[URBAN NOTE] Seven city links: smart cities, coffee, accessible transport, regionalism, boomtowns,

[rfmcdonald]

• The Conversation notes the concerns of Canadians about the potential privacy concerns regarding smart cities.


• This CityMetric article examines the particular role of the chain coffeeshop in the contemporary city.


• Will the tragic death of young mother Malaysia Goodson, killed trying to access public transit, lead to the spread of accessible infrastructure? Guardian Cities considers.


• A forced amalgamation of the different regional municipalities of Toronto could easily come into conflict with locals' identities, the Toronto Star noted.


• National Geographic considers Silicon Valley-type boomtowns around the world. (Toronto is on that list.)


• This Bloomberg article makes the point that, in same cases, merging cities with prosperous suburbs might be a godsends for the wider conurbations.


• This Curbed article by novelist Jami Attenberg looks at what has changed for her--what she has gained--since moving from large metropolis New York City to the smaller centre of New Orleans.