BART" himself When BART opened in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1972, it became a catalyst for a renaissance in modern rail transit, both nationally and internationally. The concept as sold to Bay Area voters was gargantuan: by adopting aerospace technologies such as microchips for ground transportation, the new computer-operated rail system would bridge counties and curb urban sprawl amid a booming automobile culture. But it all came within a gnat's eyelash of not happening. The question raised by pundits and taxpayers alike was: would this space-age plan actually work, or be the biggest boondoggle in the country's history? In the first-ever history book about BART, longtime agency spokesman Michael C. Healy gives an insider's account of the rapid transit system's inception, hard-won approval, construction, and operations, "warts and all." Written with a master storyteller's homey wit and sharp attention to detail, Healy recreates the politically fraught venture to bring a new kind of public transit to the West Coast. What emerges is a sense of the individuals who made (and make) BART happen. From tales of staying up until 3:00 a.m. with Bill Stokes and Jack Everson to hear the election results for the rapid transit vote or weathering scandals, strikes, and growing pains, this look behind the scenes of an iconic, seemingly monolithic structure reveals people at their most human-and determined to change the status quo.

    And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. The very idea of a modern metropolis evokes visions of bustling sidewalks, vital mass transit, and a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban core. But in the typical American city, the car is still king, and downtown is a place that's easy to drive to but often not worth arriving at. Making walkability happen is relatively easy and cheap; seeing exactly what needs to be done is the trick. In this essential new book, Speck reveals the invisible workings of the city, how simple decisions have cascading effects, and how we can all make the right choices for our communities. Bursting with sharp observations and real-world examples, giving key insight into what urban planners actually do and how places can and do change, Walkable City lays out a practical, necessary, and eminently achievable vision of how to make our normal American cities great again.

    When the great blizzard of 1888 crippled the entire northeast, a solution had to be found. Two brothers from one of the nation's great families-Henry Melville Whitney of Boston and William Collins Whitney of New York-pursued the dream of his city digging America's first subway, and the great race was on. The competition between Boston and New York played out in an era not unlike our own, one of economic upheaval, life-changing innovations, class warfare, bitter political tensions, and the question of America's place in the world.The Race Underground is peopled with the famous, like Boss Tweed, Grover Cleveland and Thomas Edison, and the not-so-famous, from brilliant engineers to the countless "sandhogs" who shoveled, hoisted and blasted their way into the earth's crust, sometimes losing their lives in the construction of the tunnels. Doug Most chronicles the science of the subway, looks at the centuries of fears people overcame about traveling underground and tells a story as exciting as any ever ripped from the pages of U.S. history. The Race Underground is a great American saga of two rival American cities, their rich, powerful and sometimes corrupt interests, and an invention that changed the lives of millions.

    And parking? Don't bet on it unless you're in the fast lane of the Capital Beltway during rush hour.Little wonder, then, that so many residents and visitors rely on the Washington Metro, the 106-mile rapid transit system that serves the District of Columbia and its inner suburbs. In the first comprehensive history of the Metro, Zachary M. Schrag tells the story of the Great Society Subway from its earliest rumblings to the present day, from Arlington to College Park, Eisenhower to Marion Barry.Unlike the pre–World War II rail systems of New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia, the Metro was built at a time when most American families already owned cars, and when most American cities had dedicated themselves to freeways, not subways. Why did the nation's capital take a different path? What were the consequences of that decision?Using extensive archival research as well as oral history, Schrag argues that the Metro can be understood only in the political context from which it was born: the Great Society liberalism of the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations. The Metro emerged from a period when Americans believed in public investments suited to the grandeur and dignity of the world's richest nation. The Metro was built not merely to move commuters, but in the words of Lyndon Johnson, to create "a place where the city of man serves not only the needs of the body and the demands of commerce but the desire for beauty and the hunger for community."Schrag scrutinizes the project from its earliest days, including general planning, routes, station architecture, funding decisions, land-use impacts, and the behavior of Metro riders. The story of the Great Society Subway sheds light on the development of metropolitan Washington, postwar urban policy, and the promises and limits of rail transit in American cities.

    The resulting cost? Today we see sprawling cities that are better suited to cars than people and a nationwide fleet of motor vehicles that consume one-eighth of the world's total oil production. Donald Shoup contends in The High Cost of Free Parking that parking is sorely misunderstood and mismanaged by planners, architects, and politicians. He proposes new ways for cities to regulate parking so that Americans can stop paying for free parking's hidden costs.

    However, someone came into the house and did it. Not sure if she's going to make it, Hurricane begs the doctors to do all they can, to save her life. But is it too late? In the midst of the chaos, Hurricane does something stupid, that will affect everyone around him. Stella, kept seeing Victor a secret from her husband, and unfortunately, he was able to kidnap their son. Arnold has a hard time dealing with the fact his wife knew the man was lurking around and never told him. He still does what is necessary, to get him home, but not before Victor instills a bunch of lies in his head, which makes Franklin second guess everything his mom told him. Take a ride with these two couples and see if their love is strong enough to weather the storm, they're all caught up in.

    Cobra will stop at nothing to find his daughter and if that means bodies are gonna drop, then so be it. After a tip comes through on Nikki's whereabouts, Cobra rushes over to get the shock of his life. Nikki is on top of the world. She has $2.5 million in cash and is ready to get the hell out of town. But when a monkey wrench is thrown in her plans, she finds that she has a fight on her hands as well. Who will live through this tornado called Cobra? Will Keisha live to see her baby grow up? Will Nikki be able to talk her way out of getting killed? Find out in the final episode of Her Baby Daddy; My Bae 4...

    After all, she was a hustler’s girlfriend. Riding side by side with her man while he ran the streets of Philly, she stayed down until those same streets sent him to the grave. This in turn, causes her to reevaluate her life and start anew. Months later, she finds herself in South Carolina with her family and has gotten a job as a correctional officer. After a few months of working at the state Prison, Camille meets someone from her home city of Philly and immediately they develop an astronomical bond. While adjusting to this new life of hers, Camille learns that the people closest to her may not be as they appear. Can she handle her new life of greed, betrayal, envy, secrets and power? Find out in Every Thug Needs A Down Ass Bitch.

     Imagine being closely connected to eight people that you don’t know. Different occupations and backgrounds that all fatally intertwine. Being dangerously in love with with one person that is full of lies and secrets. Every corner you turn, phone call you make, and fear you have is all connected to one individual through eight lovers. They say keep your friends close but your enemies closer, but sometimes, you have to keep the strangers the closest. In the first chapter of Sha Jones’ new intricate love story, loyalty will be tested, lives will be ruined and put on the line creating THE COLDEST LOVE OF ALL!

    DEM BOYZ is a crew who is ran by DeMoni, his younger brother Kashawn and their best friend KeyMarley. Loyalty is tested and friends quickly become frienemies. The people you put all your trust and faith into will betray you the worst. Who can be trusted? Secrets are revealed that will either make or break the crew! Will DEM BOYZ be able to protect the sheltered women they love most? If so, at what cost? Enter the lives of 18yr olds Golden and Nickayla. These best friends have it all! Brains, beauty, money, Power and respect. Golden has a bright future ahead of her, but hits a slight bump in the road. She has 2 very overprotective big brothers that love her more than life. She has a boyfriend who in her eyes can do no wrong! Everything that glitters surely is not gold! When the wool is snatched from her eyes will she be able to handle the truth? Nickayla has been holding on to secrets of her own. The heart loves who it loves no matter the circumstances. What happens when webs of lies and deceit slowly unravel? Once everything is out in the open, who will be left standing to pick up the pieces? You can truly expect the unexpected.

    Each couple has their own issues that they will have to work through if they want to keep their relationships strong. Ryan is trying to get over the heart break Enzo caused. Just when she thinks that she's found closure, Enzo tells her just who his baby mother is. The beans Enzo spills are too close to home leading Ryan down a path of confusion. Isiah is trying to deal with a mistake that was made. It could have changed his life forever. And, if that's not enough to deal with, a surprise enemy decides they want to play. Isiah has to figure out how to call checkmate before it's too late. Everyone's favorite couple, Alani & Ques are back with more problems than before. Alani is still holding back her feelings for Ques. She's scared to let her guard down and allow him to just love her. But with a turn of events, the love they tried to hide blossoms for everyone to see. Everyone in the crew has their own issues. Find out if they pull together to beat the odds in this highly anticipated sequel of, All She Wanted Was A Rider 2.

    That saying holds true for Yasmeen Thomas, a successful beauty who thought that she had the perfect marriage to Kadeem. But Yasmeen soon learns that she’s married to a complete stranger. Now that her husband’s mask is off, Yasmeen is forced to make a decision, either accept who he is or start planning her future without him. Kadeem thought that he could he have his cake and eat it too, but what happens when his indiscretions catch up to him? Although he’s aware of his wrong doings Kadeem never prepared himself for the repercussions that he is bond to face. He’s forced to wonder if Yas will fight for their marriage or will she gain the courage to finally leave him after having enough? Sierra and Dominic were the ideal couple along with Yasmeen and Kadeem, but they’ll soon face issues that makes them question the foundation of their marriage as well as :trust. What happens when a blast from their past reappears, bringing drama to the happy couple? Will they remain strong or will the secrets break up a happy home? Lives are forever changed, trust is broken, and betrayals are at every turn as you follow on this journey of love. .

    Remember little Ray’Shun, Niyah and Destiny? In this installment the kids are older and have problems of their own. Have you ever heard of that saying: Like father, like son? Well Ray’Shun is every bit of his father and even at the young age of seventeen, he’s having a hard time being faithful to his girlfriend of two years. Let’s just see if he takes after his dad and learns to appreciate and cherish what he have.Most of you have heard of the saying, I get it from my mama. Well, Shaniyah is the younger version of Shaniqua and it makes it complicated for them to get along because they’re so much alike. Once she begins dating a guy that goes by the name of Kush, she began smelling herself and it might become a little too much for Shaniqua to bear.Meanwhile, though Destiny is dating Kush’s younger brother, Man, she remains the sweetheart that Shaniqua only wished Shaniyah would be.

     Betrayed by one of her most trusted friend’s, pop-star Aneesah “Anì” Bradshaw is left fighting for her freedom in the court of law. Catching a break, she is released from prison but pays the ultimate price of losing the love of her life. Now shunned by the media and critics alike, Aneesah is left to pick up the pieces of her fallen career. Going out on a whim and doing things her way, she regains her popularity in the music industry but struggles with the loneliness that seems to be embedded in her heart. Rekindling an old flame, life seems to finally fall back into place for the pop-princess; however, a dark secret looms over her head, jeopardizing her relationship. Hit with a life-altering tragedy that shatters her world, Aneesah gives up her career, isolates herself from loved ones, and ultimately spirals out of control, leading her down a dark, twisted path of self-destruction.

    In Naked Airport, critic Alastair Gordon ranges from global geopolitics to action movies to the daily commute, showing how airports have changed our sense of time, distance, style, and even the way cities are built and business is done. Gordon introduces the people who shaped this place of sudden transition: pilots like Charles Lindberg, architects like Eero Saarinen, politicians like Fiorello La Guardia, and Hitler, who built Berlin’s Tempelhof as a showcase for Fascist power. He describes the airport’s futuristic contributions, such as credit cards, in the form of fly-now-pay-later schemes, and he charts its shift in popular perception, from glamorous to infuriating. Finally, he analyzes the airport’s function in war and peace—its gatekeeper role controlling immigration, its appeal to revolutionaries since the hijackings of the 1960s, and its new frontline position in the struggle against terror.Compelling and accessible, Naked Airport is an original history of a long-neglected yet central creation of modern reality and imagination.