Here’s what the Loop’s reading Monday morning: Sorry, Dad — Mitt Romney has plans to nix the agency his father once led. The former Massachusetts governor said at a private fundraiser that he would eliminate some agencies and combine others — and he singled out Housing and Urban Development — which his father once headed — for elimination, our colleague Rachel Weiner reports . Read full article > >

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Romney might nix HUD; Clinton lets her hair down; and a working woman flashback (read-this roundup)

DETROIT — A new rule took effect this week barring those who own or operate U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded housing from asking about an applicant’s sexual orientation or gender identity, an Obama administration official announced Friday. Read full article > >

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HUD rule aims to cut discrimination

The busy streets of Morocco’s capital city are not immune to the common signs of poverty that one would expect in the urban centers of developing nations. Beggars are never far from view in Rabat, whether young children, veiled mothers with babies still too small to walk, or displaced sub-Saharans trying to migrate “elsewhere.” High rates of unemployment, social problems (such as lack of options for divorced women), and the lack of an organized and stable welfare sector contribute to the prevalence of begging on the streets of Morocco. As a resident of Rabat, I continually recognized familiar faces on the downtown streets. And yet, in the winter of 2011, I first encountered a strange man who captured my attention: he goes by the name of “Si Ahmed.”

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Beggar? Activist? Artist? The Intriguing Case of Morocco’s “Street Cartoonist,” Si Ahmed

President Obama ’s recess appointments Wednesday of Richard Cordray to be the new consumer finance watchdog and of three National Labor Relations Board members doubtless raised the hopes of other nominees languishing on the Senate floor that they, too, may yet get their jobs. The White House, which notes that George W. Bush made 61 recess appointments at this point compared with Obama’s 28, counts 74 nominees pending on the Senate floor. These include some quite senior jobs, such as deputy secretaries at the departments of Commerce and Housing and Urban Development as well as five officials at Energy. Read full article > >

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Obama and Cordray enjoy their recess

Converts to the urban sport of parkour, young Palestinians practice how to run for their lives in a Gaza cemetery.

Link:
T Magazine: The Graveyard Shift

Before they set foot on the Mayflower, the Pilgrims journeyed from English farmlands to the urban streets of Leiden, in the Netherlands.

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In the Pilgrims’ Footsteps, Through England and the Netherlands

Keith Urban, Adele and John Mayer have all canceled concerts after opting for throat surgery, a result of new methods for detecting physical problems.

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Why Voices of Singers Like Adele and John Mayer Are Stilled

To passersby, it is a jumble of tents and blue tarps, the iconic symbol of the displaced, the temporary, the makeshift. Set against the orderly but dull architectural backdrop of McPherson Square, the Occupy D.C. encampment is a low-slung and seemingly haphazard arrangement. But it has made this sleepy public space, used mainly by office workers and a few residents of nearby luxury condominiums, one of the busiest public squares in Washington. To use the argot of urbanism, the protesters who installed themselves at McPherson Square on Oct. 1 (and another group that has occupied Freedom Plaza a few blocks away), have done what so many planners, designers and architects strive for but fail to achieve: They have “activated” the urban core. Read full article > >

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In McPherson Square, Occupy D.C. creates a vibrant brand of urbanism

“Name and shame” Urban Outfitters, others.

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Unpaid Interns Fight Back in U.K.

Cities could soon be looking after their citizens all by themselves as researchers develop an operating system for the urban world.

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Smart cities to get their own OS

Sarah Palin and Karl Rove, among others, have a beef with Common. The “conscious rapper” was been invited to speak at the White House Poetry Night Wednesday evening, and it’s created a firestorm, since in the course of his life as a poet-rapper he has made several references to accused cop killers and at one point rhymed about an Uzi. Rove has gone on record against Common for his misogyny and lyrics like “Burn a Bush cos’ for peace he no push no button/Killing over oil and grease/no weapons of destruction/How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one/The government’s a g-unit and they might buck young black people/Black people In the urban area one/I hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun” that might or might not be incitement to assassinating George W. Bush. I can’t really tell because I am confused by the apparent absence of meter or rhyme scheme. The only thing this would incite me to do would be to hit someone on the head with a rhyming dictionary. Read full article > >

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Common, the White House Poetry Night, and the danger of metaphors

The budget deal that’s keeping the federal government running slashed the $88 million that the Department of Housing and Urban Development grants to housing counselors, a move that could raise costs for those services or wipe them out in some areas.

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Budget deal slashes grants to housing counselors

NYC’s urban gardening supply store with a mission Behind the many verdant closets and kitchen-corner produce installations increasingly tucked into NYC apartments, you can often find the expertise and passion of urban gardening advocate and entrepreneur Aaron Moore. Splitting his time between his two City Hydroponic supply stores in New York’s Bronx and Brooklyn boroughs, Moore not only supplies the growing green gardening movement but proactively tackles the challenges of sustainable indoor farming with a focus on low-income neighborhoods, working to increase access to fresh produce and education about healthy living The staff of socially-responsible gardeners and urban growers at City Hydroponic can help with any indoor or outdoor gardening needs, whether growing with soil, water or nutrient mist. Stocked with all of the equipment necessary to set up functional hydroponic (growing solely with water and no soil) or aeroponic (spraying exposed root systems with a nutrient mist) farms in any space, ranging from a studio apartment to a suburban home, the shops are fully committed to the craft, stocking the highest tech tools in the trade. They offer a full line of fluorescent, HID, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights, full hydroponics and aeroponics systems, nutrients, fertilizers and knowledgeable employees who will gladly explain everything from potting soil to building drainage systems. For budding urban farmers feeling intimidated by all the lights and gadgets, City Hydroponic periodically offers month long sessions of free hour-long classes on Saturdays. The comprehensive course starts with the basic concepts of hydro and aeroponic gardening and proceeds with how to produce and maintain a functional farm. Moore, a huge advocate of food justice, feels education is as important as access, and by delivering these free classes to the community he hopes to push the green movement forward. “We need to generate a market from a grassroots level by educating our consumers, giving them confidence so they can partake in the green movement, and help them be successful in it.” His agenda includes increasing knowledge about where your food comes from, why quality is important and how creating your own fresh produce empowers you as an individual. While Moore’s goal might be lofty, it’s also relatively simple. The concept was born from bearing witness to the poor dietary habits in his neighborhood and the urban landscape at large. “In the communities that we are in there is an abundance of food but there is not an abundance of quality food,” he says. Rather than attempt to reverse gravitation toward what is available—typically highly-processed foods with grave nutritional consequences—his work comes down to changing what is available by creating a DIY supply chain that’s doesn’t price residents out. “We are trying to bring quality food to the masses, to all neighborhoods, not just those that can afford it. We want to make it more affordable in general, to teach people whats good food and what’s not—and if its not readily available, show them how to grow their own!” As food culture in America continues to diversify and the importance of healthy living becomes more apparent the movement will push this type of localized urban agriculture to the forefront of nutrition. Moore shows how anyone is capable of creating fresh organic produce right in their home, reducing carbon waste, soil and water usage and generally promoting a sustainable, self-sufficient way to stay healthy.

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City Hydroponic

Keep dry while biking with two new editions from a favorite cycling fashion label Urban biking clothiers Outlier always seem to be upping their game with details that we had the chance to see first-hand when they stopped by last week to preview their new lineup for Spring 2011. This season sees a few classic styles revamped with technical refinements, as well as an instantly covetable jacket and shoes joining the collection. The Pivotal Bomber Jacket , “a synthesis of everything Outlier,” combines a lightweight “4Season” wool with the brand’s signature pivot sleeve construction. Trimmed in superfine merino, the mid-weight outer is water-resistant, breathable, and has a handy angled arm pocket. Similarly a balance of technical details and style, their first foray into footwear is a minimalist waterproof sneaker in men’s and women’s sizes. The Outlier Feit Supermarines , handmade by Australian specialty shoemakers Feit , feature a double layer of French calf leather on the interior and exteriors comprised of Egyptian cotton made from only the longest fibers—hence their extreme water resistance. A removable cork midsole helps absorb shock while riding, and a double layer of Vibram sheet rubber provides solid traction for when you hit pavement. Other bonuses include waxed cotton laces, a reflective patch on the back and a hidden pocket on the tongue (for tucking laces). While all these cleverly-engineered details don’t come cheap, investing in the jacket ($290) and shoes ($260) will see you through many a ride. Take our reader survey and enter to win a CH Edition Jambox!

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Outlier Spring 2011

Libya’s rebellion draws strength from the memory of colonialism. It’s being led by the urban elite.

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Opinion »: Op-Ed: Why Qaddafi Has Already Lost