The Japanese have a wordkuchisabishiithat describes the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition well. It's best understood as the term for when you eat something not because youre hungry but because your mouth is bored. The Heritage Edition doesnt need to exist, same as Toyota doesnt really need to sell Land Cruisers in America anymore given our paltry share of the international sales pie. Yet it does, and its damn tasty either way.

Thats not to directly compare one of the worlds legendary SUVs with empty calories. As equipped in the American market, the 200 Series Land Cruiser is a fairly brilliant truck, melding its rugged heritage and superlative capability with a sensible approach to modern comfort. Even if an $86,710 sticker price might shock when you step back and see a gussied-up UN vehicle, consider that Mercedes-Benz has been pulling the same thing at twice the price with the G-Wagen and making out like a bandit for decades. Toyotas low-volume Cruiser business here in the States still generates around $279 million in revenue annually, and that's without counting the Lexus LX. If you do count the LX, the revenue total for Toyota was $710 million in 2018. Not exactly peanuts.

Toyota

But given its formulaic, three-squares approach since the 200 Series launched in 2007one trim, one option, no marketingit's easy to see why Toyota whipped up the 2020 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition. It's nominally a minimalist adventurer appearance package accented by bronze BBS wheels and a Yakima MegaWarrior roof basket. More than a decade into the current series (Land Cruiser generations move on geologic time scales), it's also the closest the world's largest automaker has come to a bored-mouth snack involving its most iconic vehicle.

Again, this isn't a bad thing at all. The opposite, in fact. The Heritage Edition looks great, drives great, and is great. It just doesn't feel like it's meeting a vital need the way the regular Land Cruiser does, nor does it scan as a gluttonous blowout truly celebrating its six decades of production ahead of an uncertain future. Kuchisabishii.

Toyota

The Toyota Land Cruiser has changed as much as anyone would over sixty-odd years, and the four-door, roofed 200 Series stands worlds apart from the pokey 1958 FJ25 that Toyota shipped over back then as the first Land Cruiser sold on these shores. (By the way, that two-door convertible model survives in unrestored condition at the excellent Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.) The "base" 2020 truck will look familiar to everyoneits design has gone unchanged since a 2015 facelift, and its profile has been with us since 2007. Good thing it's a handsome, blocky fella, with a drawn-out grille to accentuate its 78-inch width and a noticeably upright greenhouse.

An untrained observer could mistake it for a Toyota Sequoia, that other three-row, V-8, body-on-frame SUV in the American lineup, except the Sequoia is more than ten inches longer, bigger in every dimension, and also it's not a Land Cruiser and never will be. We digress. As mentioned up top, the $2,330 upcharge for the Heritage Edition nets the following exterior tweaks: 18-inch bronze BBS wheels, darkened chrome trim on the grille, deleted running boards, a Yakima roof basket, a sweet retro badge, and a paint choice of Midnight Black Metallic or Blizzard Pearl.

Toyota

Adding the roof rack, removing the running boards, and swapping in smaller wheels make the biggest visual impacts. It's a conservative upfit, no doubt. But the simplicity is still compelling. $87,000 compelling? Different discussion.

Fitting for a truck that's more common in war zones than American driveways, the interior is laid out with dutiful practicality, all straight lines and big buttons and analog gauges. Cabin comfort is one place where we're glad to leave the old Land Cruisers behind, and Toyota relies on materials like wood and semi-aniline leather to soften the UN Peacekeeper experience for domestic buyers, plus extras like heated and ventilated seats and a center console refrigeratorsorry, "cool box."

Toyota

The Heritage Edition comes with black leather, bronze contrast stitching, all-weather floor mats, no third row, and no cool box for maximum storage. (Toyota reasons that you'll bring a real cooler along anyway, what with the 53.5 cubic feet of space back there without the far back seats.) Don't look for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in that nine-inch touchscreen, however.

Toyota

There are typically two complaints lobbed at the Toyota Land Cruiser interior: it's boring, and it's too fancy for what the truck actually is. To the first camp, we'll just point out that the Land Cruiser was not built to impress you. It doesn't have an art degree because its utilitarian buyers around the world still don't care. And to the second critique, the truck as it exists in America 2019 isn't marketed to you. Toyota knows you and a few other ragamuffins want a downmarket Land Cruiser. But that's not what it's trying to do here.

The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition is less about going further off-road than looking better in the process. That's not a problem when the base truck is as otherworldly durable as a 200 Series. When you write a check for $87 grand, what you're paying for is the million-mile engineering needed to take the Land Cruiser safely to the globe's toughest and roughest edges. We're not exaggerating; much of the vehicle is designed for a 25-year service life. Everything from suspension components to window glass is thicker and stronger and utterly overbuilt compared to flimsy modern crossovers or even the full-size pickups we hold dear as Americans.

Toyota

Sheer toughness and a solid rear axle will only get you so farpretty damn far, but there are limitsso the Land Cruiser also has a low-range transfer case with a center differential lock, multi-terrain AWD settings, off-road cruise control, and a system that brakes the inner wheels for an off-road pivot-turn. It runs in a permanent 4HI mode with a 40/60 front-to-back torque split that can vary as needed. Lastly, Toyota's Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System automatically adjusts the sway bars to provide excellent wheel articulation without ruining on-road handling. You can feel the KDSS loosening things up as you bounce off the pavement, shift into low range, and start climbing your first rocky hill.

Toyota

With 8.9 inches of ground clearance and off road angles of 32 approach/21 breakover/24 departure, the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser isn't the most out-and-out capable crawler in the lineup. That honor belongs to the 2020 4Runner TRD Pro, as does woeful technology and a dated five-speed transmission. True to its name, what the Land Cruiser represents is the cushiest, safest way to conquer mountains. It made quick work of both the demonstration off-road course Toyota set up in the hills outside Eagle Mountain, Utah and an extracurricular detour over a challenging rock pile.

Toyota

As the most expensive vehicle Toyota sells in America, though, it had better drive well on the road. The trucky Land Cruiser does what it can. Its 5.7-liter, 381-horsepower V-8 (shared with the Tundra pickup) pulls strong with a decent grumble, though peak torque doesn't hit until 3,600 RPM and you'll notice the delay in higher gears. It doesn't help that the eight-speed transmission sometimes feels like it's taking a wild guess when you put your foot down, dropping too far for having over 400 lb-ft of torque on tap or pausing before slamming into the correct gear with an audible thud.

So, not all roses. But apart from that the 2020 Land Cruiser rides like any other large SUVheavy, tall, and reassuringly softdespite its antediluvian construction. KDSS also works on pavement as a hydraulic stabilizer system to limit body roll, so it's composed in turns and a peaceful long-distance rig overall. The only thing to really warn about for daily driving is the abysmal fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon combined. Even a 24.6 gallon tank feels small.

Even in cases like this, where the historic connection is clear and unbroken, automakers often try to keep a least a little daylight between present-day models and their older counterparts. It makes sense: Old cars are cool, and generally new cars are not. Put them in the lineup, and what should be a proud evolutionary timeline often ends up looking like a March of Progress parody ending in a fat man.

Toyota

That's why it was a surprise when Toyota arranged to borrow five historic Land Cruisers from the Salt Lake City museum collection for us to drive alongside the 2020 Heritage Edition. Sprung for the day was a 1977 FJ40, a 1977 FJ55, a 1984 FJ60, a 1991 FJ80, and a 2004 UJZ100. All stand as key stages in the Land Cruiser's growth from a military runabout to a globe-stomping status symbol.

Toyota

1977 FJ40 Land Cruiser (Production: 1960 - 1983)

Toyota

1977 FJ55 Land Cruiser (Production: 1968 - 1979)

That humble FJ40, even with its unlined interior, barn doors, and scepter of a four-speed shifter, has leather bucket seats and soft springs to deliver a surprisingly comfortable ride. (If you can get past the racket from the 4.2-liter straight six engine at speed, that is.) The "Iron Pig" FJ55 debuted as one of the few four-door family SUVs in 1967, and even if it shared its platform and powertrain with the FJ40, it was still designed to advance the Land Cruiser's mission. Its successor, the FJ60, brought the first fully-insulated and modernized interior, though the SUV market was starting to simmer in the 1980s. So Toyota took a radical leap forward with the 1991 FJ80, adding more luxurious appointments, coil springs, a full-time 4WD system, airbags and ABS, and the streamlined design that signaled the end of sharp corners for the Land Cruiser. Still had a straight-six engine, though.

Toyota

1984 FJ60 Land Cruiser (Production: 1980 - 1990)

Toyota

1991 FJ80 Land Cruiser (Production: 1990 - 1997)

Apart from varying levels of comfort and sound deadening, they also all drove remarkably similar on and off the pavement. Extremely slowof the four, only the FJ80 could muscle past 35 mph on an uphill grade at 7,000 feet in the mountainsand very noisy, but endearingly blunt like only an old truck on solid axles can be. We weren't pushing any limits in these museum pieces, but the simple fact that all they needed to drive was a fresh battery and a fluid check speaks to the insane longevity of Land Cruisers.

Toyota

2004 UJZ100 Land Cruiser (Production: 1998 - 2007)

The one truck we haven't touched upon is the 1998-2007 UJZ100, representing the largest leap forward yet. It was the first Land Cruiser with a V-8 engine and independent front suspension, two key departures that make the 100 much closer in feel to the 200 Series than to any of its predecessors. It just drives like a contemporary Toyota, even if the lack of KDSS means body roll can be excessive.

And what did the 200 Series Land Cruiser contribute to its kind? Incremental improvements in power, frame strength, and comfort, all undeniable. But whenever Toyota decides to sunset the current generation, we have a feeling it will be remembered for the off-road tech it introduced to the name. (Unless the rumors of it leaving the North American market in 2022 are true, in which case, yeah, that will be its epitaph.) KDSS is probably the biggest highlight, the way it's produced the most comfortable Land Cruiser while giving up little in capability. Even if we're eons past the FJ40's agricultural-tool approach, the 200 Series is still building on the same reputation, one advancement (or two) at a time.

Toyota

What it won't be remembered for is the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition. Not because it's a silly idea, but because the normal truck is its own heritage edition. Adding a roof rack or a smaller wheel doesn't make it any more connected to its past or give it a sense of vitality. There was room to go all out here in a celebration of spirit, with a lift and a rear locker and real off-road tires, but absent that we're more than happy to enjoy the sustenance of the regular Land Cruiser.

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2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition Review: This Aging Star Still Matters - The Drive

Tonight's Public Affairs show with Gary Rabine, CEO [Rabine Group] airs in Chicago, 25 Chicago Metro N & NW suburbs and Evanston, See detailed airing schedule, below

Gary Rabine: If I were born with a few billion dollars, I might be the same way as JB Pritzker, I might be trading businesses. Heck, it's a lot cheaper. All my businesses that I have, these little and mid-sized businesses, I am paying income tax for all profit because I am S corp. and LLCs. JB, he's trading businesses, so he's paying capital gains tax, half of what I am.

Jeff Berkowitz: JB [and many of the Dems], they want to raise your income tax with the progressive income tax. Property taxes, are they high in IL? Workers' comp. insurance, is that high in IL? Are those the kind of things that might drive you out of IL?

Gary Rabine: You mention are they high? High would be to me, higher than the average... but when you are the highest, that's ridiculous, that's crazy high, that's where we're at in IL, we're off our rockers high!

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Gary Rabine [CEO, Rabine Group]: Gov. Pritzker said to me, "Gary, you built all your businesses here, your family is all here, you're never gonna go anywhere, I mean, that's exactly how he said it... and God Bless him, if he really believes that that's the case, but that can't be the case, I can't risk...

*********

Jeff Berkowitz: ...[W]hat's your elevator pitch?

Gary Rabine[CEO, Rabine Group]: One of the most important things ... is how I differentiate myself... So first ... we give away ... the best engineering we can find in the world when it comes to pavement, stormwater and structural engineering for roofing, we... say "Here's our engineers, use them how you like to help you plan your properties"...we did that originally through boots on the ground, but today we do that using drones, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.

*******

Tonight's Chicago Metro suburban edition of Public Affairs features Gary Rabine, ditchdigger CEO of the Rabine Group and advocate for Free Enterprise. [Airing schedule, below]

The program also airs

--in a special airing tonight in Chicago proper, 10:28 pm, Cable Ch. 21 (CAN TV)

-- in Evanston tonight and every night the rest of the week, 8:30 pm, Cable Ch. 6

Gary Rabine discusses with show host Jeff Berkowitz how capitalism satisfies consumer demand and creates jobs and opportunities- when innovation and competition are allowed to operate in a free market environment.

Rabine discusses with host Jeff Berkowitz how he began, after graduating from high school, a driveway paving business that was transformed, eventually, into a group of major companies that have been a source of quality jobs, growth, opportunity and wealth for his employees and himself, and improved choices for his customers, both in and out of Illinois.

Rabine and Berkowitz discuss and debate, among other issues, the pluses and minuses of Governors Rauner & Pritzker, IL pension reform-- amending the IL Constitution to allow reduction of government pension benefits and giving IL cities and villages the power to file for bankruptcy, Gov. Pritzker's proposed IL progressive income tax (on the Nov. 2020 ballot) and Democratic Party Presidential Primary candidates and President Trump.

Rabine also discusses what is necessary for IL to become more competitive in business and a better environment for its residents to work, grow and enjoy their lives and families.

The half hour program airs:

--Tonight in 25 Chicago Metro North & Northwest suburbs at 8:30 pm

-on Cable Ch. 19in Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, parts of Inverness, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northfield,Palatine, Rolling Meadows andWilmetteand

-on Comcast Cable Ch. 35in Arlington Heights,Bartlett,Glenview,Golf,Des Plaines, Hanover Park, Mt. Prospect, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg,Skokie, Streamwood andWheeling

You can also watch 24/7 the program featuring Ditch Digger CEO Gary Rabine by clicking here

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Gary Rabine [CEO, Rabine Group]: Gov. Pritzker said to me, "Gary, you built all your businesses here, your family is all here, you're never gonna go anywhere, I mean, that's exactly how he said it... and God Bless him, if he really believes that that's the case, but that can't be the case, I can't risk the lives & jobs we are talking about, I can't risk all these jobs just because I want to be here- right?

Berkowitz: If you could persuade [those in control of] the IL State Government to change and start going in the other direction: [LEGISLATE] lower property taxes, lower income taxes, [Don't support] a progressive income tax, [ADOPT THE NEEDED REFORMS TO] lower workers compensation rates, would that be Nirvana for you?

From Public Affairs, taped on November 18, 2019 in the Chicago Loop offices of Residco

Filed under: Uncategorized

Tags: Amending IL constitution to allow for a progressive income taxes. Amending IL constitution to allow for pension reform, building a business, capitalsim, Gary Rabine, Governor Pritzker, Governor Rauner, IL business environment, IL business reforms, IL high property taxes, IL pension reform, IL progressive income tax, IL property taxes, IL workers comp. insurance, impact of unions, JCN, Jeanne Ives, Jeff Berkowitz, job creators network, making IL a competitive business environment, paving parking lots, Public Affairs, Rabine Group, reducing IL property taxes. Entrepreneurship, right to work, socialism, union shop, young presidents organization, YPO

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Better than Bears v.Packers,Berkowitz w/Ditchdigger CEO Rabine in Chicago, Suburbs & Evanston on business & life: Cable&Web - ChicagoNow

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --When it comes to the perfect outdoor space, it is important to pay attention to every last detail from the choice of outdoor furniture right down to the paving. Creating that perfect zen is something that everyone strives towards achieving and it is far too easy to overlook the importance of making sure they have the best-quality paving installed. That's where Eminent Pavers comes in. One of L.A's top-rated interlocking paverinstallers, Eminent is the go-to company for all paving requirements.

What does Eminent Pavers offer?

They offer an exceptional service that specializes in designing and installing high-quality paving including driveways, pool decks, planters and steps, patios, fire pits, walkways and BBQs using proven, sturdy materials to an outstanding standard. Eminent Pavers combines years of experience with a wealth of knowledge to offer the client a service that goes above and beyond. So, just what do they offer?

Why use Eminent Pavers?

While the above gives an insight into what Eminent can offer that makes them a top choice for paving installation, it needs to be reinforced why they are the company to choose.

For more details, contact:

Mark Ovitch323-842-9464

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SOURCE Eminent Construction

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Eminent Construction Offers an Exceptional Service That Specializes in Designing and Installing High-Quality Pavers - PRNewswire

Scottsdale, AZ - With over 10+ years of experience in the asphalt industry providing unrivaled asphalt solutions in New Hampshire, Northern Massachusetts, and the New England area, Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC is excited to be serving Scottsdale, AZ and The Phoenix Valley. They continue to be the #1 choice for many homeowners and business owners thanks to the quality of their services. They are not only known for utilizing high-quality materials and state-of-the-art technology, but are also known for executing commercial and residential asphalt projects on time and on budget. Curb Appeal is fully licensed with a team of experienced and honest staff, as described by many of their past clients.

Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC is owned and operated by Henry Cook, a local entrepreneur and experienced contractor with many years in business working closely with his staff to provide services that exceed their clients' expectations, in terms of quality and availability. Growing up in New Hampshire as the second of five children, Henry developed a sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic from an early age. As a teenager, he started working for his uncles paving business and later, as an adult, he worked in a regional paving firm, where he learned all he knows about the paving industry, experiencing first-hand what a company needs to offer to fulfill both residential and commercial paving needs. Therefore, in 2008 Henry founded his successful business, which has done nothing but grown ever since.

Henry is known for having great involvement on each project performed by his staff, as he personally supervises each project, no matter how big or small, and even works side-by-side with his team wearing the same Curb Appeal uniform shirt that everyone else wears. Im there because I care about quality and relationships, explains Henry. Clients entrust my team and me with their property, and we value their trust and want to earn their referrals. Its the right thing to do and its how we maintain happy repeat customers one parking lot or driveway at a time.

Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC is known for offering a comprehensive variety of services for both residential and commercial needs including parking lot paving, driveway paving, parking lot seal coating, parking lot striping, parking lot patching, parking lot curbing, and more. All of their services, from commercial parking lots to residential driveways, are performed with state-of-the-art equipment and world-class products to guarantee long-lasting results. High-traffic, mission-critical firms including Dunkin Donuts, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Applebees (to name a few) have entrusted Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC with their parking lot sealcoating and other asphalt maintenance needs for a reason.

In contrast to many of their competitors, Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC offers services performed by skilled and well-established technicians, with at least 5 years of hands-on experience performing all types of small and large projects for homes and business owners in the Phoenix area. To this day, owner, Henry Cook, oversees every project their company performs, no matter how big or how small. He takes great pride in his work and in supporting his team in order to deliver residential and commercial paving projects that satisfy the expectations of each and every client.

Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC is located at 17470 N Pacesetter Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Their business hours are from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. For high-quality driveway paving and additional commercial and residential paving projects, contact their team via phone at 602-620-9324 or send online inquiries via email to Curbappealsealcoating@gmail.com. For additional information regarding their services or to request a Free Quote, visit their website at: https://curbappealasphaltservicesllc.business.site

Media ContactCompany Name: Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLCContact Person: Henry CookEmail: Send EmailPhone: 602-620-9324Address:17470 N Pacesetter Way City: ScottsdaleState: AZCountry: United StatesWebsite: http://www.nhcurbappeal.com

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Curb Appeal Asphalt Services, LLC is Paving the Way for Commercial Parking Lots and Residential Driveways in Scottsdale, AZ - Press Release - Digital...

Vandals left a bloodlike substance on the front porch, and in the mail box of the Bloomingtonian journalist Jeremy Hogan overnight, which was discovered in the morning, Wednesday, December 11, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

In a seemingly coordinated attack overnight, vandals smashed windows, placed nails on driveways, and left a bloodlike substance at the entrances to homes and in mailboxes, including that of the Bloomingtonians sole employee, Jeremy Hogan.

Hogans spouse, Toni Arcuri, discovered a bloodlike substance poured on their homes wooden porch on the way to work just after 8 a.m., in the Waterman neighborhood. Hogan called the police to make a report.

The police said that a similar bloodlike substance was also left at the home of controversial Indiana University professor Eric Rasmusen, and a balloon containing a similar substance was thrown at the entrance to the Womens Care Center of Bloomington in the 400 block of South College Avenue.

Joshua Graham, who also lives in the Waterman neighborhood, said the back window of his car was shattered overnight with a brick. He spoke to Hogan after he stopped by to speak to police investigating the incident at Hogans. Graham has been a vocal supporter online, and as a customer, of the Schooner Creek Farm. Hogan reached out to Sarah Dye, suspecting the attack on his home might be related to his coverage in The Bloomingtonian, and Dye said she found nails in her driveway and had filed a police report. Schooner Creek Farm has been the subject of protests for several months at the Bloomington Farmers Market, and The Bloomington has covered the issue. Several activist groups, including B Town Antifa, No Space for Hate and the Purple Shirt Brigade, want the city to ban Schooner Creek from the market, but the city has declined to do so, citing the First Amendment rights of the businesss owners, including Dye.

Dye said in similar incidents, her carwas covered in asimilar bloodlike substance after she had spoken to the GrassrootsConservatives at the Monroe County Library in Ellettsville in September, andshe found a similar bloodlike substance and broken balloon in her mailbox inOctober 2018. She said in that incident,fascist was spray-paintedon the pavement on her property, and an American flag was broken. She filed apolice report with the Brown County Sheriffs Department.

Hogan suspects the attack on his home might be related to his coverage of the Bloomington Farmers Market, because at least two activists have been following Hogan at various times over the past several months, and have told people not to allow him to photograph them. One of the activists, who has pink hair and a large hunting knife, has cursed at Hogan on more than one occasion at close range. Another one of the activists called Hogan a Nazi while he was covering the market. In another instance, the same activists followed Hogan at Bloomington PRIDE, and told people that he photographs people in public without their permission, and walked toward Hogan as if they were going to run into him, but just missed him by a foot or two. Hogan spoke to the police about the intimidation, and was told the police couldnt do anything about it unless someone made a threat.

Its a common practice for journalists to photograph people in public without their permission while covering news events. Hogan often, as a courtesy, attempts to get the permission of people hes photographing, but in a news situation, its not always possible. The First Amendment, and cases decided by the Supreme Court, protect the rights of journalists to do their work in public places.

Around 11:45 a.m., Hogan discovered what appeared to be blood dripping from his closed mailbox. He then saw a postal worker driving a postal vehicle coming to deliver the mail and flagged him down before the worker could open the mailbox. The postal worker called a supervisor, who then called the police, and the police soon arrived at Hogans home again.

Police assessed the threat, and decided the mailbox was likely safe to open, and did so. Inside was a burst balloon, which they said was similar to the one filled with the bloodlike substance used against the Womens Care Center.

Police are currently investigating the series of vandalism incidents. Tampering with a mailbox is a federal crime.

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String of vandalism incidents continue overnight - The Bloomingtonian

A sketch within the new Bastrop Building Block (B3) code. Credit: Simplecity Design.

Zoninga form of land-use regulation that polices the design and use of buildingshas had a bad run in America. Legalized in 1926 by the Supreme Court as a public protection to separate noxious uses, its since metastasized into something that micro-manages many aspects of city life. Zoning has been blamed for worsening the affordable housing crisis, inducing car-reliant sprawl, and squelching bottom-up entrepreneurship.

But zoning isnt going anywhere. Almost every city has it, and the legal ability for change is limited. The question is: how can zoning at least be reformed to better enable market outcomes and reduce its high social costs. A recent code rewrite in Bastrop, TX embraces that goal.

The 8,800-person city recently adopted Bastrop Building Block (B3), a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code. The point is to ensure fiscal sustainability and mitigate against environmental damage. The code, said city manager Lynda Humble, will effectively extend the downtown land-use paradigm further into the 9sqmi city. In this respect, B3 will be different than most U.S. zoning codes: rather than copying the Euclidean model of sprawl and separated uses, it will mirror the form-based model of walkable streets, mixed uses, and urban density.

Certain conditions have led to this measure in Bastrop, a historic city 30 miles east of Austin. Situated on the Colorado River, these last few years it has experienced multiple floods, wildfires, and a hurricane. Another city issue (due in part to these weather problems) is the prospect of fiscal unsustainability. According to an analysis by an outside consultant, downtown Bastrop generates the most revenue for the city, while its sprawling areas lose money due to infrastructure maintenance costs mixed with low property tax generation. So B3 is designed to replicate what works, while avoiding development patterns that create liabilities.

Bastrop will do this through a Transportation Master Plan that extends the downtown grid to under- or undeveloped areas, via the construction of narrow, tree-lined streets. This contrasts with the wide, winding, subdivision-style streets that dominate many U.S. cities once you tread outside downtown. The narrower streets should reduce flooding, since there will be fewer impervious surfaces; reduce costs, since theres less asphalt; and improve walkability. Existing blocks will also be subdivided into smaller 385 ones, another measure that will benefit the pedestrian realm.

The other noted aspect of B3 will be zoning thats more permissive, and that features various urbanist best practices. Like other form-based codes, B3 regulates nuisances rather than uses. This means there will be more potential to mix retail and residences, a trademark of early U.S. urban growth. The code has no parking minimums, and shared parking is encouraged. There will be no lot-size minimums, meaning extremely small businesses or housing is allowed. Every lot can have at least three unitsthe main home, and two accessory dwellings.

Our code, said Humble, takes all of the elements of pre-suburban sprawl and incorporates them into a code that allows us to go back to what we know. Matt Lewis, CEO of Simplecity Design, the consulting firm that helped with B3, added that the code is an act of reestablishing the traditional American grid.

To address the flooding problem, B3 allows property owners more flexibility in preventing runoff from their own lots. Rather than being forced to build drivewaysas is common elsewherelot owners can use pervious pavement alternatives and install drainage swales.

What made B3 politically possible, when similar initiatives havent been in other cities, was the ideological mindset of Bastrop. It votes Republican in presidential elections, and arguments about fiscal sustainability and limited government appeal there, said Humble. So, when the city was able to demonstrate that certain development patterns dont pay for themselves, it found support for change. Whether or not those arguments work elsewhere, Bastrop at least provides a framework for how other cities could write more liberalized zoning codes.

Cities are requiring bad development practices; were over-regulating to such an extent that its harming good developments, said Lewis. The point of B3 is to reverse course, by going back to the core principle of what were trying to design our communities to function like. This is an applicable tool that could work in large cities.

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Is There a Model Zoning Code? | Scott Beyer - The Beacon

SOUTHEND Council is urging residents to support their own communities by signing the snow wardens pledge and commit to grit pavements and driveways.

Free gritting equipment is available to Southend residents who attend Veolias central depot in Eastern Avenue on Saturday and sign the snow wardens pledge.

Snow Wardens provide additional support for residents by using the equipment provided to clear driveways and paths of ice, to help their neighbours and others on the pavement use the walkways safely.

The packs, which include salt grit, snow shovels and high-visibility jackets, will be available for collection from 8am to 12pm at Veolias depot .

Veolia staff will be on hand to distribute the supplies to residents, who must bring proof of an address within the borough.

Larissa Reed, executive director for neighbourhoods and environment, said: The cold weather that is anticipated in the coming months brings with it challenging conditions for residents, particularly elderly and disabled residents, who may struggle with the icy pavements.

Signing up to become a Snow Warden enables people to provide support for fellow residents and also to work with Veolia staff who are out gritting the main pedestrian and vehicle routes across the borough.

Snow wardens pledge to use their supplies for the benefit of the wider community, adhere to the councils advisory information sheet The Snow Code and other pledges.

To express an interest in becoming a Snow Warden, or if you are unable to attend on the day but would still like to sign up, call Veolia on 0203 567 6955.

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Sign up to commit to grit your pavements and driveways when freeze hit - Southend Standard

From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here.Learn more about how this works.

Not all of us need to install a different set of rubber the instant Old Man Winter pokes his head around the corner. While parts of the continent grumble into their coffee about that days forecasted high (*raises hand*), wide swaths of the population can run the same tires year-round, particularly if its the family daily.

Especially if its the family daily, in fact. Your author argues at length, much to the annoyance of his family, that a car owner should emphatically not cheap out on tires. Theyre the only things touching the road, after all. Ponying up a few stray bills for an off-brand whose rubber compound has the flex of an oak tree is a terrible idea. And dont get me started on the propensity of certain people to buy second-hand tires full of frozen water and weeds.

Here are some good all-season tire suggestions, presented in alphabetical order, sourced from the crew at TireBuyer.com.

(Editors note: As noted above, this post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our 90s sedan shopping habitsoperating expenses. Some of you dont find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)

Advantage T/A Sport tires, featuring H- or V- speed ratings, are what BFGoodrich calls Grand Touring All-Season tires. Theyre marketed at the drivers of sedans, minivans, and small crossovers looking for all-season traction in dry, wet and light snow conditions. BFG promises some fun with this tire, but your author believes that word is best reserved for their high performance line.

The tire features an all-season tread compound molded into a symmetrical design, allowing easy cross rotation to resist irregular wear. The tires continuous center rib creates constant contact with the road. Their 3D Active Sipe Technology provides an increased number of biting edges for improved wet and light snow traction.

Pros: Great brand, reports of long tread life

Cons: Only one size greater than an 18-inch diameter

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According to the company, this tire is designed to provide year-round traction, even in light snow (we would put the emphasis on light for this and all tires on this list when it comes to the fluffy white stuff).

The TrueContact Tour features a tread compound containing temperature-activated functional polymers, a snazzy way of saying theyve baked in components that will aid tread life and fuel efficiency. This compound is molded into a symmetric tread design that provides for the ability to rotate tires (you do rotate your cars tires, right?) and help maximize tread life. The tread pattern is also said to be optimized in a bid to reduce noise. Those heavily siped tread blocks should provide the additional biting edges necessary to enhance traction in rough weather.

Pros: Plenty of common sizes for the family car segment

Cons: Massive ECOPLUS badges brands you a nerd

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The RT in this tires name doesnt stand for retweet, no matter what social media might try to tell you. Here, it refers to Road Touring, an activity for which this tire is uniquely designed. Altimax is Generals flagship line, so theyve thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at this hoop in an effort to grab some of the everyday all-season market share.

According to the company, these tires feature a Twin Cushion Silica Tread Compound that places a high-density all-season top compound for year-round traction and long wear above a low-density foundation compound that absorbs road vibrations to promote a comfortable ride. Circumferential grooves and Generals anti-slip sipe design technology increases the number of biting edges to enhance traction on slippery roads.

Pros: Enormous selection of sizes, positive reviews from a healthy sample size

Cons: Not exactly the sexiest tire on sale

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The tire you see here is one of Michelins entrants into the green arena, with fuel economy being at the top of this tires mission list. Without too much details, the company is touting its EnergySaver construction and a special type of tread rubber as features that keep this tire cooler, thereby increasing fuel efficiency and technically reducing CO2 emissions.

Its continuous tread pattern (read: traditional three-rib design) allows for a good footprint and a shape that maximizes road contact. This latter attribute should be a plus for grip and acceleration, activities which benefit from greater amounts of rubber being pressed into the macadam.

Pros: Excellent real-world reviews, frequent rebates

Cons: Michelins are expensive

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Pirelli knows a thing or two about making things that go around. While most of the world associates the brand with high performance rubber thanks to their involvement in Formula 1, they also do a more than passable job of manufacturing all-season tires. In a fantastic blitz of marketing, theyve foisted the mighty P-Zero name upon it for good measure.

All of the sizes are 18-inch diameter or greater, save for a single Mercedes spec 17-incher. It should surprise no one that most of the suggested applications for this Pirelli are expensive luxury machines, such as Audi and Jag and the aforementioned Merc. But, hey if you can convince your better half to agree to a set of these for the Camry, more power to ya.

Pros: Good looking tires sized for big-wheeled cars

Cons: Warranty stretches only 45,000 miles

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Sounding for all the world like an after-dinner drink or fancy perfume, the Versado Noir is a touring all-season tire designed on the comfort end of the spectrum. Rigid outside tread blocks give a quieter ride, while those wide and straight grooves improve water drainage and reduce the chance of hydroplaning. There is a higher sipe density on the inside tread, another feature that helps when the weather turns foul.

The placement of those sipes is far from random. Without a clear shot to the edge of the tire, road noise is funneled away, meaning these tires will allow drivers to hear their passenger carping about the music selection. Whether this is a good thing or not is up to you.

Pros: Big 75k-mile warranty (on H-rated hoops)

At Cons: V- and W-rated examples have a shorter warranty

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[Images by the manufacturer; Lead image: Volodymyr Plysiuk/Shutterstock.com]

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Year-Round Rollers: Best All-Season Tires - The Truth About Cars

Jeff Berkowitz: In 30 seconds, what's your elevator pitch?

Gary Rabine[CEO, Rabine Group]: One of the most important things ... is how I differentiate myself... So first ... we give away ... the best engineering we can find in the world when it comes to pavement, stormwater and structural engineering for roofing, we... say "Here's our engineers, use them how you like to help you plan your properties"...we did that originally through boots on the ground, but today we do that using drones, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.

*******

Gary Rabine: Gov. Pritzker said to me, "Gary, you built all your businesses here, your family is all here, you're never gonna go anywhere." God Bless him if he really believes that, but that can't be the case. I can't risk all those lives and jobs just because I want to be here- right?

*****************************

Tonight's Aurora and Highland Park editions of Public Affairs features Gary Rabine, ditchdigger CEO of the Rabine Group and big time advocate for Free Enterprise and how capitalism creates full employment- when innovation and competition are allowed to operate in a free and job friendly market environment.

The half hour program airs:

--Tonight, in Aurora, 6 pm, Cable Ch. 10, aka ACTV-10 (and repeats this Saturday & next Wednesday & Saturday nights, same time, same channel)

--Tonight, in Highland Park, 8:30 pm Cable Ch. 19 (and repeats next Monday and Wednesday nights, same time, same channel)

-- Tomorrow night, in Rockford (and surrounding areas), 8:30 pm pm, Cable Ch. 17 (and repeats next Thursday night, same time and channel)

You can also watch 24/7 the program featuring CEO Gary Rabine by clicking here

Rabine discusses with Public Affairs show host Jeff Berkowitz how he began, after graduating from high school, a driveway paving business that was transformed, eventually, into a group of major companies that have been a source of quality jobs, growth, opportunity and wealth for his employees and himself, and improved choices for his customers, both in and out of Illinois.

Rabine and Berkowitz discuss and debate the pluses and minuses of Governors Rauner & Pritzker, IL pension reform-- amending the IL Constitution to allow reduction of government pension benefits and giving IL cities and villages the power to file for bankruptcy, Gov. Pritzker's proposed IL progressive income tax (on the Nov. 2020 ballot), workers' comp. reform, how to attract business to IL, the Democratic Party Presidential Primary candidates and President Trump.

Rabine also discusses what is necessary for IL to become more competitive in business and a better environment for its residents to work, grow and enjoy their lives and families.

You can also watch 24/7 the program featuring Ditch Digger CEO Gary Rabine by clicking here

***********************

Gary Rabine [CEO, Rabine Group]: Gov. Pritzker said to me, "Gary, you built all your businesses here, your family is all here, you're never gonna go anywhere, I mean, that's exactly how he said it... and God Bless him, if he really believes that that's the case, but that can't be the case, I can't risk the lives & jobs we are talking about, I can't risk all these jobs just because I want to be here- right?

Berkowitz: If you could persuade [those in control of] the IL State Government to change and start going in the other direction: [LEGISLATE] lower property taxes, lower income taxes, [Don't support] a progressive income tax, [ADOPT THE NEEDED REFORMS TO] lower workers compensation rates, would that be Nirvana for you?

From the Public Affairs Program, taped on November 18, 2019 in the Chicago Loop offices of Residco.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Tags: ACTV-10, attracting business to IL, Aurora, Aurora Community television, Democratic Party Primary Presidential Candidates, Gary Rabine, Governor Pritzker, Governor Rauner, high cost of doing business in IL, Highland Park, Highland Park Community Access, IL business climate, IL high property taxes, IL pension reform, IL progressive income tax, IL workers' comp. reform, Illinois Channel, Illinois GOP, Jeff Berkowitz, Joe Biden, paving parking lots, President Trump, Public Affairs, Public Affairs TV show, Rabine Group, Rockford, Rockford Public Access TV, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Warren

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Watch Berkowitz w/free enterprise advocate, job creator & CEO Gary Rabine in Highland Park, Aurora & Rockford, and on Web - ChicagoNow

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We're in the home stretch of a Palm Springs project that will turn part of Indian Canyon Drive into a two-way road, and residents will notice significant construction over the next three weeks.

That is if they use Indian Canyon during the day. Fromwhat the city says, it's highly advised that driversfind alternate routes for most of December.

The project covers the one-mile southern stretch between Alejo Road and Camino Parocela. Twonorthbound lanes are being removed and one will be used for southbound traffic and the other will be converted into a center turnlane.

Roadside parking will remain. Sidewalks will be adjusted, and traffic signals will be renovated or replaced as far north as Tachevah Drive so traffic flow can remain steady.

Here's what you should expect in December.

This graphic shows the design for Indian Canyon Drive, which is being converted into a two-way road between Camino Parocela and Alejo Road in Palm Springs. Final construction is expected to impact traffic through most of December 2019.(Photo: Palm Springs staff)

Project's discussion:City Council delays road conversion vote

Project's controversy: City apologizes for removing trees during conversion project

Week 1: Construction crews will be grindinga small layer of surface otherwise known as micro-milling in order to remove lane markings and prepare the road for paving.

Indian Canyon will remain open during this phase, which lasts through Dec. 11,but drivers should prepare for lane closures.

Existing lane configurations will be maintained via temporary striping and the road will still be one-way for northbound traffic, according to the city.

Week 2: Unfortunately, street parking is prohibited Dec. 9-13 while workers fill cracks in the road ahead of final paving. The road will be open to traffic but limited to two lanes.

Note that work during the beginning of this periodoverlaps withthe micro-milling phase.

Week 3:Final paving is scheduled for Dec. 16-20, and this is when drivers will be most affected by the project.

How bad? According to the city, "all vehicles will need to be off the street, there will be no parking on Indian Canyon Drive and there will no access to/from the driveways from Indian Canyon Drive until the pavement is dry. No traffic will be allowed to drive on it until its dry."

The above only applies to where paving is being done and closures will change each day, according to city staff.

Thanks tocooler temperatures, drying may last into the late afternoon, and business owners should plan ahead withemployees and customers.

Traffic backs up on northbound Indian Canyon Drive at Alejo Road in Palm Springs on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. Construction was related to a project that will convert Indian Canyon to a two-way road and more construction is expected through the first three weeks of December 2019.(Photo: Colin Atagi/The Desert Sun)

Related feature:This roundabout was almost part of the Indian Canyon project

Related benefits: Indian Canyon conversion could see reduction in speed

Things should calm down during late December, but real change kicks in the first full week of January when final roadway striping is installed and the conversion takes place.

Work is scheduled from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and a new section of the road will allow two-way traffic by each morning, according to the city. Unless weather causes problems, adjustments are as scheduled:

After that, the project should be done and Indian Canyon will be a two-way road.

By the way, since some of you may be wondering, the city's Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday shouldn't be affected. According to the city, all parade-related logistics on Indian Canyon will continue as normal.

Desert Sun reporter Colin Atagi covers crime, public safetyandroadand highway safety. He can be reached at Colin.Atagi@desertsun.com or follow him at @tdscolinatagi.

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Indian Canyon is being converted into a two-way road, here's what to expect for three weeks - Desert Sun