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A compilation of news links about and for regional communities pursuing local and regional development.
Published on line since November 11, 2003.
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Contents
Top Regional Community stories … 1. – 9.
U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State – news articles …10.01 - .30
Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet … 11.01 - .22
Blogging about Regional Communities … 12.01 - .10
Announcements and Regional Links … 13.01 - .05
Financial Crisis …14.01 - .05
Custom search: region, regions, regional communities … 15.
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Top Regional Community stories
1. Beyond Burnham: Area residents weigh in on transit plans for 2040; many favor denser communities - Chicago Tribune Cityscapes -
At a recent workshop on planning for the future, he learned such a change also would reduce commute times, energy use -- even government and individual household costs.
"I remember there were some surprising things that came out of that," he said. "It just made me think we can
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) [ http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/ ] for about two more weeks is giving northeast Illinois residents a chance to weigh in on every aspect of plans to guide development and transportation in the region through 2040.
So far, feedback from more than 4,000 residents throughout the
"For me, that
The majority of people want denser communities and greater protection of the environment and investment in transit, he said.
The support for denser communities is a surprise, said CMAP Executive Director Randy Blankenhorn. Density would mean residents live closer together in taller buildings, where people used to prefer homes on large lots in exurban areas, he said.
… he understands that it
But he pointed to the transit system as a reason to plan ahead.
The current system works for people traveling to
Comments: … A plan based on feedback from 4,000, out of a total regional population of what? A plan based on 160 people attending some workshops in the far northwest suburbs????? Yeah, they
2. Teeple helping more light bulbs turn on in thinking regionally - Jacksonville Daily Record - FL,
Brian Teeple has been promoting the idea of regionalism for
“I’ve been selling the idea for most of my career,” he said. “Up until recently, it was like trying to sell ice cream to Eskimos.”
It’s only been the past several years he’s truly seen a slight paradigm shift from the “me first” attitude toward a more regional thinking approach.
Teeple is the longtime chief executive director of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, [ http://www.nefrpc.org/ ] an agency formed in 1977 via an interlocal agreement by and between Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler,
It’s one of 11 such regional councils in
...
The Council also heads the review of all Developments of Regional Impact — any development that due to its magnitude, character or location would have a substantial effect on the health, safety or welfare of citizens of more than one county — and approves them. …
In regards to such projects and planning the region as a whole, the looming issue of Hometown Democracy seems problematic to Teeple. With a “not in my backyard” and overall antigrowth mentality by some voters, it can often defy the benefits of regional thinking.
“It’s hard to build a community when the fabric of the community has holes in it,” he said, regarding potential future planned projects getting shot down.
…
More light bulbs are going off and the tide has slowly begun to turn in the way of thinking, acting and working together — something that has made his job enjoyable for more than 20 years.
“I have the best job in
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=528712
3. ASEAN
Imagine this community: Half a billion people spread across 4.4 million square kilometers, so diverse that it encompasses every major ethnicity, sect, cult and disposition possible. Sundry political systems - from a full-blown republic to a military junta, absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy - and economic distinctions from a per capita GDP of more than US$48,000 to less than $500.
Belying skeptics, immersed in celebratory gimmicks, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its 10 member state - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - marches toward its fifth decade today.
Proudly retaining hope despite the inured hisses of ASEAN
When the founders conjured the ASEAN dream in 1967, they did so to dispel the nightmare of conflict. A realization on the linkages between security and economics.
Inter-state conflicts hence avoided, tensions abated, albeit not resolved.
Stability and harmony in the name of economic prosperity. Crusted proof to the ASEAN pudding.
No wonder
It was the milieu that allowed this nation to achieve its most advanced rate of economic development.
The great scholar Benedict Anderson once defined "imagined communities" as those where "members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion".
The region is inching its way toward such feats. … Nevertheless, after … dozens of protocols and countless statements, why does ASEAN still fail to be a creature of constituency appeal to the citizenry that matters most?
…
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/08/asean039s-imagined-community-42.html
4. Hall may switch regional alliance - Gainesville Times -
When things aren’t working out, sometimes it is best to try something different. At least that’s
The county’s Board of Commissioners is looking into leaving the
A regional commission offers counties individual support as well as regional planning. State law requires counties to belong to one of
The GMRC requested $142,936 from
The county has made major cuts in all departments for its 2010 budget and is not willing even to match the money it gave the agency last year.
The county instead tried to offer the regional commission $1 per capita, or $134,197, which is $13,000 less than requested for 2010.
It did not go over well.
GMRC Executive Director Danny Lewis said it wasn’t an option for the county to choose what to pay. The other 12 counties in the regional commission pay $1.10 per capita.
…
“We’re contiguous to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission,”
…
“For 20 years, we were known as regional development centers until this year, of course; effective July 1, we became known as regional commissions,” Dove said. “There were 16 regional development centers. There was legislation passed in the 2008 session of the General Assembly that left eight of the boundaries the same, but eight were merged into four around the state.”
All 12 regional commissions in the state now include a population of at least 300,000 and at least one metro area.
…
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/22371/
5. Selectmen: Take low bids with grain of salt - Fall River Herald News -
Highway Surveyor Charles J. Macomber thinks regionalization is overrated.
Macomber made this statement after
Selectmen warned however that Macomber’s statement couldn’t be further from the truth, and that transportation factors could have influenced the SRPEDD bids.
At the last selectmen’s meeting, selectmen, Highway Department employee Michael McCue and Macomber opened 18 sealed bids for roadway materials.
The lowest bidders for road salt offered it to the town for $50 to $60 per ton, Macomber and McCue pointed out. This was much lower than the approximate $85 per ton solicited by SRPEDD’s Regional Cooperative Purchasing Program.
…
Macomber, an opponent of regionalization, said after Monday’s meeting that these figures serve as evidence regionalization is “good on paper” but not always effective in practice.
….
“The specialized materials and services for which Chuck (Macomber) went out to bid are subject, in large part, to supply and demand and the costs associated with transportation. …,” Selectmen Chairwoman Jean C. Fox wrote in an e-mail.
She also said regionalization is not just about the numbers.
“Regionalization is not just about price, it is also about efficiency. If certain purchases or services can be more efficient, serve more people, and get things done better, then there is a benefit,” Fox added. “In addition, if it can be determined that combining efforts reduces overhead, then there is a benefit. These benefits will not always be realized in every situation, but each regionalized commodity, service, and/or function should be examined for potential cost savings.”
“We’ve barely scratched the surface. No doubt that there will be a number of kinks to work out, the biggest being the human factor. …
http://www.heraldnews.com/news/local_news/x769899780/Selectmen-Take-low-bids-with-a-grain-of-salt
6. OUR OPINION: Regionalization effort deserves support - The Patriot Ledger -
If there’s a silver lining to sharp local-aid cuts, it’s that it may give communities the resolve to push through obstacles that have kept them from sharing services where it makes most sense.
Discussion of towns regionalizing municipal services has had starts and stops over the years, waylaid often by union intransigence and political feudalism.
“Services are the hardest things to regionalize,” Abington Selectman Jerry Corcoran said last week. “It’s a parochial (attitude). ‘This is my town.’ We’re still fighting the 1919 football game.”
Yet there are signs that proponents have moved into scoring position. After more than a year of informal meetings, selectmen representing five towns formally met last week in Abington to discuss regionalization of emergency dispatch services and are now planning a formal structure and group charter.
Officials in 15 towns, including Abington, Carver,
The goal is not only to save money, but hopefully to also improve upon local services.
Proponents, however, know there’s a political minefield between them and their goal.
“You can find as many negatives as you want,” ...
State officials have been pushing local communities to consolidate all sorts of services – from health inspections to street sweepers – but Smith said regionalization proponents know they’ve got to take it in small steps.
“It’s a mindset you have here,” he said. “It’s going to take time. It’s finding that one positive and working on it.”
President Obama recently said the push for an overhaul of health care has come down to a clash between hope for improvement and fear of what might be lost.
It’s the same for regionalization.
Let’s hope fear fails to keep us from achieving what in the long run is in our best interests.
http://www.patriotledger.com/opinions/x711196440/OUR-OPINION-Regionalization-effort-deserves-support
7. Area officials gather to discuss regionalism - Mt. Vernon Register-News
The push for regionalism got a boost Thursday, when Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and leaders from area communities came together at the 2009 Chicagoland Retail Connection sponsored by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
“I had the opportunity to sit and talk with Becky Ault and Jeanne Gustafson at
In addition, six people will begin meeting on a regular basis — the mayors with Chesley representing Mt. Vernon, Ault representing Centralia and Leonard Ferguson representing Salem — and the economic development directors, Mary Ellen Bechtel with the Jefferson County Development Corporation, Gustafson with Centralia and McDaneld of Salem.
“During the meetings we are going to start going over ideas,” Chesley said. “We will share concerns and develop areas we can go in. We really need regionalism. It will add strength to us in attracting business.”
The annual meeting of the International Council of Shopping Centers has been attended by representatives of the city and JCDC for the last two years, and this year Chesley went solo.
“We want to continue to maintain contact with retail developers,” Chesley said. “I touched base with those we have contacted in the past, and updated the organization on what has progressed in the city.”
...
The ICSA is a global trade association with 70,000 members in more than 80 countries and includes shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, retailers and other professionals as well as academic and public officials, according to information from the organization. The City of Mt. Vernon is one of the public entities which is a member of the ICSA.
http://www.register-news.com/local/local_story_218201719.html
8. Ports gives regionalism opportunity - Natchez Democrat -
The
Reaching out across the river and across other less tangible political boundaries that divide us could reap huge benefits.
But regionalism will only work if our community can get over the fear of change and the worry that by working together we could lose more than we might gain.
Getting over our history of selfishness and the safety in the status quo is critical.
Late last week a unique first opportunity for regionalism became increasingly apparent.
The
But regionalism will only work if our community can get over the fear of change and the worry that by working together we could lose more than we might gain ...
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2009/aug/02/ports-gives-regionalism-opportunity/
Regional Location - Miss-Lou: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Miss-Lou+Regional&sll=31.575172,-91.405563&sspn=0.114512,0.222988&ie=UTF8&ll=31.575172,-91.405563&spn=0.118168,0.222988&z=13
Vidalia, Concordia Parish, LA – RC: KISATCHIE-DELTA Regional Planning & Development District, Inc - http://www.kdelta.org/
9. Education can go regional as well - Natchez Democrat -
An amazing thing happened Monday morning at the Natchez Convention Center — Adams County’s entire educational system came together to kick off the new school year.
It’s almost silly to think that the first countywide meeting of educators from public, private and parochial schools happened in 2009.
It sure does seem like such a meeting should have happened decades ago, but dwelling on the past isn’t the point of Monday’s Partnership in Education breakfast and convocation.
…
Bringing our schools’ teachers and administrators together — even if only once a year — is a great start.
Our community has much to gain by finding ways to bring groups together and focus on how we can collectively improve our community.
We applaud the
With all of the recent talk about regionalism in the air, perhaps next year, the kick-off can include some of the Concordia Parish Schools personnel, too, if we can fit all of those people into one big educational summit.
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on August 6, 2009 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if lack of comment here is due to the total lack of public comprehension about what regionalism is, not helped by the lack of any explanation on the part of the Democrat beyond platitudes and faulty, undeveloped arguments in support of the nebulous idea "regionalism" the Democrat has been printing in its role as spokespaper for the Chamber of Commerce.
In two weeks we
We had reports of meetings led by community developers (I wonder if there are ties to ACORN between these last two speakers and their regional efforts?) speaking of developing a "common vision", newspeak political activist talk for social change in economy, education, and environment along socialist lines. This common vision is not a spontaneous development among residents of an area, but a vision brought in from the outside, a pre-fab vision promoting some outsider
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2009/aug/06/education-can-go-regional-well/
10. U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State - in news articles.
Bold font words are Google search terms. Bold italic words considered worth noting. In this and section 11, 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 as well as recognizing other regional organizations. In most cases, where a full name is present, a Google search will quickly get one to that organization. News reports do not always get the organization name correct. Contents
.01 Village Green: How to Fix Local Transit & Road Planning
The Huffington Post -
… "MPOs are ideally suited to the regional realities of today
They largely lack power to implement the transportation improvement plans (TIPs) they recommend. That
With a rewrite of federal transportation law just around the corner, we have an opportunity to do some constructive dental work. Here are Bill
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/f-kaid-benfield/village-green-how-to-fix_b_250020.html
.02 Official: G-20 expected to make $35 million economic impact on
Planners of the Group of 20 economic summit want about 3,000 delegates and 3,000 media representatives to leave the city next month with three keys to
"We built on the best of our past. We built on advanced manufacturing," said Bill Flanagan, executive vice president of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, which is the fiscal agent for the group coordinating the Sept. 24-25 summit. The city expects 19 nations and the European Union to discuss the world financial crisis. The second key is leveraging the region
"We also invested in infrastructure," Flanagan said, citing the city
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_640094.html
.03 Inaugural John Parr Award Goes to Citistates Founders
citistates.com
... the inaugural John Parr Award is being presented to Neal Peirce and his Citistates Group co-founders Curt Johnson and Farley Peters. Neal, Curt and Farley shared a lifetime of civic collaboration with John Parr–through the Citistates Group, the National Civic League, and the
http://citistates.com/archives/444/
.04 Editorial: Nail those HOV fixes
Dallas Area Rapid Transit must make good on its fresh promise of better HOV enforcement, with emphasis on stretches of North Central Expressway and Interstate 635. ... The North Central Texas Council of Governments gets hundreds of citizen tips a month on a line (817-704-2522) to report exhaust-spewing vehicles. The agency follows up with letters about programs to repair or replace polluting cars. Properly done, extending citizen reporting to HOV lanes could help smooth out commutes for single drivers and carpoolers alike. ... But the days of unlimited open road are over.
.05 COLUMN: Regional collaboration has power
Now more than ever, it is important for leaders from throughout central
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20090821/WRT06/908210374/1861
.06
An ambitious and far-reaching regional plan that could result in
http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2009/08/19/story-lessons_from_appalachia.html
.07 Countywide talks seen worthwhile
Laconia Citizen -
The series of listening sessions that
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090813/GJNEWS02/708139659/-1/CITNEWS
.08 A process that deserves to continue
Laconia Citizen -
Belknap County officials have found that the recent listening sessions they held in each of the county’s communities were productive. ... It is very encouraging that there is real openness to exploring the possibilities of regional cooperation. Perhaps this willingness is an outgrowth of the current economic climate and the slowdown in the growth which the Lakes Region had been experiencing. Or perhaps it is the result of a more deep-seated sense that the economies of scale can benefit taxpayers in good times as well as bad. Local officials should be encouraged to explore all possible avenues of cooperation. ...
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090814/GJOPINION02/708149891/-1/CITNEWS
.09 Keep the patient whole
... the discussion of regionalism as a solution to the city’s ills has been a hot topic in and around
Comments: … They have had input. The folks responsible for being asleep at the wheel were voted for by Detroiters. I don
http://www.freep.com/article/20090811/OPINION05/90811027/1068/OPINION/Keep-the-patient-whole
.10 Greater
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com
... town-county collaboration is one example of how Greater Pittsburgh law enforcement is far ahead of Greater Cleveland in sharing government resources.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/greater_pittsburgh_communities.html
.11 Monson, Palmer eye regional police force
The Republican - MassLive.com
Police chiefs in Palmer and Monson are studying the possibility of regionalizing their departments and dispatch centers. ... Regionalizing Palmer and Monson means that the police would be responsible for about 78 square miles between the two towns. Palmer has a population of approximately 13,000; Monson, 8,500. ...
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/monson_palmer_eye_regional_pol.html
.12 SW Regional out to grow
New Stanton Council President Scott Sistek said Tuesday that hiring the Southwest Regional Police Department to provide law enforcement for the borough is a real possibility. "I think the people should make that decision, if it is going to increase their taxes," Sistek said, adding such a proposal should "go on the ballot." Sistek offered his comments after listening to a pitch from Southwest police Chief John Hartman regarding the prospects for New Stanton, Youngwood and Hunker to contract with the department for services. "There
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/s_638105.html
.13 ARC wants help identifying regionally important resources
Gwinnett Daily Post -
If you ever thought Gwinnett
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/Main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=62872
.14 Water coalition to reorganize
The Tri-State Water Resource Coalition is evolving into a new organization seeking greater authority to find more water for the region. Members of the coalition, during a meeting Wednesday in
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_231212249.html
.15 Figliola: Regionalism is the Answer
Long Island Business News –
http://libn.com/thedebateroom/2009/08/13/figliola-regionalism-is-the-answer/
.16 Just What Is A Regional Super?
RhinoTimes.com -
School Superintendent Mo Green unveiled his five regional superintendents at a press conference ..., but Green seemed uncertain how much they are being paid, and the regional superintendents themselves seemed less than certain what they do for that pay. ...
Green
.17 Plan B on regionalization
Three years ago, Belmar Mayor Kenneth Pringle and Police Chief Jack Hill floated the idea of a regionalized police force that would include eight towns... . Today, the plans are far more modest. Five towns — only two of which Pringle originally envisioned as partners in a regional department — will be using a $75,000 state grant to study ways in which police services can be shared. It represents a major setback for the concept of regionalization. And it
http://www.app.com/article/20090817/OPINION01/908170307/1029/opinion/Plan+B+on+regionalization
.18 Bob Solari: It
There is an alternative to ever-rising city water and sewer charges and that is regionalization. At the present time, the county has the capacity to take the city’s wastewater flow. City customers will have to pay for the county’s capacity but, over time, it will result in lower rates. It will have the added benefit of removing the wastewater treatment facility from the lagoon’s edge. Regionalization makes financial and environmental sense but, for the city leaders to seriously consider regionalization, it will have to break its current model which calls for the utility to serve its general fund and move to a model based on serving its customers.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/aug/19/guest-column-its-time-to-regionalize-vero-beachs/
.19
American City & County
State budget cuts may force the county to regionalize its highway department, as well.
http://americancityandcounty.com/admin/county-service-consolidation-20090817/
.20
The Associated Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hd_S0WoWaSEo8kQiJ7PTPfmCLw4wD9A5P2G80
.21
Wisbusiness.com
The New North Inc., an 18-county regional economic development organization in
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=167572
.22 Stimulus Money Tapped to Spur EHR Growth
AAFP News Now -
Nearly $1.2 billion soon will be available to help the nation
.23 Fiddle championship, festival return to
http://www.casperjournal.com/articles/2009/08/12/arts/arts081209c.txt
.24 Elkton, JMU Work On Economic Plan
DNRonline.com –
Elkton officials are looking to a local university for help on a kind of "stimulus plan" for the town. Graduate students from
http://www.rocktownweekly.com/news_details.php?AID=39836&CHID=2
.25 Land Trusts Along
Land trusts in towns along the lower
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-shoreline-land-trust-0807.artaug07,0,5002775.story
.26 There Go the Servers: Lightning
The Wall Street Journal -
New research even suggests that lightning
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125115407600555075.html
.27 The New American Dream: Renting
The Wall Street Journal -
In 1934, F.D.R. created the Federal Housing Administration, which set standards for home construction, instituted 25- and 30-year mortgages, and cut interest rates. And in 1938, his administration created the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) which created the secondary market in mortgages. In 1944, the federal government extended generous mortgage assistance to returning veterans, most of whom could not have otherwise afforded a house. Together, these innovations had epochal consequences. Easy credit, underwritten by federal housing programs, boosted the rates of home ownership quickly. By 1950, 55% of Americans had a place they could call their own. By 1970, the figure had risen to 63%. It was now cheaper to buy than to rent. Federal intervention also unleashed vast amounts of capital that turned home construction and real estate into critical economic sectors. By the late 1950s, for the first time, the census bureau began collecting data on new housing starts—which became a leading indicator of the nation
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204409904574350432677038184.html
.28
The Wall Street Journal -
Here
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125011106498326993.html
.29 It Ain
In the past, those regional fingerprints tended to divide hip-hop’s fan base. You either liked East Coast rap or you liked West Coast rap; you either liked Southern hip-hop or thought it was inauthentic. Today, hip-hop is more easily distinguished by subject matter than by regional idiosyncrasies. ... Still, the fall of regionalism and the rise of the Internet aren
http://www.nypress.com/article-20190-it-ainrst-where-ya-from.html
.30 To Cite or To Site: Competing Ideologies for Addressing Homelessness
Planetizen.com
… former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the agency in charge of coordinating the federal government
http://www.planetizen.com/node/40158
11. Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet Contents
.01 Govt accused of secret deal over boundary changes
Radio
Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee is accusing the Government of doing a secret deal which would dramatically change the region
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/25/1245c27e999b
.02 Province spikes Metro plan to send trash to
The provincial government plans to outlaw the international export of B.C.
.03
Today
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-183738-102-turkey-offers-limitless-cooperation-with-iraq.html
.04
Christian Science Monitor -
Another national goal that emerges from the concept of fraternity is the creation of an East Asian community. Off course, the Japan-US security pact will continue to be the cornerstone of Japanese diplomatic policy. Unquestionably, the Japan-US relationship is an important pillar of our diplomacy. However, at the same time, we must not forget our identity as a nation located in
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0819/p09s07-coop.html
.05 Op-Ed Contributor NATO and World Security
New York Times - NY,
... NATO, however, has the experience, the institutions and the means to become the hub of a globe-spanning web of various regional cooperative-security undertakings among states with the growing power to act. In pursuing that strategic mission, NATO would not only be preserving trans-Atlantic political unity; it would also be responding to the 21st century’s increasingly urgent security agenda.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/opinion/20iht-edbrzezinski.html
.06 Love thy neighbour
A bill to curb militant regionalism has been mooted. Will it be passed, ... Last month Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Mohan took up cudgels against this militant regionalism by tabling a private members’ bill called “Prevention of Regionalism Bill, 2009” in the upper house of Parliament. Experts say that such a law will not only punish those who indulge in violence against outsiders but also provide relief to the victims. ... Article 19(e) of our Constitution gives the fundamental right to all citizens to reside and settle in any part of
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090812/jsp/opinion/story_11351001.jsp
.07 Curse of
The
Like many things in society, "regionalism" is a two-edged sword: It gives each region its own unique brand and recognition that can be, and often is, used for its own fame and prosperity. It is the dream of all locals and provincials to be well known for something that can become a landmark and quick reference. ... One of the ironies of the Korean peninsula, and indeed one of the lesser known inner conflicts in
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/08/137_50182.html
.08 [Editorial] Kim DJ
The Dong-A Ilbo - dongA.com
... Korean politicians should consider Kim’s state funeral as a chance to reflect on their old-fashioned practice of region-based politics and united the people’s energy to advance the nation. In his congratulatory speech on Liberation Day, President Lee suggested revamping voting and administrative districts nationwide, and this is possible only when regionalism is overcome. Eradicating regional disputes is a prerequisite for
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2009082046468
.09 MP hits out at region being
Rochdale Online -
Phil Woolas MP, making his first official speaking engagement as the newly appointed Minister for the North West, told the
.10 WE SAY: Voice of the Pacific heard with reverence
Island Business -
The progress of regionalism in the sprawling
.11 APEC Meeting brings together business and policy leaders.
ThomasNet Industrial News Room (press release)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2009 meeting gathered for a week of meetings, panels, and presentations last week in
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/564592
.12 Board raises its voice over cuts
The Fraser Valley Regional District is speaking up on the issue of provincial funding cuts to libraries. ... There are 24 branches in the regional library system, which stretches from Delta to the
http://www2.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/story.html?id=3d50c9f7-d7d6-4f0e-9586-248c2ac52016
.13 New expressway a “major step”
Wellington.scoop.co.nz
The proposal to build a four-lane expressway between MacKays Crossing and Otaki is a major step toward bringing the region
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=10437
.14 ΔR closes 6 of 13 regional Eurocentres
To save money, the Czech government will shut nearly a half of its regional Eurocentres that provide information to the public about study and work opportunities in the EU 27 as well as subsidies from EU funds, Marie FaturovΓ‘, from the EU Minister
http://praguemonitor.com/2009/08/19/%C4%8Dr-closes-6-13-regional-eurocentres
.15 Sugar price increases put food makers on alert
The price of sugar on world markets has soared this year, prompting a coalition of the nation
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sugar14-2009aug14,0,4601168.story
.16
The Daily Star -
Hassan runs the
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&article_id=105161
.17
The Beacon Herald -
10 YEARS AGO - 1999 ...
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1714879
.18 Think-what we gave to
The Nazriya Pakistan Council (Ideology of Pakistan Council) as part of Independence Day celebrations this year has selected a challenging theme for all and sundry to brood over what every one of us gave to
http://pakobserver.net/200908/04/news/topstories11.asp
.19 Top 10 Kidnap Rated Countries with Ransom Stats
Castle Rock Global Insurance - News
According to Insurance Carrier AIG
.20 Cooperation Programmes and Regional Policy: a Dynamic Mechanism.
INTERACT Programme - EU
After the INTERACT National Contact Persons meeting held in Paris last April, which showed the complexity of transferring ETC results into regional policy and the width of regional cooperation, INTERACT would like to deepen further into this field. During a dedicated event in
.21 Maori seats working well for regional council
Scoop.co.nz
Environment
“Our Maori constituency councillors have participated across the whole of the council, not just on Maori issues. They do a good job both as councillors and presenting Maori issues, and carry out the same duties as any of the other councillors,” Chairman Cronin said.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0908/S00378.htm
.22 Paul Romer
TEDTalks – video
How can a struggling country break out of poverty if it
Note: Real problem, unreal solution. Ed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSHBma0Ithk&feature
12. Blogging about Regional Communities Contents
.01
SmartRegion
UrbanPlanet.org, a free online discussion forum for professionals and nonprofessionals interested in topics that affect community change, has launched a new Hampton Roads section as the result of a collaborative effort with Hampton Roads Informs. The goal of Hampton Roads Informs is to provide a 21st Century social media experience to provide more regionally focused discussion of issues important to the residents of Hampton Roads. ...
http://smartregion.org/2009/08/hamptonroadsinforms-com/
.021 Study: Infrastructure management best viewed from regional perspective
EfficientGovNow Blog
In July 2009,
.022 EfficientGovNow Award Recipients Named
After 31 days of voting and strong “get-out-the-vote” campaigns by the nine finalists, the residents of
http://blog.efficientgovnow.org/
.03 Regional approach still on table
VernonBlog
Discussions of regional governance in the Okanagan are still circulating. Bill Bennett, minister of community and rural development, met with the mayors of
http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/regional-approach-still-on-table.html
.04 Online Tourism Marketing using Video and Mapping
Online Travel Video Channel
Overlander.tv has been working on an interesting online tourism marketing campaign, which encompasses the use of both short video vignettes and a location map marking out regional attractions. Grampians Tourism wanted to highlight visitor activities within their region, by populating a map with 30 second teaser videos. ...
http://www.overlander.tv/2009/online-tourism-marketing-using-video-and-mapping/
.05 Nation states, regionalism and the EU
Nosemonkey
In the comments to my National identity vs European identity post, where I’ve been arguing that it’s perfectly possibly to have a sense of belonging to multiple different groups, and thus to have multiple different identities, commenter WG notes: I don’t see the point in this multi-ID thing. One other point. The break up of
http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2362
.06 Why the end is nigh for regionalism in
The Lobby
This apparently contradictory trend of both centralisation towards
http://theeulobby.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/why-the-end-is-nigh-for-regionalism/
.07 "East vs. West" is not the best -- NHL Re-Alignment
Raw Charge
... , for the sake of growing the game, growing the league, and growing the sport - it
http://www.rawcharge.com/2009/8/18/992723/east-vs-west-is-not-the-best-nhl
.08 What do you think of council slogans?
ConservativeHome | Local Government
Do they serve any purpose? What are the worst ones? The best ones?
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/localgovernment/2009/08/what-do-you-think-of-council-slogans.html
.09 The Ruling Class-Sponsored Race War and the Balkanization of
Project World Awareness
As adherents to social myths, both modern secessionists and historical Marxists constitute schismatic elements that can weaken and fracture the sovereign state. Marxist revolutionaries cannot pinpoint the indeterminate juncture in history where the state will wither. Likewise, neo-Confederates and secessionists cannot pinpoint the indeterminate juncture in history where secession will end. Thus, the neo-Confederates and secessionists set into motion a perpetual series of secessions, guaranteeing continual disunity and the ongoing fragmentation of states. Eventually, the states implode, allowing for their easy assimilation by whatever supranational entities or foreign alliances hold sway. The globalist elite understand this fact more than anyone. Secession contributes to regionalism, which is one of many strategies employed to build a new world order. The regionalism strategy was explained in an article for Foreign Affairs, the flagship publication of the elitist CFR. In the article, entitled “Regionalism and Nationalism,” author N.S.B. Gras wrote:
The direct effect of regionalism may be to make the state weaker politically but stronger economically and socially. Or the region, looking to regional convenience, may make new alignments leading to the creation of new states, or to international states (European, American, and so on), or ultimately to a world state. (466)
In his book Geo-Economic Regionalism and World Federalism, Maurice Parmelee was even more blunt in pointing out how regionalism erodes national sovereignty. Parmelee stated:
There can be no permanent peace so long as each nation retains its sovereignty. There can be no effective world organization to solve the economic and social problems of mankind so long as the nation is the unit of organization. The region, limiting national sovereignty and furnishing a suitable unit of organization for a world federation, is a practicable solution. (V)
Both the Western elite and Panarin’s masters among the Russian elite seem to understand that secession can be used as a tool of regionalization on the way to world government. These two oligarchical cliques now seem to be racing to exploit the rising secession fever that has appeared on the American political landscape.
.10 Part 3 of “Global Power and Global Government”
Prison Planet.com
The theoretical justifications for integration and regionalism arrived in the 1960s with what is known as “interdependence theory.” One of its primary proponents was a man named Richard N. Cooper. … Cooper wrote that, during the 1960s “there has been a strong trend toward economic interdependence among the industrial countries. This growing interdependence makes the successful pursuit of national economic objectives much more difficult.” He also identified that “the objective of greater economic integration involves international agreements which reduce the number of policy instruments available to national authorities for pursuit of their economic objectives.”[12] Further, “Cooper argues that new policies are needed to address the unprecedented conditions of international interdependence.”[13] …
13. Announcements and Regional Links. Contents
.01 LocationEurope.com [http://locationeurope.com/ ] - Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
NFIA, a Dutch government agency, can be of tremendous assistance in establishing or expanding your pan-European operation. For an overview of our free and confidential services, click About NFIA. We
Contact: http://www.nfia.com/contact_nfia_north_america.html
.02 2009 Executive Directors
Join the Maricopa Association of Governments, the
Web: [use “Skip to content” link on page]
.03 56th North American Regional Science Association International (RSAI) Conference -
The Conference is sponsored by the North American Regional Science Council (NARSC) and the Western Regional Science Association (WRSA). For information about the conference:
http://www.narsc.org/newsite/?page_id=62
.04 "Global Recession: Regional Impacts on Housing, Jobs, Health and Wellbeing" - Regional Studies Association Winter Conference 2009 - November 27, 2009 -
Plenary Presentations:
• Professor Danny Dorling,
• Dr. Michelle Mahdon, The Work Foundation Work and Wellbeing
• Dr. Emma Baker,
• Christer Larsson,
• Dr Dimitris Ballas,
• Professor Andy Pike,
Info & registration: http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/events/future.asp
.05 Beyond the Global Credit Crunch: Prospects and Policies for Mature Industrial Regions - Regional Studies Association Policy Conference 2009 - December 3 -
Speakers:
• Will Hutton, The Work Foundation Manufacturing, the Knowledge Economy and the need for and Industrial Policy
• Professor David Bailey,
• Professor Keith Cowling,
• Dr. Lisa De Propris,
• Professor Mark Hart,
• Norman Price,
• Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Business Secretary
Info & registration: http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/events/future.asp
14. Financial Crisis. Contents
.01
The Wall Street Journal -
Compare
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125054188939938015.html
.02 Pablo Triana: Why Nassim Taleb is the True Predictor of this Crisis
The Huffington Post -
... This is what Nassim Taleb said more than a decade ago that qualifies him, in my eyes, as the true and only visionary:
I believe that Value at Risk is the alibi bankers will give shareholders and the bailing-out taxpayer to show documented due diligence, and will express that their blow-up came from truly unforeseeable circumstances and events with low probability, not from taking large risks they did not understand. ... I maintain that the due diligence VaR tool encouraged untrained people to take misdirected risk with shareholders
In the midst of the credit nightmare, such pearls could not appear any more prescient. For VaR, the mathematical model used as risk radar by banks and chosen by regulators as the tool that sets capital charges for trading activities (what essentially dictates the amount of leverage that banks can engage in), did ultimately cause the crisis and the Taleb-predicted bail-out, precisely by providing reckless bankers with a seemingly scientific alibi to monstrously leverage their balance sheets with the most toxic and illiquid of financial wares. By being unrealistically low, VaR allowed banks to cheaply devour as much toxic stuff as they wanted. Since those gigantic toxic positions are what truly sank Wall Street, and since the sinkage of the latter is what truly unleashed what is known as the credit crisis, it follows that without VaR the pain would have been much more diluted.
This crisis was not really a "housing crisis," but a "trading crisis." Mortgage defaults on their own would have never created this kind of tremors. The melting into oblivion of complex securities based on those mortgages is what did unleash hell. ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pablo-triana/why-nassim-taleb-is-the-t_b_263194.html
.03 The Great American Bank Robbery
HAMMER FORUM Video http://hammer.ucla.edu/watchlisten/watchlisten/show_id/129363
William K. Black, the former litigation director of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board who investigated the Savings and Loan disaster of the 1980s, discusses the latest scandal in which a single bank, IndyMac, lost more money than was lost during the entire Savings and Loan crisis. He discusses the political failure behind the current economic disaster and answers questions from the audience. Black teaches economics and law at the
.04 The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class
UC Television Video
Elizabeth Warren presents her comparison of family expenses 1970-71 to 2005-06 and talks about the continuing rise in bankruptcy among the middle-class in a 2007 lecture. The data show how changes in costs affect spending patters so that the current two-income family of four is in worse shape than their single income parents 35 years before. The research work led to her concerns about the credit problems in the
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A&feature
Background Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Uk-DwUvJw&feature=channel
.05 Weak consumer spending will last for years
Naked Capitalism
It has been my thesis for some time that we are seeing a secular change in consumption patterns in the
Having finally had a chance to dissect the retail sales data from last week, I wanted to show you a few graphs which indicate how much consumption has fallen in the present downturn and what the implication is for the future global economy. But, first, I want to start with a broader discussion as to why the fall in US consumption is a longer-term change and not a cyclical one.
The Balance Sheet Recession
Numerous economies seem on there way to recovery:
Nomura’s Chief Economist Richard Koo wrote a book last year called “The Holy Grail of Macroeconomics” which introduced the concept of a balance sheet recession, which explains economic behaviour in the
When debt levels are enormous, as they are right now in the
Secular inflation will be non-existent
Therefore, the problem is a lack of demand for loans not a lack of supply. The Federal Reserve can print all the money it wants. But, if there is little demand for more indebtedness, it is not going to have the desired effect of permanently reflating the economy – although it can create bubbles.
...
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/08/weak-consumer-spending-will-last-for.html
15. Custom search: region, regions, regional communities Contents
To search on topics like those in Regional Community Development News use this custom search engine: http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=000551187207053117963:m1gvkhigkeo&hl=en
My name is Tom Christoffel. I've worked in the field of intergovernmental and regional cooperation since 1973. As a consequence, "I see regions work.” Regional Community Development News is published bi-monthly based on news reports as of Wednesday of the publication week
Making visible such cross-boundary planning, collaboration and cooperative action at multi-jurisdictional networked regional scales, public, private and NGO is my 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 of 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 excerpts and 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 search previous issues since 2003 go to: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/regions_work/
To join Regional Community Networkers and get 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
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Questions, comments or items to feature in Regional Community Development News?
Please email the editor: Tom.Christoffel@gmail.com
Thomas J. (Tom) Christoffel, AICP - http://www.regional-communities.com/
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