A weekly compilation of news links about and for regional communities pursuing local and regional development.
Published on line since November 11, 2003.
1. Regionalism is key to economic success – Hanford Sentinel, Hanford, CA, USA
Regionalism may go against the notion of self-contained community often romanticized in rural America, but it is the key to economic growth and becoming a "winner" in today's global economy.
So said a national expert in regional development and policy to a room full of Valley movers and shakers Thursday in a summit held at the Visalia Convention Center.
Mark Drabenstott, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute's Center for Regional Competitiveness at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said rural regions -- often reliant on manufacturing and commodity agriculture rather than innovation -- are losing ground in the global race for jobs and income.
"If Visalia and Western China were in a competition, Visalia would lose, " Drabenstott said.
If it is to survive "the global economy Olympics, " he said, a rural region must reinvent its economy through a regional strategy, that is figure out unique competitive advantage and foster innovation.
“The problem with most regions is they never do their homework, " Drabenstott said. "Regions never really ask what they are best at. That's the question that really needs to be answered."
To many, Drabenstott's speech was reaffirming.
Heads were nodded and grunts of agreement sounded across the event hall, where tables were filled with key individuals -- from academics to lawmakers -- working toward improving the San Joaquin Valley.
Nearly 350 people turned out for the inaugural summit of California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Partnership.
Created in 2005 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order, the eight-county partnership is where the public and private sectors meet under the common goal of giving the Valley -- a region historically passed over -- a voice.
...
The Valley partnership is part of the larger regionalism movement sprouting across the country.
In the Midwest, …
RCs: Council of Fresno County Governments; Kern County Council of Governments; Kings County Regional Planning Agency; Madera County; Merced County Association of Governments; San Joaquin County Council of Governments; Stanislaus Association of Governments; Tulare County Association of Governments
2.10 Public Square: Regionalism - InRich.com – Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, USA
Boundaries between Richmond and its surrounding counties are blurred for out-of-towners and prospective businesses. For them, Richmond means one contiguous region.
But for Richmond-area residents and business leaders, the differences from one jurisdiction to the next are clear. The system of having cities separate from counties is antiquated, several people said at last night's Public Square at The Times-Dispatch.
About 65 people attended the meeting and urged for more cooperation among the region's localities.
...
The critical problem is that the city of Richmond is not part of the counties, said Urchie Ellis, a retired attorney from Richmond. He said regionalism has been discussed for the past two decades and little has been done.
"What we want is action. Let's fight it out, " he said.
Hollister Lindley said Richmond remaining an independent city doesn't make much sense. "Historically, it's always been this way. What it means is we have four library systems, all these educational systems, and it's a tremendous waste of resources."
Area resident Charlie Finley said, "It's idiotic that Richmond is trying to decide which schools to close, while Chesterfield and Henrico can't build fast enough."
Jim Dunn of the Greater Richmond Chamber said regionalism is important for the Richmond area. "It's challenging. It's also a work in progress."
The area has seen many successes, including the Governor's Schools and Greater Richmond Convention Center, but planning is still an issue, he added.
"We have independent cities and governments, and that is our challenge, " Dunn said. Localities need to cooperate to ensure a sustained quality of life, he said. "Our region is chewing up land at one of the fastest rates in the country."
...
.20 Added comments to Regionalism debate - By Tom Silvestri
Not everyone who attends the Public Square goes to the microphone to speak. That’s why we ask for comments on the back of the yellow cards that every spectator is asked to fill out.
Here are some of the suggestions, ideas and observations that last week’s Public Square participants left behind:
*I think the lack of attendance by county residents stems from reluctance of those residents to embrace regionalism. On the whole, regionalism is pined for by central cities and despised by fringe communities. Counties do not want city’s taxes, school systems, crime problems, etc., and do not feel obligated to help fix them—even though they helped to create them. I think the first step to solving this is education. All citizens, cities and counties, need to be educated on the issues. Most are ignorant to them and that is the root of the problem. ...
RC: Richmond Regional Planning District Commission
3. Gov. Easley calls for increased regional collaboration as exceptional drought spreads to 55 counties - Leland Tribune - Leland, NC, USA
Gov. Mike Easley today directed the state divisions of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, Water Resources and Environmental Health to partner with the N.C. League of Municipalities to organize regional meetings in communities hardest hit by the drought to discuss water conservation and strategies for identifying supplemental water sources. The collaborative effort was announced as exceptional drought, the worst level in the four-category system, spread to more than half of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
“Many communities are suffering the effects of one of the worst droughts we have ever seen, ” Easley said. “At least one community is already hauling water by truck from other sources and several other towns may need to seek supplemental water sources soon. With no end to this drought in sight, regional cooperation is needed to make sure all North Carolinians will have ample water for everyday needs such as drinking, public health and safety.”
Thursday’s federal drought map shows that exceptional drought has spread from the eight westernmost counties to 55 counties in the mountains and Piedmont and now stretches from the foothills and Charlotte to parts of the Triad, the Triangle and the Sandhills. North Carolina’s other 45 counties are experiencing the next three levels of drought – extreme, severe and moderate. An extreme lack of rainfall has left many stream flows faced with all-time record lows and reservoirs far below average for this time of year.
The governor has called on all North Carolina residents to conserve water and for operators of public water supplies to implement water use restrictions. Many communities are reporting significant declines in water usage, thanks to the governor’s directive. Currently, 83 public water systems have enacted mandatory water use restrictions ...
The federal drought map and current status of community water restrictions is at www.ncdrought.org.
RCs: North Carolina Councils of Governments
4. IRCC may host planned regional economic council - TCPalm - West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Indian River Community College could soon become the backbone of an organization aimed at enhancing the economic viability of the Treasure Coast.
...
The summit was designed to build on past plans for regionalism and create a framework for future achievements, said Greg Vaday, economic development coordinator for the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, which organized the event.
Massey said his proposition was unplanned, but inspired after hearing guest speaker Doug Henton, a national economic development expert, describe successes in California, such as those in San Diego, Silicon Valley and Sonoma County.
Henton's presentation emphasized the need for the local governments to act regionally and be innovative in their approaches to attracting and retaining businesses.
"You have to collaborate to compete globally, " Henton said. "And if you don't have innovation, you will fall behind."
The idea of creating a regional council was at least conceptually embraced by the chairs of the boards of commissioners of Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. Chris Craft, chairman of the St. Lucie board, said he would "convince St. Lucie County to participate" in IRCC's offer.
"We need to make a commitment that our local governments would contribute, " Craft said. "We are running in a circle and we now have a wonderful offer."
While the various Treasure Coast economic development agencies and the Workforce Board of the Treasure Coast already market the region to businesses under the Florida's Research Coast initiative, the plan proposed Wednesday would foster regionalism among the local governments and the private sector.
"I think it would be a nice complement to what we do, " said Helene Caseltine, economic development director for the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. "It would enhance what we are doing and maybe even give us a little more fuel to take it to the next level."
...
5. Study: Arts industries generate $2.4 billion to regional economy - Toledo Free Press - OH, USA
The arts and cultural industries are an economic driver generating more than $2.4 billion in economic activity in the Northwest Ohio region, according to a study conducted by the Center for Regional Development at BGSU.
The results of that extensive study were presented to an audience of civic leaders and supporters of the arts at the historic Valentine Theater in Downtown Toledo Oct. 2. The study was commissioned by the Northwest Ohio Arts Exchange, which represents regional arts-related organizations, and hosted the event with BGSU.
Arts and creative industries also help to generate 33, 000 jobs, $97 million in local and state taxes and $150 million in federal taxes, according to Michael Carroll, an economist and director of the Center for Regional Development at BGSU.
“Every dollar spent by arts and culture industries creates another $1.62 for the economy in Northwest Ohio, ” said Carroll, who said he believes the study is relevant “because there is a growing body of research that shows a thriving arts community is crucial for the health and vitality of the region.”
The economist said the study focused on the 27-county region serviced by the Center for Regional Development.
With a population of 1.8 million, the region extends east to Sandusky and south to Lima and nearly to Columbus comprising the northwest corner of the state.
“Very few of these studies are done regionally, ” Carroll said, noting that urban or statewide studies are more common.
After a great deal of study and some debate, the research team selected 19 creative industries for the economic impact study on arts and cultural business in the region.
The creative industries include museums and collections; performing arts; visual arts and photography; film, radio and television; design and publishing; and art schools and services.
…
RC: Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
6. Sizing up Auckland – Stuff-co-nz - Wellington, New Zealand
These local government elections in the Auckland region are the most important in a couple of decades. The leaders elected will crucially influence the creation of a new governance structure for the region in time for the 2010 election.
If they contribute constructively to the process, the region will prosper and maybe become the truly international city New Zealand needs. If they don't, Auckland will continue to stagger on under dysfunctional, divisive leadership. It will under-perform and under-invest in its future to the detriment of the country.
Better governance requires solutions to many issues that have long dogged local politicians. …
Top of the list is the structure of local government. Everybody knows the failings of the current setup: four cities, three districts and one regional council creates duplication, inefficiency, contradictory agendas and an elaborate system of forums and other mechanisms to achieve some semblance of progress. But while the seven mayors and many of their challengers happily embrace the notion of a "super city", they are very vague on how it would work. They agree a Greater Auckland Council should have power over region-wide issues such as infrastructure and transport. But they are loath to see their existing councils disappear.
Such tinkering with the three levels of local government would be the worst outcome. The regional council would gain a little more power but the councils and community boards below it would remain intact. Sharing some services would be only a gesture to efficiency.
A far more radical solution is essential. We need only two levels of local government: a regional council to deliver strategy, infrastructure and services; and community boards to address truly local issues. These would cover larger areas and have more powers, but they would not have their own bureaucracies.
…
7. Retirees can boost area's economy, expert says - News Journal - Longview, TX, USA
Economic development comes in many forms, including some not traditionally included in the arsenal of tools used by East Texas leaders involved in creating jobs and business investment.
More than 100 people attending the Seventh Annual East Texas Economic Overview sponsored Tuesday by the Longview Partnership at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center heard that message and more. Speakers touched on the need for luring retirees, building more transportation options, educating the region's work force and working together regionally.
"The period Gregg County is in today is probably the most exciting we've seen in at least 30 years, " Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt said. Property values in the county have tripled since 2000, the unemployment rate is at historically low levels and tax revenues are at historically high levels, he said.
"East Texas and Gregg County are being rediscovered by business and industry, " said Stoudt, who was president and served on the Longview Economic Development Corp. board several years before being elected to public office. Toward the future, he said area leaders need to continue to work together and communicate.
"We need to continue to work to strengthen our relationships with other East Texas cities and counties, " he said.
Progress in that area has been made in recent years, he said, citing the regionalism movement in East Texas. Regionalism is arrangements between leaders of smaller areas within one larger region to work together for the good of the entire region.
"In economic development, a strong working relationship makes a difference, " Stoudt said.
Linda Parker, rural development specialist for the Texas Department of Agriculture, spoke on her experience in helping the Lufkin and Angelina County area receive state certification as a designated retirement community. She said the economic benefits of those efforts are far reaching.
"The money retirees have ...
RC: East Texas Council of Governments
8. Latin America’s New Regionalism - Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
... the Inter-American Development Bank and the Copenhagen Consensus Center will host a conference in our capital, San José, inspired by the 2004 Copenhagen Consensus summit. At that previous meeting, a panel of the world’s leading economic thinkers was challenged to answer this question: if an extra $50 billion were spent improving the state of the world, how could the money be allocated to achieve the most good possible?
Those analysts realized that most, if not all, of the solutions to the world’s biggest challenges depend on local or regional contexts. Therefore, the San José event will replace a global outlook with a regional one, with a new panel of experts focusing on the biggest challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean.
The challenges fall into ten categories – a familiar list of key issues in this part of the world: democracy, education, employment, the environment, fiscal problems, health, infrastructure, poverty and inequality, public administration, and crime.
The experts will face obvious restrictions. Our resources are scarce. We cannot meet everyone’s demands, or solve all our problems at once. We must choose between various good ideas, however difficult this may be. The panel will produce a prioritized list of solutions that can serve as a set of guidelines for regional policymakers, helping us to be both ambitious and realistic.
The “ Consulta de San José , ” as the event has been dubbed, will produce practical ideas that leaders can implement, and help us to identify and promote cost-efficient initiatives. Most importantly, however, it will serve to emphasize the importance of collective action. Working together with a genuine sense of regional community is a challenge in itself, but one well worth addressing.
...
9 October 2007
Oscar Arias
Project Syndicate
9. Regional magazines hitting their stride in niche markets - Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh, PA, USA
It may be the age of digital media, but around Pittsburgh and much of the country, old-line ink and paper are generating much of the buzz, fueled by a boom in new local and regional magazines.
... They're designed to appeal to upscale, professional and educated readers with high incomes: their media kits list annual incomes starting in the $75, 000 to $80, 000-plus range.
...
Observers say the push partly reflects a desire by advertisers to better reach their desired market -- they may feel lost in the shuffle when turning to newspapers and other mass media. But a broader issue also is behind this surge in local magazines, says Samir Husni, the University of Mississippi journalism department chairman who has studied magazine publishing and works as a consultant with new publishers.
This regional publishing explosion began after the 9/11 attacks, Dr. Husni said, reflecting people's desire "to feel good about their neighborhood, about their community.'' The new local magazines "balance the negative news they see on TV and in the newspaper.''
Readers view the publications as being "about my own people, my friends, people in town, " he said. That's why the stories are generally upbeat and packed with color photos of high-end fashion, furniture and food. They're comforting -- kind of like a print version of chicken soup, Dr. Husni said. "They're always upbeat. You read those magazines and you think you are living in heaven."
Dr. Husni, who has been tracking magazine launches in the United States since the late 1970s, said the new regional publications have been popping up in large, small and mid-sized markets across the country, hitting their zenith in 2006. New launches have slowed somewhat since, he said, but local-regional magazines continue to show "solid, steady" growth.
...
RC: Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
10. U.S. regional communities - sub-State, State or multi-State - in news articles. Highlighted words are Google search terms. In this and the following section, links to websites of organizations are added to the news excerpt when this is the first time an organization has been found. A goal of this newsletter is to find every regional council in the U.S. in a news story. In most cases, where a full name is present a Google search will quickly get one to that organization.
.10 Leader of the pack?
By Brad Cooper
Most often mentioned was the meetings' sponsor: The Mid-America Regional Council. Running a close second was Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser, who's been trying to woo those Kansas aginners into his plans for regional light rail. ...
.11 McCabe: 'You are all in it together'
West Virginia's main promoter of regionalization of local governments spoke to members of The Greater Cumberland Committee and their guests at one of the fastest-growing companies in the area Thursday.
.12 Michaud backs bill to create regional economic group
Bangor Daily News - Bangor, ME, USA
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation with a 264-154 vote Thursday that would create a federal Northern Border Regional Commission consisting of governors of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. …
.13 Hindman visits local officials
Barren County community members sat down with the secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development on Tuesday during his tour of regions in the Barren River Area Development District. ...
.14 Some question economist's numbers
Charlotte Observer - Charlotte, NC, USA
… At the Georgetown-based Waccamaw Regional Councils of Governments, Parish's economic forecast duties have been handed over to Don Schunk, a Coastal Carolina University economist. …
.15 From No. 1, region falls in economic standings
San Diego Union Tribune - United States
According to the Milken report, the county ranks 72nd among the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. That's quite a comedown for an area that, just five years ago, was ranked Numero Uno. …
.16 Growth threatens region's fragile landscape
Standard Speaker - Hazleton, PA, USA
Visitors also come for the region's "mountains, " though they're not actually mountains. Much of the Poconos is uneven tableland, which ranges from 1900 feet ...
.17 State facing doctor shortage
Kentucky Post - Covington, KY, USA
The Lake Cumberland Area Development District has the lowest physician ratio, with 126.2 per 100000 people in that mostly rural area. ...
.18 Cache councilmen urge approval of tax for roads
Salt Lake Tribune - United States
If the road tax is passed by voters, a Regional Council of Governments, consisting of mayors and city council members in Cache County, will allocate the monies to the cities for construction and other road projects, including corridor preservation. ...
.19 UC, NKU plan for future in region
Bizjournals-com - Charlotte, NC, USA
One of its main goals is to help the Northern Kentucky region create 50000 new jobs, and generate $270 million in annual revenue by 2015. ...
.20 County submits six regional development projects
Boca Raton News - FL, USA
Putting goals into practical terms, commissioners have now taken six regional projects identified in the Palm Beach plan to now be included in the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council’s 2007 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) plan. …
.21 We Don't Need Transportation Nightmares To Ruin This Great Area
Southern Maryland Online - MD, USA
The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland is hosting three scheduled open houses in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's County. If you are concerned about ...
.22 Mayor Jackson: I'm not 'picking a fight' over the Avon interchange ; Web extended interview
WKYC-TV - Cleveland, OH, USA
"We cannot continue to talk about regionalism and anti-sprawl. We're creating capacity where there is no additional demand. We can't assume it's not gonna ...
.23 Land-of-Sky to hand out awards at event
The Land-of-Sky Regional Council's "Wild, Wild Western North Carolina, " ... presentation of the Robert G. Parrish Sr. Intergovernmental Relations Award, the Charles H. Campbell Regional Leadership Award, and the 2006-07 Land-of-Sky Regional Council annual report.
11. Other in the news: Highlighted words are Google search terms.
.10 Swedish government sees synergies from planned regional mergers
Forbes - NY, USA
Local business and medical care may be among the winners when Sweden's 21 counties merge into 6-9 regions over the next few years, ...
.11 Finalists announced for Northwest Tourism Awards
Northwest Regional Development Agency (press release) - Warrington, England, UK
On Wednesday 10th October the cream of the region’s tourism businesses will be battling it out to be named the best in the Northwest at the fourth annual England’s Northwest Tourism Awards. ...
.12 Scots unveil challenge to EU on cod management
Fish Update - Edinburgh, UK
"We have to move away from the command and control approaches in the past, and implement regionally based solutions, involving the industry and our fishing ...
.13 Management | Geographical indications: territorial product cover
Livemint - Delhi, Delhi, India
GI refers to the representation of the special qualities of a product linked to a region and can take the form of words, phrases, symbols or iconic emblems. They may or may not include the name of the place or region. Iconic place-specific GIs, such as the appellations Swiss chocolate, Scotch whisky and Darjeeling tea, …
.14 Chapter 2: Copyright in the Age of Uncontrolled Distribution
By Gerd Leonhard
As an example, witness the utterly inexcusable inability of most of the music performing-rights organizations (PROs) to provide pan-territorial and global licenses for online performances of music, or the continued refusal of music ...
.15 EU criticised for ignoring regions
EUPolitix.com - Brussels, Belgium
The European commission and national governments have been strongly criticised for ignoring the voice of the regions in their industrial policies. ...
.16 Control centre closure could hit rural areas
Evesham Journal - UK
Because of the artificial regional boundaries imposed by the government, emergencies are unlikely to go to their nearest A & E which is Cheltenham, "
.17 The communal capitulation
Ha'aretz - Tel Aviv, Israel
Under the banner "going back home, " kibbutzim representatives in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council gathered to persuade former members to return. ...
.18 NE bridge between Indian and east, south-east Asia economies
Economic Times - India
... benefiting from the "new dynamics of regional cooperation...this enormous geographical proximity along with shared culture and customs provides for considerable synergy". ...
.19 Dubliners Can't Build Second Homes in Irish Towns Locals Rule
Bloomberg – USA
European Union's executive agency, is examining the restrictions in Ireland to determine whether they breach an EU treaty granting citizens of member nations the right to settle anywhere in the region. …
.20 Technology jobs in tourism
Jamaica Gleaner - Kingston, Jamaica
Identifying the right BPO service providers will mean looking at the global footprint and hiving off different elements of the business process to different service vendors in different geographical regions. ...
.21 Summary of the IMoSEB South American Regional Consultation
Earth Negotiations Bulletin - Canada
... specific needs and challenges of the Latin American region, the relationship of an IMoSEB to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other biodiversity-related conventions, and the role of the private sector and indigenous communities. ...
.22 Report calls for water plan for regions
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
A uniform approach is needed to water supply planning in regional centres across Australia, a new report has found. The Australian Academy of Technological ...
.23 Africa: Call for More Strategic Approach to Mountain Development
AllAfrica.com - Washington, USA
"Higher priority should be given to mountain issues in national, regional and global policymaking either through incorporating mountain specific ...
.24 PMO asks plan panel to do away with regional consultation
Hindu - Chennai, India
In the usual course, the plan document is finalised after regional consultations, which take place at six centres with the chief ministers of that particular region and the deputy chairman and members of the Planning Commission....
.25 East Africa: Federation for Region, Not Policy, Must Come First
AllAfrica.com - Washington, USA
It is an argument on the best course of action in reorganising the region to maximise its abundant resources in pursuit for self sustenance and the move ...
.26 Asian Finance Bank unveils plans for region's first Islamic marine fund
International Herald Tribune - France
"This fund is indeed the first of its kind in Malaysia and the region and it is reflective of AFB's objective to introduce new Shariah compliant products, " ...
.27 Brazilian regional development – Pulling in the same direction
Ethical Corporation Magazine - London, UK
Or, in less theoretical terms, a regional development agency. The plan might sound like a convoluted non-starter, but Pro-Natura has already road-tested it ...
.28 Kenya: Majimbo Was a Settler Scheme to Balkanise the Nation
AllAfrica.com - Washington, USA
... Historically colonialists conquered Africa because she was fragmented into defenceless ethnic regions. To strengthen Kenya, we should support East African Federation, not fragment the unit we have into majimbo.
.29 Intelligence veteran aims to motivate young analysts
GovExec.com - Washington, DC, USA
But Wertheimer is the first official in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence -- the "czar" of the community -- to make collaboration a ...
.30 Getting Back to Community Organizing and Building Local Power
ZNet - Woods Hole, MA, USA
In a forthcoming article, Community Based Nonprofits in US Inner Cities, James Jennings and Ricardo Torres propose a mechanism, "structural collaboration, " ...
12. Blogs: Highlighted words are Google search terms.
.10 Upper Arkansas Area Housing Study
By uaacog
The Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments has commissioned RRC Associates, Inc. to complete a housing needs assessment for Lake, Fremont and Custer Counties. This website will be used to post information about the study and to ...
.11 Cincinnati - or as you may know it, Dayton! - continued economic development live blogging
By Dan
There's still a need to embrace regionalism, in their case, city-county consolidation, in our case, city-suburban relationships. And on the federal level, there's still no "Marshal Plan" for cities that can help deal with the ...
.12 Meta Regionalism: Part One
By LIIF(LIIF)
How far can we extend the "One Long Island" and "Long Island 3.0" concepts? Can we envision the concept of inter-collaborative regional "meta organizations" both here in New York and elsewhere? First, obviously, we need to prove our ...
.13 Nordic conference on regional and user-driven innovation
By PuttingPeopleFirst
The upcoming "New trends in Nordic innovation" conference, organised by the Finnish presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Innovation Centre, will focus on regional and user-driven innovation. In the Nordic region, ...
.14 Cleaner Air, But Not Clean Enough
By Harold D. Miller(Harold D. Miller)
These new indicators show that not only are the average PM2.5 levels in the Pittsburgh Region high, they were the 5th worst among the top 40 regions in the country in 2006. (They were the 4th worst in both 2005 and 2004. ...
.15 Trend of regionalism in Europe (country by country analysis)
By Luís Alves(Luís Alves)
European regionalism, an overview), an working document of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, that describes the trend of regionalism in Europe in recent years and gives an overview of the situation in the regionalised
.16 "Pearls of Wisdom" from roomful of Economic Development Professionals
By Dan
Pay attention to the forces that are driving the world: globalization, regionalization, technology changes. 21. Place matters! Strong central places drive regions. Where the jobs are and who gets them matters. ...
.17 New West: Tracking, Facilitating Rockies' Growth
By Peter
Earlier efforts to inject journalism directly into regional development, such as The Los Angeles Times in the early 20th Century, were decidedly one-sided affairs, as the publications were typically in bed with specific developers. ...
.18 Transportation: a big challenge for Redmond and Region
By Brian Seitz(Brian Seitz)
This focus on regional cooperation must continue and grow. When you look at neighborhoods like Overlake and downtown a few things are clear: 1. Many of the folks on the road are trying to get someplace other than Redmond ...
.19 Acting on region's carbon footprint
Cities and regions are leading the way. The new Regional Center for Sustainability—formed out of the merger between EcoCity Cleveland and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History—is making a climate change plan for Northeast Ohio one of ...
.20 "Higher Education and Regions: Globally Competitive, Locally Engaged"
By globalhighered
Prepared by OECD's Programme for Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE), this publication builds on two related OECD publications concerned with the role of universities and regional development, namely Response of Higher ...
.21 The Fertile Crescent and the Closed Circle
Casaubon’s Book
The closed system is the holy grail of self sufficiency. In it, you would be able to produce everything you need at whatever level the circle operated (on your property, in your neighborhood, in your town, in your bioregion, and on up), without any necessary imports. ...
.22 Community Forums Call For Government Action on Balanced Regional Development
A network of Community-based forums from outside Dublin have pledged to redefine the term 'Balanced Regional Development' amidst what they have described as the Government's flawed approach to developing regions beyond the Pale. ...
.23 Facts and figures about 268 EU27 regions
Where among all the 268 regions of the European Union is it most likely for a woman to be working? And where do we find the highest proportion of students? In which European city is it perceived to be easiest to find a job and a place ...
.24 Mind the Gap
The wisdom of the euro, as espoused by Robert Mundell and others, was that so long as the underlying economic conditions of the regions to be integrated were similar, then a single, umbrella currency could serve as a common medium of ...
.25 Using media to promote regional cooperation
By Webmaster(Saeed Bin Rouf)
... among other things, be instrumental in enhancing or strengthening or both regional partnership through, and regional participation in, its various programmes in pursuits of promoting regional cooperation, product diversification, ...
.26 Back-Seat Driver: Traffic is big hitch in arena plan
By Arena Skeptic
"It's not a silly idea, " said Mike McKeever, head of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the region's transportation agency. His agency believes streetcars, in the right place, could ease congestion and spur urban-style ...
.27 Wouldn't YOU, Like to HELP, A City Like BIRMINGHAM?
By matthooperwrites
But the real problem is a lack of regional cooperation. Presumably a strong, dynamic Birmingham mayor could help solve the problem. Bernard Kincaid simply isn't dynamic enough. It takes LBJ-like "persuasion" to get things like the ...
.28 "As of 2007, the phenomenon of an all-day rush hour is beginning ...
Causes reflect a long-term under-investment in roadway infrastructure that only now is beginning to change, a lack of focus on solving congestion by WSDOT, the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), the State Legislature, and others, ...
13. Announcements and Regional Links
.10 European Week of the Regions and Cities 8-11 October
14. Subscription
.10 Column - John Kanelis: Some big thinking can't hurt city - Amarillo-com (subscription) - Amarillo, TX, USA
Mark Funkhouser thinks big, which might be easier to do for someone who stands so tall at a lectern.
The lanky, newly elected mayor of Kansas City told a gathering of journalists attending the National Conference of Editorial Writers annual meeting that regionalism works - as if he would say anything else.
Kansas City, the mayor said, "is winning on many fronts because of its regional approach." He noted that the city is divided along a state line (Missouri and Kansas), which makes Amarillo's division along a county line (Randall and Potter) seem downright normal.
Civic and political leaders need to think beyond - make that way beyond - their communities' corportate borders, Funkhouser said.
Regionalism doesn't need to result in big, bad, overreaching centralized government, Funkhouser said, noting that Seattle has taken the regional approach to urban planning to new levels.
In Kansas City, he said, officials are thinking regionally about housing, economic growth and transportation, but with political leaders in individual jurisdictions having significant say-so in how to tackle those problems.
In the Texas Panhandle, which is not exactly a hotbed of progressive political thinking, regionalism is performing its myriad functions well, according to Gary Pitner, longtime director of the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission.
"PRPC struggled in its early years in the 1960s, " Pitner said, explaining that the "conservative nature" of the Panhandle bred some suspicion that the infant version of the agency was trying to foist a Big Brother form of government on the Panhandle's 26 counties and their individual communities.
In fact, those opposed to what was called the Panhandle Council of Governments purchased newspaper ads that depicted the fledgling regional planning group as a spider luring local governments - depicted as flies - into its sinister web of Orwellian control. Pretty scary stuff, huh?
…
.11 Sims breaks unwritten rule at Sound Transit - TheNewsTribune.com (subscription) - Tacoma, WA, USA
The backroom politics of Sound Transit have always included an element of provincialism masquerading as regionalism.
Board members divide the pie with one eye on making sure their area gets its share. It’s even required by the policy of “sub-area equity” – that each of the five areas gets as much in projects as it pays in taxes.
Once the deal has been struck, the unwritten rule requires that no board member trash another’s local project. In fact, the roads and transit package on the November ballot was finalized by tossing in enough local projects to get everyone to buy in.
And the overall strategy of combining the transit vote with the roads vote – either vote yes for both or no for both – was classic logrolling designed to build support among pro-transit and pro-road voters. (Odd, then, that the concrete people oppose it because there’s too much rail, the rail people because there’s too much concrete.)
Last week, King County Executive Ron Sims broke the unwritten rule. Despite voting for the massive Sound Transit II proposal and its big tax increases, despite agreeing to link it to the Regional Transportation Investment District package of road projects, Sims came out against the combined ballot measure.
In a simultaneous crisis of confidence and conscience that was as fascinating as it was bizarre, Sims said he now thinks the transit plan is too much too late. While it costs a ton, the projects won’t come on-line soon enough. He took special aim at light rail from Sea-Tac Airport to Tacoma. And he argued the plan would exacerbate global warming, issue No. 1 for a man clearly bored with being a local government official.
Why didn’t he say all that in the first place? Well, he should have, he admits, but he didn’t have the nerve. …
.12 'Burb mayors shun Memphis race - But they admit ties to city are important for stability of region - commercialappeal.com (subscription) - Memphis, TN, USA
A poll shows they won't touch the Memphis mayoral race with a 10-foot pole.
The Commercial Appeal on Tuesday asked suburban mayors if they'd rather see Willie Herenton, Carol Chumney, Herman Morris or someone else elected on Thursday.
"Basically, I've got no dog in that hunt, " Lakeland Mayor Scott Carmichael said.
Bartlett administrators "are not getting involved in anybody's campaign, " Mayor Keith McDonald said.
Millington Mayor Terry Jones responded with hesitation and a slight chuckle.
"That's a politically loaded question, " he said, adding he would not comment on who he wants to win.
But the mayors did acknowledge the impact the Memphis mayor has on the smaller neighbors.
"What happens to Memphis trickles out to Collierville and other municipalities, " Collierville Mayor Linda Kerley said.
"Memphis has a big impact on what happens in this region. When a corporation is researching a move, all the surrounding areas are evaluated, not just Collierville."
Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy said she hopes whoever is elected will work to have better communication and cooperation with the other mayors in Shelby County.
"What happens in Memphis matters to Germantown and to all our suburban communities, " Goldsworthy said.
"Memphis' success is important to all of us if we are to remain viable on the metropolitan level."
McDonald said, "What we want is somebody who will have a real vision for the future of the region. When I talk about the vision for the region, I'm looking for an attitude of cooperation."
McDonald said he has worked well with Herenton's top administrators and expects to work well with the next Memphis mayor.
...
15. Google News for “Regional Community”
Other menu sections available from this link include: regions, regional, regional community, region, Regional Council, regional development and other search terms. They can be sorted by date or relevance. These are among the 50 search terms I use to produce this newsletter.
My name is Tom Christoffel. I've worked in the field of intergovernmental cooperation since 1973. As a consequence, "I see regions work." Regional Community Development News is published weekly based on news reports as of Wednesday.
Making visible analysis and actions at multi-jurisdictional regional scales is its purpose. "Think globally, act locally" was innovative in its time. Today the local scale is often too small to address today's needs and opportunities. "Think local planet, act regionally, " is my candidate paradigm. (No one said we're only allowed one paradigm.)
We can see that “regional communities” are organized locally and now act both to avoid tragedy in the commons and gain benefits. An effective multi-jurisdictional regional community has DNA: it is geographically Defined; has a common Name and its Alignment is inclusive of smaller communities and participatory in larger communities. So, by scanning this compilation, reading articles and checking organizations - you too will be able to see the regional communities that already exist.
News references are found using the Google News search service. Media article links are “fair use” to transform globally scattered reports to make regional approaches visible. Links go to the publisher and do not compete with it. Such publishers are likely to have related stories and thus be seen by new customers. “Regional” is an emerging news category. There is no charge for this service and no profit is made from its use, though any user can become more aware of the topic itself.
To read and search previous issues go to: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/regions_work/
The term “Development” was added to the name in January, 2006.
For a free subscription use this email link – no additional information required:
regions_work-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For the Google Groups version go to:
http://groups.google.com/group/regional-community-development-news
Editions since April 11, 2007 can also be found at: http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/
Questions, comments or items to feature in Regional Community Development News?
Please e-mail the editor: Tom.Christoffel@comcast.net or Tom.Christoffel@gmail.com
Thomas J. (Tom) Christoffel, AICP Making regions visible for Leaders and Problem-solvers. www.regionalintelligence.com or www.regions.ws
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