Ed Morrison posted this [1] today at BFD; it is an article about green industries and regionalism in the East Bay area. Here's my response (posted here so as to not be accused of veering "off topic").
"exchange between local mayors led to putting aside "our cities' chauvinism" in the belief that together they can be stronger that "the sum of the parts…"
Wow! What a concept! Could it happen here in NEO, where (even just inside the city of Cleveland) we choose to congratulate 6 neighborhood CDCs with focus and money while turning our backs on the others, where discussions of regionalism languish on the desks of so many leaders, where the topic is regularly cleared away like so many salad plates while local leaders drool over the main course -- which seems to be for them, what feather can I put in my political cap at the end of this meal?
I was at the Levin College last night and spoke with Mark Chupp about last week's CDC lovefest with Ben Hecht. He said his students learned plenty about the upside of community development after such a long period of doom and gloom, but also said he had serious concerns about justice and equity. Yeah, me too. What's in store for the CDCs that didn't make "the cut"? Does this plan put out the welcome mat for thieves and thugs in those communities? Why can't someone who wants to help shore up the nursing shortage get a CCF scholarship just because they don't live in Fairfax? Is this akin to the issues of where rebuilding will take place in NOLA? Have we decided which are the "neighborhoods of choice"? What about City of Cleveland regionalism?
Talks of retooling local manufacturers for the green economy stretch back into REI discussions and surely before, but what East Bay exemplifies here is not strategic planning, but as Ed calls it, "strategic doing".
Getting the infrastructure in order, laying the groundwork seems appropriate. I like Chris Warren saying he wants to ask ODOT to focus on public transport and repairing infrastructure. These equitable suggestions, albeit for other agencies, make sense for all the people of NEO.
Public private partnerships that launch new to NEO green industries and provide jobs are a good idea, but until the state adopts a RPS, they, the energy related ones at least, are mostly pipe dreams.
So in the meantime, let's get our regional cooperation together, set the chauvinism aside intown and among municipalities and move the talks to issues of environmental workforce development, improve the basic infrastructure for all instead of continuing to fuel the border wars. What infrastructure basic stuff would benefit the entire region? I’m thinking – transportation, water, sewerage, electricity, safety, education, jobs.
Links:
[1] http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2007/12/05/a-practical-idea-for-regional-collaboration/