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Rental housing is both a market commodity and an investment of capital. Under conditions of income inequality, extensive poverty, and residen tial segregation based on income, housing deterioration is a natural and even pro fitable consequence of the rental housing market. Changes in the relative posi tion of housing within the market cause buildings to lose exchange value though their use value remains the same. An owner then has a strong incentive to recap ture the investment, the exchange value, through allowing the building to deteri orate, thus diminishing or destroying the use value.

Emergence of a new infectious disease out of China has caused a global reaction to combat the spread. On December 31, 2019, China reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in people associated with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, Hubei Province. On January 7, 2020, Chinese health authorities confirmed that this cluster was associated with a novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. Governments around the world responded to the threat by instituting lockdowns, closing businesses, using experimental medications, and even closing boarders. Citizens responded in kind by increasing social distancing and the usage of personal protective devices such as face masks and gloves. With past concerns such as SARS 2002-2003, Swine Flu 2009, Zika Virus 2015, and Ebola 2018 outbreaks, what is different? Although cases were originally reported to be associated with exposure to the seafood market in Wuhan, current epidemiologic data indicate that person-to-person transmission of 2019-nCoV is occurring. Despite efforts to curb the spread of the disease it has become a global pandemic with 2,982.688 cases across the globe as of April 28, 2020. An evaluation of each step must be performed to determine what has been successful and to avoid repeating any past failures. Comparative studies have been completed on the different measures each country instituted. Wading through endless news reports and information portals can only compound to the confusion. Evaluating exposure rates, how accurate information is spread, and what helped to flatten the curve in areas around the world are key in preventing another global pandemic from spreading so rapidly.

AbstractJ. Stitt Wilson (1868–1942) was a leading American Christian Socialist. When he was elected Mayor of the City of Berkeley in 1911 he had to shift focus from the broad moral and economic case for socialism to the specifics of municipal reform. He drew on the ideas of Henry George, feminist urban reformers in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the settlement house movement, and progressive and socialist mayors who preceded him. He became a leader in both the Socialist Party and the single‐tax movement in California from 1911 to 1917, working with the shared belief that society, as a society, creates tremendous value that should be used for public benefit rather than taken as private profit. His story illustrates the creativity that can result when people are active in and learn from multiple social movements as well as the difficulties that can result from the tensions within and between movements. It illustrates, as well, some of the varied strands of the urban reform movement that helped create modern city government in America.

AbstractIn the San Francisco Bay Area, where residential rent is among the highest in the United States, an analysis of data from several sources demonstrates that high rent cannot be accounted for by higher quality, higher operating costs, or higher construction costs. At least one‐third of the total rent paid is land rent. Despite increases in real incomes, very‐low‐income tenants in the Bay Area today have less income remaining after payment of rent than tenants did in 1960. High land rent is a long‐term feature of the Bay Area rental market that results mostly from its geography, the density of its urban centers, and a strong economy, rather than from regulatory barriers to new multifamily construction. Deregulation is not a sufficient response to the effects of land rent on low‐income tenants. Government should subsidize non‐profit housing organizations, particularly land trusts that remove residential land from the market. Taxes on land rent would be a particularly appropriate funding source.

AbstractMany of the predictions voiced by the author almost a decade ago have proved accurate.

Responds to John Cell's article in the October 1989 issue, adding to the description of Hailey's methods. (SJK)

Neighborhood organizations in San Francisco today are notable for the strength of their challenge to business interests in a major corporate center, and for avoiding racial conflict in a remarkably diverse city. (On other cities: Arnold, 1 979 & Crenson, 1983 on Baltimore; Edel, Sclar & Luria, 1984 & Mollenkopf, 1983 on Bos­ ton; Abbott, 1983 on Portland; Lee, et al., 1984 on Seattle). They have great influence on city planning, but at the same time, neigh­ borhood organizations which unite against the effects of downtown development are also divided among themselves. Tension over exclusion and inclusion, property rights and universal rights, local protection and regional responsibility have been an underlying theme of neighborhood politics ever since new neighborhood organizations arose out of the civil rights movement. In the fol­ lowing pages I trace the neighborhood movement in San Francisco from its origins over a century ago in conservative, parochial organizations of local property owners, to its present complexity and major role in city politics.