Richard Tomlinson – författare

Australia’s Unintended Cities identifies and researches housing and housing-related urban outcomes that are unintended consequences of other policies, the structure of incentives and disincentives for the housing market, and governance arrangements for metropolitan areas and planning and service delivery. It is argued that unintended consequences have a greater impact on the housing market and Australia’s cities and their future than policies directly concerned with housing, urban policy and metropolitan strategic planning.

The book will inform policy makers, including government officials, consultants and politicians. It will also be used by academics and students in various areas of urban policy, such as housing and urban planning, as well as environment, public policy and economics.

Johannesburg is most often compared with Sao Paulo and Los Angeles and sometimes even with Budapest, Calcutta and Jerusalem. Johannesburg reflects and informs conditions in cities around the world. As might be expected from such comparisons, South Africa''s political transformation has not led to redistribution and inclusive social change in Johannesburg. In Emerging Johannesburg the contributors describe the city''s transition from a post apartheid city to one with all too familiar issues such as urban/suburban divide in the city and its relationship to poverty and socio-political power, local politics and governance, crime and violence, and, especially for a city located in Southern Africa, the devastating impact of AIDS.

Johannesburg is most often compared with Sao Paulo and Los Angeles and sometimes even with Budapest, Calcutta and Jerusalem. Johannesburg reflects and informs conditions in cities around the world. As might be expected from such comparisons, South Africa''s political transformation has not led to redistribution and inclusive social change in Johannesburg. In Emerging Johannesburg the contributors describe the city''s transition from a post apartheid city to one with all too familiar issues such as urban/suburban divide in the city and its relationship to poverty and socio-political power, local politics and governance, crime and violence, and, especially for a city located in Southern Africa, the devastating impact of AIDS.

Originally published in 1990, Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa examines the democratic future of South Africa in the context of policy options and constraints. The book looks at the issue of South Africa’s future including access to land and housing, marked regional differences in well-being, large peri-urban settlements arising around all major towns, and racial inequalities in access to farming land. The book will be of interest to students of urbanization, geography, economics and planning and African studies.

Originally published in 1990, Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa examines the democratic future of South Africa in the context of policy options and constraints. The book looks at the issue of South Africa’s future including access to land and housing, marked regional differences in well-being, large peri-urban settlements arising around all major towns, and racial inequalities in access to farming land. The book will be of interest to students of urbanization, geography, economics and planning and African studies.

On a sunny afternoon in May 1868, nineteen-year-old Gilbert Grace stood in a Wiltshire field, wondering why he was playing cricket against the Great Western Railway Club. A batting genius, ''W. G.'' should have been starring at Lord''s in the grand opening match of the season. But MCC did not want to elect this humble son of a provincial doctor. W. G''s career was faltering before it had barely begun.Grace finally forced his way into MCC and over the next three decades, millions came to watch him - not just at Lord''s, but across the British Empire and beyond. Only W. G. could boast a fan base that stretched from an American Civil War general and the Prince of Wales''s mistress to the children who fingered his coat-tails as he walked down the street, just to say ''I touched him''.The public never knew the darker story behind W. G.''s triumphal progress. Accused of avarice, W. G. was married to the daughter of a bankrupt. Disparaged as a simpleton, his subversive mind recast how to play sport - thrillingly hard, pushing the rules, beating his opponents his own way.In Amazing Grace, Richard Tomlinson unearths a life lived so far ahead of his times that W. G. is still misunderstood today. For the first time, Tomlinson delves into long-buried archives in England and Australia to reveal the real W. G: a self-made, self-destructive genius, at odds with the world and himself.

Since the early 1990s there has been a global trend towards governmental devolution. However, in Australia, alongside deregulation, public–private partnerships and privatisation, there has been increasing centralisation rather than decentralisation of urban governance. Australian state governments are responsible for the planning, management and much of the funding of the cities, but the Commonwealth government has on occasion asserted much the same role. Disjointed policy and funding priorities between levels of government have compromised metropolitan economies, fairness and the environment.

Australia’s Metropolitan Imperative: An Agenda for Governance Reform makes the case that metropolitan governments would promote the economic competitiveness of Australia’s cities and enable more effective and democratic planning and management. The contributors explore the global metropolitan ‘renaissance’, document the history of metropolitan debate in Australia and demonstrate metropolitan governance failures. They then discuss the merits of establishing metropolitan governments, including economic, fiscal, transport, land use, housing and environmental benefits.

The book will be a useful resource for those engaged in strategic, transport and land use planning, and a core reference for students and academics of urban governance and government.

I was motivated to write this book by several life experiences.

First, it became disheartening to see the suffering of people everyday, knowing full well that much of it is unnecessary. For example, a recent announcement by the Surgeon General of the US stated that "loneliness" is at epidemic proportions, and a serious health danger. News of drug overdoses, suicides, depression break my heart.

It simply does not have to be the way. In the past ten years, in particular, I''ve read literally hundreds of examples of how The Holy Bible addresses our everyday problems.

Therefore, I set out to examine and match real life challenges with solutions found in The Bible, with the hopes and prayers that it would bring the richness, joy, comfort, and solace to all readers as it had done for me. Everyone needs an emotional and spiritual foundation, and they are found in The Scriptures.

I''m hopeful that this book will somehow be the connecting link to a better life for the reader, their family, friends, and loved ones.

Richard E. (Dick) Tomlinson is a Dearborn, MI. native, but has lived primarily in Charlotte, NC the past years.

He is a graduate of Michigan State University, and did extensive post graduate work with the Harvard Business School while in management with Ford Motor Co., and The Outlet Broadcast Group.

He was very active in church and community affairs, chairing the Capital Campaign to build a Ministry Center for his church, which houses 100 outreach ministries. He spent 5 years on that church''s Pastoral Council, and founded a ministry for the diabled.

He developed and ran a program for the homeless for 14 years, driving a truck, feeding and clothing 175 people every Christmas.

In Charlotte, he, along with 2 other parents worked for over 3 years to receive authorization and then build the first modern school facility for the developmentally disabled students, providing for 350 students. He then assisted in overseeing its first two years of operation to ensure success.

Finally, he is the father of five and blessed with 9 grandchildren, and 4 great grand children. This is the author''s second book.