Nation's Cities - April 30, 2012

6 NATION’S CITIES WEEKLY

Columnist, from page 2

er economy sputters, smart.
export-oriented regions are
now poised to prosper for the
long run.
Second, there’s “smart
growth — regions’ new dol-
lars and sense.” The sprawl
development patterns of recent
decades now look like disasters,
both for developers and buy-
ers. Environmental conserva-
tion and compact growth have
become top goals for smart
regions.
Third, lead regions are
“getting it” — grasping that
with weakened state and fed-
eral governments, they have to
figure out their own futures.
Symbolic: dozens of mayors
are forming coalitions for col-
laboration in such cities and
regions as Chicago, Denver,
Philadelphia and Minneapolis-
St. Paul. Denver prospers with
an enhanced reputation from
its courage in adopting — and
largely paying locally for — an
ambitious regional rapid rail
system.
Ditto the Los Angeles area
for the Alameda transit cor-
ridor, enhancing the regional
economy, reducing congestion
and cleaning up the air.

April 30, 2012
resources to achieve them.
Is any of this perfectly real-
ized? Are some regions defi-
cient in clear leadership? Do
some state governments inhibit
effective regional initiatives?
Is there danger of a federal
funds cutoff for projects of
true national importance? The
answer is “yes” on all counts.
But our conclusion is clear:
There are promising new mod-
els for regions’ self-determina-
tion, for strategic federal sup-
port, for states shifting from
micromanagement to con-
structive partnership. Applying
them all would mean a stron-
ger America. The question’s no
longer “how” — it’s mustering
the will.
Note from the author:
Opinions expressed are
not necessarily those of the
Rockefeller Brothers Fund, its
trustees or staff.
Neal Peirce’s e-mail address is
nrp@citistates.com.
© 2012, The Washington
Post Writers Group
The opinions expressed in this
column are not necessarily those
of the National League of Cities
or Nation’s Cities Weekly.
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