electronic versions on the court's own computer network. Some counties across the nation have similar electronic filing systems, but no other systems cover an entire state, according to Bob Roper of the Colorado Judicial Department. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page Economic Development •
Los Angeles called prototype for cities of the future
Cities of the future may be more like Los Angeles — that is, a city of cities — than Chicago, which has a strongly defined center from which development radiates out, according to scholar Michael Dear. The future’s cities will be clusters of cities, each individual but also part of the whole. Southern California and Los Angeles are prototypes for the future, said Dear, director of the Southern California Studies Center at the University of Southern California. Large, spread out, lacking both a center and a majority population, dynamic and changing are characteristics Dear uses to describe Los Angeles and cities of the future. Los Angeles represents a new urban pattern: a large city surrounded by smaller hub cities called "edge cities." September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Portland
group proposes freeway caps to reunite neighborhoods and add land
To reunite divided neighborhoods and add land for development, a Portland, Oregon, group is advocating constructing a series of concrete lids over the freeway that runs through the city's downtown. The group of planners, developers, engineers and architects has proposed covering 26 of the 38 downtown blocks that Interstate Highway 405 passes through. Upon the concrete lids would be built housing, commercial enterprises and parks as well as space for parking, indoor recreation and exhibitions or civic events. A major obstacle is funding: federal money may be available but not state, and private developers are hoping the public sector will support the initial costs. Duluth, Boston and Seattle have all capped the freeways that traverse their downtowns. In 1992, Duluth reclaimed Lake Superior as an integral part of the city by capping Interstate Highway 35 and creating a park and rose garden while expanding the freeway. Planned as part of the $300 million publicly funded project is a high-tech business complex expected to employ up to 1,000 people. Boston's $10 billion project will reunite the city with the waterfront and rejoin city neighborhoods as well as create 30 acres of new development space. The project is marked, however, by controversy over how the area should be developed. The freeway caps in Seattle have all been used for public parks and recreational space, as well as a convention center. The city’s caps are longer than those in other cities and thus more expensive because ventilation, lighting, and fire detection and control systems were needed in the resulting tunnels. Portland plans to limit the length of its caps to 800 feet to avoid the need for ventilation systems. Minnesota note: Minneapolis will seek a grant from the Metropolitan Council to fund a 60-block development project in the Phillips neighborhood that would include constructing a cap over Interstate Highway 94 to rejoin the neighborhood with downtown and provide space for new housing. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Maine's
tax breaks, loans get business sector involved in expanding child care
Maine’s legislature is considering nine bills that would encourage businesses to help create and expand quality child care through tax breaks, low-interest loans and scholarships. In addition, 10 percent of state lottery revenues would go to early childhood care and education. Under the proposed legislation, income tax credits would be available for the parents of children who attend accredited child care centers and for businesses that build or upgrade child care facilities. Operators and developers of child care centers would be eligible for state-backed business development loans. Child care workers could receive scholarships for child development classes. Lottery revenue — an estimated $2 million annually — would help pay for Head Start and other early childhood programs, as well as child care subsidies. The bills' sponsor, Sen. Susan Longley, was able to gain support from both conservatives and liberals by addressing child care as an economic development issue and designing her proposals to require little or no new state spending. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Nebraska
offers income tax credit to farmers who aid newcomers
Established farmers in Nebraska who help others get started in farming will be eligible for an income tax credit under recently passed legislation. Beginning in fiscal year 2001, farmers who rent land, livestock, buildings or machinery for three years to qualified beginning farmers will be able to get back 5 percent of the gross rental agreement as a tax credit. The new approach attempts to help beginning farmers overcome the formidable obstacle of not having start-up capital and to prevent the corporate domination of farming in the state. A seven-member Beginning Farmer Board will be established to oversee the program, determine eligibility and provide education and guidance to the new farmers. New farmers must meet with the board at least quarterly and submit a business plan. The state has set aside $1.6 million to finance the plan. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Internet
helps farmers sell to retail farm markets, but access can be expensive
Having access to the Internet and a web page can help make farmers who sell to retail farm markets more successful. For many, though, using the Internet may be too expensive because of the long-distance calls needed from rural areas to hook up to Internet service providers. Through web pages, farmers can encourage people to visit their farm or market and provide customers with information usually conveyed over the phone. The farmers can advertise their web address in print publications and update information on the web page as needed. George and Carol Haramis, Internet-savvy farmers in Ohio, use their web page to spread the word about their 150-year-old family farm in Summit County. With a farm that has small acreage, no room to expand and poor soils but is historic, charming and close to urban centers, the Haramises opted to do what they call "entertainment farming." They sell pumpkins, Christmas trees and daylilies seasonally and plan to begin growing wine grapes soon. "But most of all they sell the image of their farm and the experience of taking a day trip for a visit and maybe a purchase or two," the author reports. The Haramises' web page includes a color picture of the farmhouse, information on available products, a map and directions. "Just having a map to our farm on the page has dramatically reduced those types of phone calls coming in, which frees up time for the staff to focus on making the customers happy," said George Haramis. Minnesota note: As of June 1999, some 49 percent of Minnesota's 80,000 farms had access to a computer, 40 percent owned or leased computers, and 26 percent were using computers for farm business, according to a survey by the National Agriculture Statistics Service. About 27 percent had Internet access in 1999, up from only 11 percent in 1997. Minnesota's 1999 rates were comparable to the national ones for farms with sales of $249,000 or less. Nationwide, 77 percent of farms with sales of $250,000 and more have access to a computer, and 72 percent own or lease a computer. Of these farms, 65 percent use a computer for farm business, and 52 percent have Internet access. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page Education • Older
students pursuing graduate degrees account for most of enrollment increases
More students age 35 and older are enrolling in postsecondary educational institutions in Minnesota, drawn by the flexible graduate and professional programs aimed at this age group. Enrollment of this group rose by 42 percent, or 14,304 students, between 1997 and 1998. Private colleges and universities, private graduate and professional institutions, community and technical colleges and the University of Minnesota saw significant increases in the percentage of students age 35 and older enrolled. Overall enrollment was up 27 percent at private colleges and universities, and 65 percent at private graduate and professional institutions (such as law and medical schools), while enrollment of those age 35 and older climbed 112 percent (5,460 students) and 180 percent (1,094 students), respectively. This group rose 57 percent (7,764 students) in community and technical college enrollments, which overall increased 17 percent, and 46 percent (2,087 students) at the University of Minnesota, where overall enrollment grew by 8 percent. Overall enrollments fell 12 percent at state universities and 29 percent at private career schools; enrollments of students age 35 and older declined 23 percent (2,110 students) at the former but increased 1 percent (nine students) at the latter. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Rowing
program aims to help teen moms become stronger, more confident
Teen mothers are rowing their way to greater strength and confidence through a program sponsored by a social service agency and a private women's college. Begun in May, the program called "Rowing Strong, Rowing Together" brings together crew team members and the assistant crew coach from Mount Holyoke College in central Massachusetts and 16 teenage mothers from the Care Center, a social service agency that teaches parenting skills and helps its clients earn their general education development credential. Beginning in early June, the mothers, who are between 16 and 22 years old and, for the most part, bilingual Puerto Ricans, have spent at least one afternoon a week rowing on the Connecticut River. Before that, they learned to row on machines, watched videos about crewing, worked out and practiced oar strokes with the college's equipment. Program sponsors hope that by mastering the physically demanding sport, the teens will feel able to achieve other goals, such as earning their GEDs. "One of the students is very seriously thinking about applying to Mount Holyoke, and there is no way without this program that it would have even crossed her mind," said Anne Teschner, executive director of the Care Center. The center is located in Holyoke, which has the highest teen-pregnancy rate in the state. Program sponsors hope to expand the program to include teenage mothers all along the Connecticut River, from Connecticut to New Hampshire. A $2,000 United Way grant will allow the program to continue into the fall. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Intercollegiate
sports participation up among women, down among men
Since the mid-1980s, the number of women taking part in intercollegiate athletics has risen 16 percent, while the number of men participating has fallen 12 percent, according to a study by the Government Accounting Office. The study of school years 1985-86 to 1996-97 counted athletes, teams, sport programs and athletics scholarships at 725 schools. The schools were all members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and had stayed at the same competitive level — Division I, II, or III — during the study period. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., asked for the study because he believed that in response to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, colleges had cut the size of programs for men so they could boost opportunities for women. The study found that the total of male undergraduate athletes dropped by about 21,400, while that of females rose by about 14,600. The number of female athletes went up 29 percent at the top-level Division I schools but declined 2 percent at lower-ranked Division II schools. Overall, more men than women participate in collegiate sports, although this varies by sport. For example, in 1996-97, nearly 10 percent of male undergraduates were athletes, compared to 5.3 percent of female undergraduates. Over the study period, while the size of the undergraduate population grew, participation rates for both sexes fell: 1 percent for men and two-tenths of a percent for women. The number of women’s teams rose 17 percent, while men’s dropped 3 percent. Title IX guidelines require that athletics programs give female athletes scholarships in proportion to the number of female athletes in the program, with exceptions made for certain nondiscriminatory factors. To remain in compliance, each Division I college had to reduce by 11 percent the number of scholarships awarded to men, from 342 to 306. At the same time, the maximum number for women rose 66 percent, from 137 to 227. In Division II, 9 percent fewer scholarships (117 versus 106) were available for men, while 73 percent more (190 versus 110) could be awarded to women. No athletics scholarships are given by Division III schools. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Wealthy
donors turn their attention to public schools
Concerned about the quality of future workers and the ability of government alone to deal with the problems of public education, high-profile philanthropists are giving money to help public schools, teachers and students. Many of the donors — such as filmmaker George Lucas, Wall Street financier Theodore J. Forstmann, Barnes & Noble chairman Leonard Riggio, Sun America chairman Eli Broad, Microsoft chief Bill Gates, and Michael and Lowell Milken — believe that the success of their businesses depends on an educated workforce. They also share the belief that the government cannot correct deficiencies in the public education system without help. Lucas' foundation has given $10 million over the last eight years to help elementary and secondary school teachers come up with creative ways to instruct pupils, primarily through film and technology. Last year, Forstmann contributed $50 million to a $200 million effort to provide private-school vouchers for 40,000 inner-city public school children. Forstmann said "he intends to use his program… as a wakeup call to force public schools to improve." Last year, Riggio initiated a campaign to raise $10 million for his Brooklyn public school alma mater. In November, $25,000 grants will be awarded to 172 elementary and secondary school teachers by the Milken brothers’ foundation. Bill Gates and the Milkens want to show that "private philanthropy can be part of making sure there is equal opportunity." Broad will give $100 million to urban school systems to train superintendents, principals and staff. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page Government Administration • Chicago
program lets carless home buyers qualify for a larger mortgage
In 76 Chicago neighborhoods, buyers of homes near mass transit or shopping facilities who do not own a car may qualify for bigger mortgages than available under conventional financing formulas. With a location-efficient mortgage, lenders take into account transportation savings the prospective buyer has by not owning a car. A location-efficient mortgage would allow some low-income families to buy in neighborhoods they otherwise could not afford. For example, a family of three without a car and an annual income of $40,000 would qualify for a $151,000 location-efficient mortgage but only a $117,000 conventional mortgage. Qualifiers for the new mortgages also would increase the number of buyers looking for houses in areas where cars were not needed, which might encourage developers to build more such houses. In addition, neighborhoods might be more eager to obtain public transit and other amenities that would attract buyers with the new mortgages. "We wanted to create a mortgage product that works in the private sector — not a subsidy, not a government program, and not to encourage people to use public transportation simply because it has some built-in virtue," said Kim Hoeveler of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, which helped design the program. Fannie Mae, a federally backed mortgage underwriter, is participating in the location-efficient mortgage program. The mortgage formula even takes into account the risk that the new mortgage holder may buy a car. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page Health Care • New
health care "smart" card could be win-win situation for providers and users
A new health care "smart" card being tested in three cities is designed to help both individuals seeking access to Medicaid, Head Start and food subsidy programs and the providers of these services. The size of a credit card, the secure "Health Passport" uses a computer chip to store health and benefits information. Participants in the pilot programs include pregnant women, mothers and children who are eligible for a variety of public health programs. Information about the client is stored and updated on the card, which can be read by only the card holder or, with the client’s permission, an authorized health care provider. The card eliminates the need to fill out similar paperwork for various programs and simplifies access to health services. Health care providers benefit because all the client’s health information will be stored in one place. Providers will be able to share data and improve communication among themselves. Food retailers also benefit because the card works like a bank card at the checkout counter, resulting in less paperwork, faster checkout and quicker reimbursement. Using a personal identification number, the card holder can print out all information on the card at special kiosks. With a different number, each provider can obtain information as well, but only that which is relevant to the service provided. A public health nurse or Head Start caseworker, for example, would be able to view immunization information but not other records. The pilot project, which will run for 18 months, is coordinated by the Western Governors' Association and is underway in Bismarck, North Dakota; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Reno, Nevada. About 25,000 pregnant women, mothers and children will be given Health Passport cards. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Dentist
makes "house calls" at Silicon Valley companies
Workers at some Silicon Valley companies do not have time to leave the work site to go to the dentist, so the dentist comes to them in a state-of-the-art "mobile dentistry unit." Three years ago, dentist Arnold Keiles of Palo Alto ordered his first $325,000 mobile unit, including digital x-rays, from Winnebago. On-Site Dental Care, Keiles’ firm, now has six of the mobile units, visits dozens of companies each week and serves hundreds of high-tech employees. All the companies have to do is make sure On-Site accepts their dental plans and allow the mobile units onto their property. Minnesota note: Some Minnesota community dental clinics use specially equipped vans to bring care to nursing home patients and to apply sealants to the teeth of school children. Patients are not treated in the vans, however, but at the care site. One such provider, Apple Tree Dental, has community clinics in Coon Rapids and Holly in northwest Minnesota that serve the elderly and Head Start children. Apple Tree recently received a $174,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to replace aging equipment and add computers, among other activities. The U.S. Army also uses mobile dental units. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page Social Services • Preschool
program partners with child care providers to continue to reach kids
Minnesota Head Start agencies are forming partnerships with child care providers to help parents move smoothly from welfare to work. Head Start provides health, education and social services to low-income families with preschool children. Traditionally, Head Start teachers have held classes at the program’s sites or visited the child at home. But parents who are trying to juggle work schedules and transportation issues are finding it hard to have children in separate child care and Head Start programs. So Head Start agencies are placing teachers in child care centers and training home care providers to be Head Start teachers. In some situations, child care is offered before and after the Head Start program. In others, Head Start standards and curriculum may be incorporated into the child care program. Partnering with Head Start can help child care providers improve services. Providers may receive training paid for with Head Start grants, additional supplies and equipment, as well as salary augmentations. Although services are directed primarily at children of low-income families, educational sessions are open to all the parents of children at the child care facility. Providers must meet Head Start performance standards, child care accreditation requirements and nutrition standards. "For most providers, it means they can improve the quality of their programs with minimal additional cost," said Dawn Yilek, capacity building director for the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Combining Head Start and child care means services are dovetailed rather than duplicated. Many child care programs provided by colleges and universities have partnered with Head Start as well. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page Transportation • "Traffic
shed" concept can be planning tool for rural, exurban areas
Thinking of rural roadways as "traffic sheds" that behave like watersheds offers a simple way to evaluate a road’s carrying capacity in rural and exurban areas. The resulting information can be useful in making zoning and growth management decisions in those areas. "Traffic sheds" are the network of roadways a rural resident uses to commute to work. In rural areas, commuters often drive on smaller roads, such as county roads, to get to major arterial roads, such as state or federal highways, and they all tend to go in the same direction, depending on the time of day. This situation is similar to a watershed where water from smaller streams feeds into successively larger waterways. When the area of the traffic shed and the capacity of the receiving rural road are known, how much overall development an area can support can be determined. This analogy also can be applied to rural water or sewer lines. Determining roadway capacity can help identify where traffic problems exist even in areas with low densities and can inform development decisions. Development, for example, may be zoned with the available roadway capacity in mind. Growth can be managed by either limiting development if capacity is inadequate or directing development to areas that have excess or easily increased capacity. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page • Barring
interstate trucks from state roads cuts traffic in New Jersey
A New Jersey prohibition on interstate trucks using state roads when not making pickups or deliveries has reduced traffic on some roads by 20 percent. In July, Gov. Christine Whitman restricted all trucks with trailers more than 48 feet long and 96 inches wide that are not making a pickup or delivery in the state to only roads that are part of the federally designated freight highway system. Her action was formalized into a rule by the state transportation department, although it now applies to all trucks wider than 102 inches, and is awaiting legislative action to impose penalties. The daily average truck traffic on heavily traveled Route 31, for example, was 17 percent lower in August and 20 percent lower in July than in the same months of the previous year. On Route 206, traffic was 20 percent lower than in 1996. Local residents and officials along Routes 31 and 206 had called for the ban in response to increasing traffic from truckers who were using the roads to avoid toll roads and as shortcuts between interstate highways. September/October 1999 contents | Minnesota IssueWatch home page
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