Philadelphia mayor invites democratic presidential candidates to debate on urban issues.

Philadelphia Daily News reports: “Mayor (Michael) Nutter said yesterday that he wants to get presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to Philadelphia for a public discussion of urban issues before the April 22 Democratic primary … Nutter said that issues affecting American cities haven’t gotten enough attention in the campaign. ‘Health care is very important,’ Nutter said. ‘The war is very, very important. But if you live at 56th and Master, you’re not as focused on what al Qaeda is doing. What you’re focused on is what ‘Al Gangster’ is doing. Because Osama bin Laden wouldn’t last five minutes at 56th and Master.”

Landscape architects inconsiderate of East London’s green spaces with new “green” Olympic Park

The Guardian reports: “Under the current proposal, this area will be isolated from the park by the media complex. A new “green Olympics” site development will be of little more benefit to local residents than the current vast blue-fenced building site they will have to suffer until the Olympics is upon them, and for several years after as the legacy sites are redeveloped.”

Chinese urban think tank calls for the planning of “Super Cities.”

China View reports: “China would obtain greater economic benefits and improve energy efficiency by adopting a more concentrated pattern of urbanization, according to a report released here Monday by the McKinsey Global Institute, McKinsey and Co.‘s economics think tank … By 2025, China would have 221 cities with more than one million inhabitants each. Meanwhile, urban areas would generate 95 percent of China’s GDP, up from the current 75 percent, it said.”

Interview with Las Vegas Housing Authority director Carl Rowe, who plans to tear down public housing.

Las Vegas Sun reports: “Nearly 20 years after first stepping into the executive director’s office at the Las Vegas agency, Rowe has returned with a vision. It starts with tearing down public housing. The Sun talked to Rowe about one of the valley’s most pressing needs — affordable housing — as well as the poor and how he hopes, at 64, to see the Las Vegas Valley’s largest public housing agency change its ways.”

Democrats call for the resignation of HUD secretary Alphonso Jackson

DS News reports: “U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)—claim that Jackson failed to answer critical questions posed to him about allegations of political favoritism. In addition, they say he avoided questions related to a case, in which, the Philadelphia Housing Authority accuses Jackson of retaliating and stripping the agency of money after the agency refused to transfer a public piece of property to a private business entity.”

See also: Alphonso Jackson’s web of mismanagment tangles Philadelphia

Concord city council meeting becomes forum for debate on the difference between graffiti and art.

The Independent Tribune reports: “At a Concord City Council meeting last week, (Leonard) Sossamon addressed the council concerning some graffiti – or “urban art” – that has appeared at the rear of his property at 11 Union St. South. The “urban art,” as Sossamon referred to it at the meeting, features a spray-painted skateboarder, as well as some profanity and other markings … “It’s pop art,” Sossamon said. “It’s not a sign, because I’m not advertising anything.”

Atlanta plans for a greener future.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: “Sustainability,” (Mayor Shirley) Franklin said at this year’s State of the City Business Breakfast. “We need to be part of a global movement to save the planet and to preserve this place that we call home.” In the same talk, the mayor described how hundreds of mayors had signed a “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement,” pledging to conform with or exceed the targets of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon emissions by relying more on renewable energy. “We can change the way we behave,” she told business leaders that day.”