Pete Saunders Journalist Profile

Articles

Midwest Metro Musings #1

Jan 28, 2025 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

I’ve said for years that the issues that plague Midwestern cities, and the successful strategies they’ve employed, have gone unnoticed as the cities of the east and west coasts have pulled away economically and culturally. What’s hurting Midwestern cities isn’t always the same thing that’s hurting coastal cities; what works in the Midwest isn’t always what could or would work on the coasts, either.
Rust Belt Expatriates And The Diaspora

Jan 27, 2025 | petesaunders.substack.com | Pete Saunders

Detroit Lions football fans at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, September 22, 2024. Source: facebook.comSo the Super Bowl is set, and the Detroit Lions are not in it. It was tough watching my Detroit Lions go down two weekends ago to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. However, the Lions, historically one of the National Football League’s sad-sack teams, had a spectacular season.
Why Can't America Build Better Cities?

Dec 30, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

Today’s piece will be a little nerdy, perhaps a little lecture-y. You’ve been forewarned. I often think about why American cities seem almost incapable of capitalizing on their assets, of routinely and easily making the case for greater investment from the federal and state levels of government. We struggle to make public transit investments. We struggle with implementing good placemaking practices. We struggle with undoing bad urban policies, and instituting good ones.
The Expansion of the "Citadel of Affluence"

Dec 17, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

I’ll state this right from the outset. This is not a take-down. I’m expressing a point of view that differs from conventional urbanism wisdom. Please keep that in my mind as you read on. Back in 2014, I wrote an article for my earlier blog entitled Two Chicagos, Defined. In the article, I described Chicago’s troubling expansion of inequality at many different levels – income, educational attainment, employment, housing costs, crime, transit access, job access, and so much more.
More on the Housing Crisis/Auto Industry Analogy

Dec 9, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

The strangest thing happened to me over the last few days. I stumbled on an analogy that I hadn’t considered as particularly relevant, but now discovering how relevant it really is. Last Friday, I wrote an article in which I made the case that our nation’s steady slide in decreasing household size, evident for more than 60 years, plays a key role in our current challenge with housing supply and affordability.
The Real Reason for America's Housing Crisis

Dec 4, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

Back in September, I wrote a piece that highlighted a notable but underestimated accomplishment in Chicago’s housing market. The 2023 U.S. Census’ American Community Survey data showed that Chicago reached its highest number of occupied dwelling units, 1.18 million, surpassing its previous high mark of 1.16 million in 1960. On the surface this seems like an unremarkable feat.
The Real Reason For America’s Housing Crisis

Nov 29, 2024 | petesaunders.substack.com | Pete Saunders

Source: gettyimages.comBack in September, I wrote a piece that highlighted a notable but underestimated accomplishment in Chicago’s housing market. The 2023 U.S. Census’ American Community Survey data showed that Chicago reached its highest number of occupied dwelling units, 1.18 million, surpassing its previous high mark of 1.16 million in 1960. On the surface this seems like an unremarkable feat.
The Democratic Party's "Governance" Problem

Nov 25, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

I thought I was done with my own 2024 election introspection, but I’m not. There were plenty of reasons why Donald Trump was able to post his best electoral showing in 2024. Immigration policy, inflation, and just general economic insecurity despite what Wall Street and the unemployment rate say.
Midwestern Provincialism Is A Thing

Nov 12, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

Yesterday, I conducted a poll on X to ask people what would have to change in large Midwestern metros for non-Midwesterners to consider moving here. The poll was revealing. I introduced three options to vote for – a strong economic climate; better weather, and lower crime – and a fourth catch-all option for other positions. I went into this thinking the “better economy” option would win, and it did.
What's Great About Midwestern Cities

Oct 25, 2024 | newgeography.com | Pete Saunders

Anyone who follow me here knows I write quite a bit about Midwestern cities. They’re what I know best and love most. They’re chronically under-discussed in American urbanist discourse, where most of the talk is about the pros and cons of the coastal or Sun Belt cities. Fair enough. That’s where the money is made and the people are moving. I write critically about Midwestern cities because they can be better. But every once in a while it’s good for me to remember why I do this.