Throughout the [IN]CITY summer program, we will be working towards crafting a redevelopment proposal for a BART station in Berkeley, California. Currently, the site is mostly covered in surface parking lots, but we believe we have an opportunity to inspire the city to turn this space into a new kind of destination by leveraging TOD … Continue reading Housing Precedent Cases
Author: Simon
Arguments For and Against Planning
The first week of the UC Berkeley [IN]CITY 2020 summer program has been a whirlwind. I've learned more about urban planning in 5 days than I have in my last 5 years of it as a hobby... and we're just getting started! If this is a taste of what graduate school and the profession is … Continue reading Arguments For and Against Planning
Statement of Purpose
This is a slightly revised version of my statement of purpose, which I used to apply to several graduate programs in urban planning. It aims to provide clarity on why I am pursuing this new career as well as defines the foundation for future writings going forward. At first glance, the disciplines of urban planning … Continue reading Statement of Purpose
30-Minute Essays
My alacrity to vitiate these books has become fugacious I've been studying for the GRE and realized that the Analytical Writing section has forced me to develop an odd skill: composing deep, nuanced takes on issues within an extremely compressed time frame. If you're not familiar with the exam, you can actually see a full … Continue reading 30-Minute Essays
Factfulness
I've been meaning to read Hans Rosling's Factfulness ever since Bill Gates gave it his highest recommendation back in 2018 - and it did not disappoint. In fact, not only is it one of the most enlightening books about the state of the world I've ever read, it is one of those works that deserves … Continue reading Factfulness
My Quaroutine
As part of compliance with ongoing local public health regulations, I've put most of my travelling aspirations on hold and have been sheltering-in-place for the last couple of months. At first, it was quite challenging - the lack of freedom was stifling and I was a bit lost as to what I should remain focused … Continue reading My Quaroutine
Review: How Design Makes the World
Just finished Scott Berkun's new book How Design Makes the World, and I can definitively conclude that it is a worthy read. Not just for designers, but for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of what work goes into the products they experience every day. More succinctly, the book excels at being accessible, modern, … Continue reading Review: How Design Makes the World
Investing HSAs at Fidelity
As part of some financial spring cleaning, I wanted to take action with several leftover HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) from former employers. I think I found a pretty great home for them and will share how I've invested these funds for future growth. First, for those who work in the United States and are young/healthy, … Continue reading Investing HSAs at Fidelity
Algorithms to Live By
I recently finished reading Algorithms to Live By, a highly enlightening take on what happens when you apply computer science to problems in cognitive psychology. The result is a veritable ton of clever ideas to help tackle situations that come up in everyday life. The solutions were so inspiring to me (likely because I have … Continue reading Algorithms to Live By
On Retiring from Tech
"NOT Working From San Francisco" The software industry in the United States is certainly a lucrative one. I've been fortunate to have worked in many great companies and with many great teammates - and I'm beyond grateful to everyone for helping me get to where I am now. After 10 years of working in software … Continue reading On Retiring from Tech
