Can architecture be hostile?

We’ve all seen them – the public benches with notches that divide the space into three seats.

They are meant to deter loitering and sleeping but they also stand in the way of comfort for someone who just needs to take a load off. I was stuck overnight in an airport in Boston once and would have given my eyeteeth to be able to stretch out without lying on the floor.

But what if this inclination hardened into something deeper? We take a look at “hostile architecture,” and really, it’s not new. A San Diego transit spokesman said certain elements, like those benches, are now the standard. But an urban design expert wondered if the design decisions are leading to a new dilemma. While trying to make people feel safer, he wondered if planners are actually creating “the perception of fear and the perception of being isolated.” Hmmm …

There’s no perception about this. Those who get their healthcare on the public exchange are about to face a huge hole in their pocketbooks – if they can even continue to afford health insurance as enhanced tax credits end. And small business owners and the self-employed could fare the worst. The clock’s ticking; there’s a bit of time left to step in, but the Senate blocked one such effort just last week.

One more thing: think you can only win a battle against high tech with new tech? Not necessarily. Let us show you how the Marines are learning to pick off enemy drones with a very tried-and-true tool.

Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.