Federal stimulus and a few packed restaurants

Last week Democrats in the US House of Representatives unveiled an $825 billion economic stimulous plan, including $550 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax cuts. According to calculations by Tom Inchioski of Engineering News-Record, "about $135 billion of the spending portion of the plan would go toward construction. Additionally, construction firms would benefit from the plan’s tax incentives, which includes an extension of a provision that allows small companies to write off the costs of equipment and other capital purchases in the year those items are purchased."

The package includes $14 billion for repairs to K-12 schools and $6 billion for higher education (community colleges, colleges, and universities). Also, out of $7.7 billion total going to the General Services Administration for construction, repairs, and operations of federal buildings, $6 billion would go toward boosting energy conservation and energy efficiency.

Many local or regional firms have made a name designing sustainable K12 schools, from BOORA Architects to Mahlum (among others), and firms like SRG Partnership, Yost Grube Hall, Opsis and THA Architecture have designed a lot of university buildings.In both cases there are several more examples. Zimmer Gunsul Frasca is among those firms that have provided design for federal buildings, such as the US Consulate in Turkey and the Bonneville Power Administration building here in Portland.

Inchiosky also quoted national American Institute of Architects federal affairs director Andrew Goldberg, who said of the stimulus, "We have proposed higher funding levels, but as a first draft, it is encouraging." Goldberg and others are also calling for "shovel-ready" assistance for projects ready to be built now, as well as for projects that are still in initial design phases.

As we struggle through unsettling economic times, with some already laid off or with business slowing and others worried about the same happening to them, one also looks for any good signs you can find. In the last few days, eating out I've been surprised to find packed houses everywhere I went or passed by: Cup & Saucer Cafe on Hawthorne, Biwa off Sandy Boulevard, Mother's downtown. When we left Biwa at about 7:30, about 30 people were waiting for a table.

Studies show sometimes small entertainments and pleasures like movies and affordable dining can actually rise during recession or depression. Perhaps it's too naive of me to see it as a hopeful sign. But along with the quantifiable impacts like job loss or declined sales, much of the force of recession is psychological. For those of us who have jobs, which still thankfully is the overwhelming majority of the workforce, we have retracted spending largely because we fear something happening, not because it actually has. Paradoxically, if more of us were ignoring the news about economic doldrums, we might all be likely to go spend money on clothes or cars or foie gras.

If there's anything you need to get out of a recession, beyond money and jobs themselves, it's optimism. Here's hoping Tuesday's inauguration will be inspiring to the economy as it already is politically, historically, socially, and culturally.

Comments

[Geoff]

And we thought Bush's spending spree was atrocious.

This Congress will have carte blanche after tuesday to run up the Federal Visa to levels never seen before.

Ya sure, you will hear lots about 'infrastructure' and 'schools', keeping in mind, it's always 'for the children'. But just watch the pork barrel gluttony that's truly going to flourish for the next few years (from both parties).

All it takes is a quick look at what CA did the last 10 years, and what kind of bottomless hole it now finds itself in.

Brace yourselves.

[Craig]

Well at least the money is going to be re-invested in the US. Give it back to the people and we'll just buy more Chinese junk. As painful as it is, we really need to invest in the basics of our country.

[Matt Davis]

I like dining to forget. But not when I'm spending $6.75 for a slice of cheesecake!

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2009/01/19/_6_75_too_much_for_slice_of_ch

[Aneeda]

Brace ourselves? Geoff, you have amnesia. If the War in Iraq wasn't one of the worst cases of profiteering and pork barrel spending/handouts this country has ever seen, I really don't know what to think. Look at oil industry profits and tell me it wasn't the government who handed over the American people's hard earned dollar. The last administration bankrupted this country. What comes next are investments...not investments toward the profits of greedy corporations, but investments in the public commons.

[Geoff]

Aneeda,

Both parties are in the pockets of the 'greedy corporations', just look at the latest 'bailout' spending. (curious) Lack of oversight has wasted billions in Iraq and is qued up for billions (trillions?) more in this latest bailout. The former was sold as spreading democracy, the present being sold as infrastructure. Mark my words, legal red-tape, middle-man positions, corporate boards and the exponentially growing bureaucracy of government at all levels will squander this spending yet again.

As architects in the private sector, shouldn't we be instead petitioning for a reduction of the overbearing weight of government on our practices and buildings? And I do believe this can be done without expense to the environment or local planning codes.

[robert]

Geoff,

What "overbearing weight of government" would you remove from an architect? Accessibility? Structural Integrity? Fire and Life Safety? Hygene and Sanitation?

Where are government regulations in conflict with an architect's responsibility to protect public health, safety, and welfare? What regulations are not a response to public concern?

Please be specific.