Regional Community Development News – February 8, 2010 [regions_work]

_____________________________________________________________________________

A compilation of news links about and for regional communities pursuing local and regional development.

Published on line since November 11, 2003.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Contents

Top Regional Community stories … 1. – 9.

U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State – news articles10.01 - .18

Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet11.01 - .19

Blogging about Regional Communities … 12.01 - .05

Announcements and Regional Links13.01 - .03

Financial Crisis …14.01 - .02

Custom search: region, regions, regional communities … 15.

Bold Italic highlights search terms and/or phrases of interest.

_________________________________________________________________________

Top Regional Community stories

Note: “Regional Community” Development is a long term process, particularly when a regional scale of community consciousness is just emerging. News sources report “moves,” but such stories are rarely fast-breaking. Still, timeliness is important. Each edition of the RCD News is built over a two week period of daily scanning of information sources. The majority are saved to delicious and now are tweeted as well. To get individual news items sooner, check these options: http://delicious.com/I.see.regions.work and http://twitter.com/tomchristoffel Thanks. Ed.

1. Editorial: Decentralization dulls metro's edge - Despite investments, Met Council fails the central cities. - Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN, USA

If Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell's final State of the Region speech last week contained a subliminal message, it was probably this: Seven years of conservative leadership has not destroyed the Twin Cities' four-decade experiment in metro governance. … Under his guidance, Republican catcalls of "train to nowhere" have given way to an acceptance of transit …

But nowhere in Bell's thoughtful recounting of accomplishments and challenges was there a mention of the Met Council's fundamental flaw, one that predates the Pawlenty years: The council has been powerless to stop the steady and destructive decentralization of the metro region. Despite its national reputation for planning and its mission of "orderly and economical development," the council continues to encourage growth at the suburban edge at the expense of redirecting development and vitality back toward the center.

That kind of planning is neither orderly nor economical. And it moves the Twin Cities metro "in the wrong direction," according to Bruce Katz, the metropolitan policy director at the Brookings Institution. Brookings follows closely the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the nation's largest metro areas. It classifies the Twin Cities as "rapidly decentralizing" at a time when conditions demand just the opposite.

Yet the Met Council [http://www.metrocouncil.org/ ] continues to encourage 70 percent of new growth on fresh ground at the suburban edge and only 30 percent in developed areas with infrastructure already in place. Those numbers should be reversed. Our growth pattern is more akin to the failed cities of the Rust Belt than the attractive places that the Twin Cities likes to consider its peers. The central districts of Denver, Seattle and Portland, for example, have been attracting a metrowide share of redevelopment well above the share of Minneapolis and St. Paul. …

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/83682617.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUjc8LDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

2. HUD Secretary Donovan Announces New Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities - HUD.GOV - Press Release - Washington, D.C., USA

During a sustainability forum at Portland State University and a speech to the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Seattle, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the launch of HUD’s new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC).

"Through our new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, we will begin to tie the quality and location of housing to broader opportunities such as access to good jobs, quality schools, and safe streets," said Donovan. "By working with DOT, EPA and other federal agencies, and with Deputy Secretary Sims’ guidance, we will finally begin to meet the needs of today without compromising the futures of our children and grandchildren .”

Under the management of Director Shelley Poticha, OSHC will be the center-point for all of HUD’s sustainability efforts. The average household spends more than half of its budget on housing and transportation, which have become American families’ two single biggest expenses. With OSHC as lead, HUD will work to improve access to affordable housing and transportation options, saving money for American families while allowing them more time to spend at home and less time traveling.

Congress provided $150 million to HUD for a Sustainable Communities Initiative. Of that amount, $100 million is available for regional integrated planning initiatives through HUD’s Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program. To demonstrate HUD’s commitment to listening and learning, Secretary Donovan also announced that a description of the future grant program is available for comment, including through an interactive wiki, on HUD’s web site. [ http://portal.hud.gov/jamwiki/en/StartingPoints ]

With OSHC’s grant programs, HUD will provide funding to a wide variety of multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector partnerships and consortia, from Metropolitan Planning Organizations and State governments, to non-profit and philanthropic organizations. These grants will be designed to encourage regions to build their capacity to integrate economic development, land use, transportation, and water infrastructure investments, and to integrate workforce development with transit-oriented development. Accordingly, OSHC’s grants will be coordinated closely with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Last June, the DOT, EPA and HUD created the unprecedented interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Rooted in six Livability Principles, the three agencies are working together more closely than ever before to meet President Obama’s challenge to coordinate federal policies, programs, and resources to help urban, suburban, and rural areas build more sustainable communities. Traditionally there has been no coordination among federal housing, transportation and land use investments. For the first time the federal government will speak with one voice when it comes to housing, transportation and environmental policy, and in doing so will be partner to regions and local governments instead of a barrier.

,,,

http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-028

3. Quality of place bill sets growth terms - Mainebiz Daily - Portland, Maine

A bill working its way through the Legislature aims to make quality of place — that catchphrase made popular by the 2006 Brookings Institution report that plugged the state’s mountains, beaches and historic downtowns as key to its economic growth — a priority in regional development.

Members of the Maine Quality of Place Council, a group Gov. John Baldacci created in the wake of the Brookings report, say it would mean a big step forward for economic development. Not everyone, though, is convinced the legislation will achieve its intended purpose.

LD 1389, “An Act To Create Regional Quality of Place Investment Strategies for High-value Jobs, Products and Services in Maine,” lays out a new way of thinking about economic development by focusing on a region’s assets rather than its needs, says Dick Barringer, chair of the Quality of Place Council and a professor at the University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Policy.

Traditional economic development “looks at an area’s weaknesses and tries to correct them, rather than looking at its strengths and trying to build on them,” he says. The asset-based model, as opposed to the need-based model, has been catching on in states like Tennessee, Minnesota and Washington, as well as communities in other countries, including St. John, New Brunswick. The idea behind it is that, by identifying and prioritizing projects that boost Maine’s quality of place, the state can attract and retain more people, which will in turn bring new investments and new jobs.

Proposed last year, but carried over into this legislative session, the bill directs the council to work with economic development districts to develop quality of place investment strategies, identifying assets like historic downtowns, working waterfronts, arts and culture centers and agricultural land. …

...

http://www.mainebiz.biz/news45833.html

4. Cisco's Big Bet on New Songdo: Creating Cities From Scratch - Fast Company - USA

... The brief: Gale would borrow $35 billion from Korea's banks and its biggest steel company, and use the money to build from scratch a city the size of downtown Boston, only taller and denser, on a muddy man-made island in the Yellow Sea. …

New Songdo City won't be finished until 2015 at least, but in August, Gale cut the ribbon on the 100-acre "Central Park" modeled, like so much of the city, on Manhattan's …

As far as playing God (or SimCity) goes, New Songdo is the most ambitious instant city since Brasília 50 years ago. Brasília, of course, was an instant disaster: …

Being seriously ahead of the curve explains why Gale had such a hard time finding a tech partner … Gale decided a plumber would be a better fit and threw Microsoft over for Cisco.

… Cisco is expected to wire every square inch of the city with synapses. … it promises this city will "run on information." Cisco's control room will be New Songdo's brain stem.

And that's just the beginning. ...

… As of now, we're officially an urban species. More than half of us -- 3.3 billion people -- live in a city. Our numbers are projected to nearly double by 2050, adding roughly a New Songdo a day; the United Nations predicts the vast majority will flood smaller cities in Africa and Asia.

It was this crushing demographic trend that drew Cisco into the instant-city business. …

In announcing Cisco's strategy, Chambers declared, "The network has become the next utility."

...

"Cities are highly complex systems, and one of the elements of highly complex systems is that when you monkey around with them, their predictability goes to zero," says Pip Coburn, a technology analyst …

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/142/the-new-new-urbanism.html?page=0%2C1&partner=homepage_newsletter

5. Regional partnership's spending questioned - CharlotteObserver.com - Charlotte, NC, USA

Faced with a $250,000 deficit, Charlotte Regional Partnership chief Ronnie Bryant stood before his bosses last July and put his job on the line.

The economic development group, which gets half of its $3 million budget from state and local taxpayers, was seeing cuts in state and private dollars. It needed to cut more costs or raise more money. …

Also in July, a group of senior economic developers wrote the partnership's chairman, questioning the group's spending and heavy administration costs.

Local governments, which contribute more than $793,000 to the partnership, face shrinking budgets. At least one member county, York, is considering withdrawing from the group, questioning whether it's worth the $53,000 in the difficult economy.

The partnership was spun out of the Charlotte Chamber in 1991, with the mission of selling the 16-county region to the world and enticing companies to move here. If a company becomes interested in the area, the partnership passes on the lead to local recruiters.

The intent was to end turf wars among local economic developers and to market the area more effectively with a collective voice.

Bryant says he stands by his methods and assigns the criticism to a "philosophical difference."

He said he's cut back on advertising because the partnership can't afford to run an effective national campaign. Instead, he said, his recruiters visit site-selection consultants and attend trade shows and industry meetings to interact with decision-makers.

The bulk of the group's advertising is limited to ads at the Charlotte airport.

Bryant said the ads are worthwhile because of the thousands of passengers that travel through the hub daily. The group gets a discounted rate. "It's a no-brainer," he says.

He also thinks the group's Web site and targeted e-mail blasts are more effective than traditional ads.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/1228354.html

6. Mega-regionalism: A Southeastern economic engine? - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Atlanta, GA, USA

First there was regionalism, an economic-development trend that linked Atlanta and Georgia with neighboring cities and states for their collective economic good.

Now comes mega-regionalism, an attempt to create a seamless economic corridor between Raleigh and Birmingham with Atlanta playing a pivotal role. The goal is to lure businesses, federal transportation dollars and environmentally sustainable growth across the Southeast for the benefit of the entire region.

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is a key player in the newly formed Piedmont Alliance for Quality Growth. Organized last November, the Alliance will meet in Macon in mid-March to take the next step toward uber-regionalism.

Of pre-eminent importance for the 40-odd government, business and academic officials who comprise the Alliance: resolve water-sharing disputes between all members (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and the Carolinas); ensure enough electricity for a rapidly growing region; and pursue inter-city rail networks.

“This whole concept of mega-regions is a phenomenon that’s occurring primarily from economic forces. We didn’t plan it; it’s already here,” Harry West, a former executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, said Friday. “We’re trying to make sure the growth we attract is of a quality and sustainable nature.”

The Boston-New York-Washington corridor is considered a mega-region. So too is coastal China. Better to join forces, West and others say, than to watch other parts of the world reap globalization’s benefits.

Example: foreign car-makers dot the Interstate 85 corridor from BMW in Spartanburg, S.C., past Kia in West Point, Ga. to Hyundai in Montgomery, Ala. Atlanta, as the hub and preferred airport connection, benefits with headquarters, distributors and other business.

Cities and states, though, fight fiercely for every business or corporate relocation. Why would they cooperate in a mega-region?

...

http://www.ajc.com/business/mega-regionalism-a-southeastern-286839.html

7. Speak out on regionalism at forums - Natchez Democrat - Natchez, MS, USA

Over the last seven months, it has been so refreshing to experience the outcome of the three area Chambers of Commerce working together in an effort to build a united coalition for advancing community and economic development in this region. We have continued to meet on a regular basis and it has been exciting to see that everyone on the committee is taking part in our effort to pull together in order to make this community everything that it can be.

Various experts have helped identify our strengths, as well as our weaknesses, but just having this knowledge is not enough. Now is the time for us to formalize a plan for moving forward and taking action.

It should come as no surprise that our greatest identified strength is our citizens — a diverse, talented and caring group — lacking only a viable plan for uniting and moving our community forward. In order to formulate this plan, our chambers of commerce have set dates for three forums at which the public will be able to address the Miss-Lou Regional Steering Committee, ask questions, as well as make suggestions on how the group should move forward.

http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2010/feb/03/speak-out-regionalism-forums/

8. Super Bowl host city gets game, but not necessarily the attention - Dallas Morning News – Dallas, TX, USA

When Super Bowl Sunday arrives, the obscure city of Miami Gardens will be the center of the football universe. But that spotlight lasts just a few hours.

Much of the glitz and glamour of the Super Bowl is happening far from the stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

City Manager Danny Crew said he can point to little impact that the Super Bowl has on Miami Gardens, the home of Sun Life Stadium and the Miami Dolphins.

"There's no quantifying it at all," Crew said. "We don't get anything, virtually nothing."

The area near Sun Life Stadium can't compete with the beaches and urban developments in South Florida. Though there's been some development near the stadium, much of it is businesses that cater to locals - not football fans.

Although he welcomes the Super Bowl, Crew said it's a celebration that belongs more to the glitzy beachfronts to the east than his 20-square-mile, working-class city of about 108,000.

For all their differences, Miami Gardens has much in common with Arlington when it comes to sports. Both are home to NFL stadiums, and after next year, both will have been Super Bowl host cities. Each city even has a Wal-Mart on the doorsteps of its stadium.

And both are also overshadowed by their bigger neighbors.

Miami Gardens and Arlington get the Super Bowl games, but Dallas and Miami, Fort Worth and Fort Lauderdale will have most of the parties, events, VIPs and probably media attention.

The Super Bowl host committees preach regionalism, but it's not always clear how much the host cities receive.

In Arlington, city officials have said they hope the stadium and the Super Bowl will greatly raise their profile nationally – even if the Cowboys' new home has been referred to on national television as the "Palace in Dallas."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-miamigardens_03met.ART.State.Edition1.4bea39f.html

9. Stevenson and Cleghorn attend Regional Academy - Historic City News - St. Augustine, FL, USA

St. Johns County District 1 Commissioner, Cyndi Stevenson, and Jason Cleghorn from the county’s Growth Management department, have been selected to attend the 2010 Regional Leadership Academy through the Northeast Florida Regional Council.[ http://www.nefrpc.org/ ]

The Academy educates Regional Leaders and invests in the future of regional communities through a mission to make Northeast Florida a better place to live and work through a series of programs covering topics like Equity, Diversity, Land use, Quality of Life, Emergency Preparedness, Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Environment, Water resources, Economic Development and Regional Visioning.

Commissioner Stevenson and Jason Cleghorn were selected from a group of very well qualified candidates to attend the Academy this year.

The Regional Leadership Series is for those with a sincere commitment and motivation to serve the Regional community.

It is for participants who have the willingness to invest the time and energy required and have the ability to make arrangements to attend the required programs.

The RLS is for leaders representing business (large and small), education, nonprofits, agriculture, government, healthcare, elected officials, and media.

In short, the Regional Leadership Series is for anyone who understands the importance of Regionalism and is committed to Regional visioning and growth for the betterment of our communities.

http://www.historiccity.com/2010/staugustine/news/florida/stevenson-and-cleghorn-attend-regional-academy-2548

10. U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State - in news articles.

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 Guest Commentary: 5 Keys to Falls Church City's Future Sustainability

Falls Church News Press - Falls Church, VA, USA

... five keys to the City's future sustainability. ... Second, Falls Church is not an island, and we have a long tradition of mutually beneficial cooperation with our neighboring jurisdictions. I believe firmly in regionalism and have sought to further it as former chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee and as a charter member of the DC Region's Emergency Preparedness Council. This regional cooperation has benefitted us all handsomely over the years in improved service, quality of life, and efficiency. Nowhere have these benefits been greater than in the transportation. As previous chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and now of the Region's Transportation Planning Board, I have been able to support the Region on major infrastructure improvements, including Rail to Dulles, with more to come, even as I have helped assure that Falls Church is treated fairly. Yet, this tradition of regionalism, too, has recently been ignored, most notably in the City's preemptive strike against Fairfax over water in the form of a lawsuit subsequently thrown out by the courts. Now, we are embroiled in a retaliation lawsuit that has potentially dire consequences for the City. ...

http://www.fcnp.com/commentary/local/5714-guest-commentary-5-keys-to-falls-church-citys-future-sustainability-.html

.02 Hammond mayor talks regionalism at luncheon

Gary Post Tribune - Gary, IN, USA

Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. came out swinging on the side of regionalism for Northwest Indiana and against the town of Munster for its apparent reluctance to embrace it. Still smarting from that Town Council's rejection of an interlocal agreement that would have Hammond and Munster working together in case of another major flood, McDermott, speaking at the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting at Horseshoe Casino on Wednesday, said the issue of closing the Northcote Avenue bridge is "heading to court." Had the two passed it, though, it would've been a great example of regionalism working. ...

http://www.post-trib.com/business/2015734,lakeshore0128.article

.03 Chamber endorses KC E-tax

Kansas City Star - Kansas City, MO, USA

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement endorsing the 1 percent Kansas City earnings tax. A petition drive is under way that could lead to a citywide vote on repealing the levy. The drive is sponsored by a group funded by St. Louis businessman Rex Sinquefield. The Chamber's statement: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce believes that the City of Kansas City, Missouri's 1% earnings tax is essential for the livelihood of not just the City of Kansas City, but also the entire Kansas City metropolitan region. The City of Kansas City, Missouri is the home of most of the critical community assets which make Kansas City a major metropolitan area. The earnings tax helps support not only basic services, but also regional assets, such as the Kansas City Zoo, the Truman Sports Complex and the Bartle Hall Convention Center.

...

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/21299

.04 Paterson Proposes Raising NYC Payroll Tax to Aid MTA

BusinessWeek - USA

New York Governor David Paterson proposed changes to a payroll tax aimed at assisting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, saying it would restore about $230 million in revenue this year to the cash-strapped transit agency. Paterson, a Democrat, recommended raising a so-called mobility tax on New York City businesses to 0.54 percent from 0.34 percent, while cutting in half the tax on businesses in seven counties outside New York City to 0.17 percent. The proposal would increase the percentage of tax receipts coming from New York City businesses to 88 percent from 70 percent and raise projected revenue to $1.54 billion from $1.31 billion. “The new proposal I am putting forward will provide relief to straphangers, as the MTA makes the difficult decisions necessary to balance its budget during an historic fiscal crisis,” Paterson said in a news release today. “It also makes key improvements to the current tax structure, promoting regional equity and delivering relief to small businesses. ...

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-08/new-york-s-paterson-proposes-raising-nyc-payroll-tax-to-aid-mta.html

.05 Denver's Transportation Future Arrived Today - Judy Montero - Denver Councilwoman

Huffington Post (blog) - USA

Today I was thrilled to attend a press conference held by Senator Michael Bennett, FTA chief Peter Rogoff and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announcing that the federal government has agreed to loan $300 million dollars for the Denver Union Station redevelopment. Since 1881, the Denver Union Station has been a major force in Denver's regional evolution. It has acted as a major intercontinental rail link, the station helped shape transportation in the city, region and the nation. Today, we are on the threshold of a new frontier. The redevelopment of this site will restore Denver Union Station to it's prominence as a force shaping our City and State's future character and economy. DUS is situated right in the heart of Council District 9, and I am so proud that it is on track to be considered the nation's most important central multi-modal hub. How we realize this dream for DUS involves numerous complex and important decisions. ... Specifically, some of the benefits of the DUS project include: …

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-montero/denvers-transportation-fu_b_451728.html

.06 Mayor: Metro riders come first

Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX, USA

As Mayor Annise Parker awaits reports from transition committees studying the Metropolitan Transit Authority, fundamental questions loom about how the agency should deliver and pay for services and its role in shaping regional growth and development. Parker has signaled that she is not wedded to conventional wisdom about Metro, even suggesting eliminating fares to increase lagging ridership. While acknowledging that Metro would have to cope with the loss of fare revenues — $66 million in 2009, about 20 percent of its expenses — she said it is a discussion the agency needs to have. The mayor, who appoints five of the nine members of Metro's board, said she envisions a seamless network of transportation services that move people efficiently throughout the eight-county Houston region. “The goal should be, wherever you get on our ultimate mass transit system, from commuter rail, to light rail, to bus, you get one ticket, you go anywhere in the region,” Parker said. ...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6856178.html

.07 Rotary speaker promotes regionalism, excited for growth of Great Lakes Bay Region

The Bay City Times - Bay City, MI, USA

The Great Lakes Bay Region is on the right track for future growth and development. So says William Rustem, co-director of a state group that’s promoting regional alliances throughout Michigan. “I remember back in the day when Saginaw, Bay City and Midland fought over where something would be built,” said Rustem, a Frankenmuth native. “It’s not like that anymore. This Great Lakes Bay Region is great and needs to continue thriving.” Rustem, representing an East Lansing-based group called People and Land [http://www.peopleandland.org/ ], discussed the Great Lakes Bay Region’s outlook ...

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/01/rotary_speaker_promotes_region.html

.08 Is regionalism actually taking flight in West Michigan?

Business Review West Michigan - Mlive.com MI, USA

...West Michigan’s decades-long quest to achieve regionalism. More than 15 years ago, business leaders in West Michigan — some quietly, some more vocally — expressed a desire to see Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids become the regional hub for air transportation. Their vision entailed a port more fully realized in its capacity and service. ... the formation of the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan represents a tremendous step in thinking of these 12 counties as something more than geographic neighbors. Had Grand Rapids business leaders deemed Gerald R. Ford the central hub for air traffic in West Michigan, it would have divided this region immeasurably.

...

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/02/is_regionalism_actually_taking.html

.09 Regional chamber recognizes community service

Northern Virginia Daily - Strasburg, VA, USA (News from regional community)

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber held its annual Regional Greater Good awards dinner Jan. 29 at Millwood Station to recognize businesses and individuals whose leadership and community involvement benefited the area in 2009. "Even in the worst of economic times, a positive energy is still in our community," Jim Youngblood, market president of Virginia National Bank, said in his opening remarks. ...

http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2010/02/regional-chamber-recognizes-community-service.php

.10 How regionalism works

Toledo Blade - Toledo, OH, USA

A plan by the City of Clyde to establish a steady, cost-efficient source of electricity in its backyard put regionalism to the test, and it passed. This initiative is in the best interest not only of Clyde but also of a much wider region of communities that are counting on reliable and affordable energy to retain and attract business. This is economic development worth noting. Clyde deserves credit for pursuing a novel arrangement with a local trash hauler and recycler that was looking to reduce costs. F.S.I. Disposal and city leaders expect to break ground this spring on a $20 million energy-from-waste plant on a 20-acre site on Clyde's west side. ...

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100205/OPINION02/2050315

.11 Re-evaluating priorities, goals: Rawlins Public Works Department and City Hall cope with staff reductions

Daily Times - Rawlins, WY, USA

... 12.5 city staff layoffs would help offset a projected $1.1 million budget deficit in capital and operational funds this fiscal year and mitigate next years’ projected $2 million shortfall. These deficits are largely the result of diminished state sales tax revenue, the likely upcoming elimination of the food tax subsidy and other reductions in state funding, he said. Stolns said the reductions would require more interagency cooperation and the reassigning of duties. “We’ve seen as the numbers dropped, (cooperation) become more of a necessity. … We’ve started using everybody’s talents,” he said. “You may be in (another) division, but you still work for the city. It’s good for all of us to remember who we work for.” ...

http://www.rawlinstimes.com/articles/2010/01/29/news/doc4b627f4cca3df728477279.txt

.12 Safety Risks At Regional Airlines Detailed By PBS

NPR - USA

The crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 last February — in which 50 deaths were attributed to pilot error — exposes widespread safety problems linked to lax regulation, according to an investigation by PBS. Among the risks found in the Frontline report: long hours and low pay at regional carriers, where some pilots become captains with less than a year of experience. As PBS correspondent Miles O'Brien tells NPR's Renee Montagne, the incident highlights the dangers of a trend that has grown in the past 15 years: the outsourcing of short routes from large carriers to more obscure local airlines. The problem, he says, is that large airlines do little to ensure their business partners' safety standards. For instance, Continental 3407 was operated by Colgan Air. But the relationship between the two partner airlines — one large and well-known, the other small and regional — is mostly symbolic. ...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123496427

.13 Even regional casinos struggle through year-end

GamingTodaySlotsToday - USA

Any hopes that regional casinos would turn positive during the fourth quarter reporting season ended last week when Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (PNK), Penn National Gaming Inc. (PENN) and Ameristar Casinos Inc. (ASCA) reported on the quarter that ended on Dec. 31, 2009. Pinnacle Entertainment said its net loss narrowed to $242 million or $4.03 per share compared to the previous year when the loss was $297.7 million or $4.97 per share. ... Company officials described the reporting period as challenging. "While the first half of the year was solid," said interim CEO John Giovenco, "the continuing deterioration of the economy resulted in less visitation and lower play per customer." ...

http://www.gamingtoday.com/industry-news/story.bv?storyid=24581

.14 Schneider National to hire 2,500 drivers in 2010

Milwaukee Business Journal - Milwaukee, WI, USA

Schneider National Inc. of Green Bay, the largest privately held trucking company in the country, said Monday that it plans to hire 2,500 new drivers for its regional fleet this year to serve a growing freight base. Drivers will be hired in each of its five regions: West, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. Hiring is expected to take place during the entire year, with all 2,500 new drivers in place by December. ... “Work-life balance is more important than ever to today’s professional truck driver,” said Mike Hinz, vice president, Schneider National. ... Schneider said strong reception of the regional service by customers and drivers has accelerated Schneider’s regional expansion plans. ...

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/02/08/daily7.html

.15 Saints' Super Bowl win will have lasting effect in Gulf Coast region

Victoria Advocate - Victoria, Texas, USA

The entire Who Dat? nation along the Gulf Coast is still somewhat disbelieving of the win and its importance to a region still recovering from the death and destruction of Hurricane Katrina. But as the days and weeks unfold, the reality will set in about just how breathtakingly symbolic the Saints' rise truly was. Not to be hokey here, because sometimes the hyperbole gets the best of us when it comes to celebrating the importance of sporting events. After all, these really are just games. But on this one, I think we can all indulge in how truly special this turned out to be. All you need to do is look at the explosion of joy that New Orleans became when the clock ticked down and the realization set in that this really was happening. If you don't think this game had a palpable effect on the collective psyche of a region once torn apart by the chaos and cruelty of all that rain and all that wind and all that catastrophic loss of life and property, then you'll need to check for a pulse. ...

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/feb/08/bc-fbn-super-glauber-columnnd-_-sports/?sports&nfl

.16 Proposal: Regional fire agency could save $800K

San Jose Mercury News - San Jose, CA, USA

A regional fire agency serving the city of Reno and Washoe County could free up fire companies and save the region much as $800,000, according to study recommendations from a California consulting group. ... The study recommends a joint fire authority board manage the regional fire agency. The board would be comprised of two Washoe county commissioners and two Reno council members and would supervise a combined force of Reno, Truckee Meadows and Sierra Fire protection districts. Washoe County paid $81,400 for the draft master plan.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14353957

.17 Eat-onomics With Paul Willis of Niman Ranch

Fast Company - USA

FC: What's the biggest challenge facing sustainable food right now?

PW: It's probably the commodity system that is in place, and has been in place for quite a long time, that's based on high-energy inputs--fuel, chemicals, fertilizers. There are lots of input costs and energy costs. A big obstacle is the food system we have in place. What we need to look for in the future is a sustainable agricultural system where the environmental, social, and economic results are all taken into consideration. It's not just about yield, it's not just about dollars, but it's about taking into consideration long-term goals, and how the system affects the communities, environments.

FC: What does Niman Ranch do to tackle that problem?

PW: We provide a market for farmers that raise livestock with high animal welfare standards and are generally part of a diversified farm. Most of our farmers don't just raise livestock, but also raise crops. That allows them to minimize the impact on the environment. For example, the manure can be used as an asset, as a fertilizer, rather than being a waste product.

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/stephanie-schomer/write/qa-paul-willis-niman-ranch

.18 The Amazing Twenty Ways to Promote with Promotional Products

WEBTRAFFICIDEAS.com

16. Community Activities - involvement inside the regional community can contain sponsorship and participation in regional actions and celebrations. Advertising solutions assist your involvement and exposure by way of handout treats, present bag inclusions, drink bottles, t shirts, balloons, stickers, confectionery and snack packs. ...

http://www.webtrafficideas.com/the-amazing-twenty-ways-to-promote-with-promotional-products/

11. Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet Contents

.01 MP Ken Clarke issues warning to One North East

Journal Live - UK

SENIOR Conservative MP Ken Clarke has warned development bosses he will consign them to the dustbin as he cracks down on the “last arms of John Prescott’s unwanted plans for regional governance”. In a bullish attack on the £270m regional quango One North East Mr Clarke told business leaders in Tynemouth that the region would have to make a strong case to prove “it really wanted to preserve” the development agency. In front of agency staff responsible for creating and safeguarding tens of thousands of jobs he questioned whether people across the North East felt any real regional connections, citing his experience which, he said, proved people in Teesside do not like to be told they are similar to Newcastle and the same with Wearside and Tyneside. In a clear message to quango bosses he warned it was not right for such agencies to continue beyond their original use. The shadow business secretary went on to tell regeneration bosses it was wrong for them to campaign against being closed down and questioned the wages and bills involved in running large public sector agencies. Mr Clarke insisted Tory plans to hand development cash over to city groups with elected councillors taking responsibility would be welcomed. He agreed, however, that if the region presented an argument to save One North East it would be considered by a potential Conservative government. Addressing concerns that the region would be left with different cities competing against each other Mr Clarke insisted there would still be some overall regional body if a shake-up came and added he thought competition would be good for the North East. ...

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2010/02/06/mp-ken-clarke-issues-warning-to-one-north-east-61634-25774016/

.02 MMRDA woos global investors for funding

Daily News & Analysis - Mumbai, India

With a kitty of about Rs15,000 crore, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) may be considered the richest planning body in the country. But with an investment of Rs1.14 lakh crore required to implement its 16 premier infrastructure projects, the authority is wooing worldwide investors to come to its rescue. Last week, MMRDA chief Ratnakar Gaikwad appealed to a world conference of architects, urban planners and investors being held in the city to pledge investments for the metropolitan region. At the conference, organised by the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats along with the Remaking of Mumbai Foundation (RoMF), Gaikwad showcased the authority’s various projects, such as the 145-km metro corridor, the 100-km monorail, the iconic tower, innovation park, rental housing, the multi-modal corridor, and the funicular railway at Matheran. He said that these projects can set the city, along with the entire region, on a path of rapid growth. ...

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mmrda-woos-global-investors-for-funding_1344756

.03 Indonesia and the World 2010 (Part 2 of 2)

The Jakarta Herald - Jakarta, Indonesia

Indonesia’s preoccupation with various global challenges in 2010 will not be at the expense of its commitment to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity of its own region – Southeast Asia. Almost mirroring Indonesia’s democratic transformation over the past decade, the period since 2003 when Indonesia last held the Chairmanship of ASEAN, has witnessed ASEAN’s own evolution towards an ASEAN Community. … In the broader region, the past year saw renewed interest in the idea of an East Asia or Asia-Pacific wide regional architecture. Renewed because for Indonesia it is a debate that we had anticipated by forging ahead with the concept of an ASEAN Community. For Indonesia, there cannot be an East Asian community or an Asia Pacific without an ASEAN Community as its core constituent. Thus, the ASEAN Community, the various “ASEAN +” processes, the ARF, APEC and East Asia Summit constitute a multi-pronged path towards an East Asia community with ASEAN playing a central role. This is a vision that will continue to guide us in 2010. A notable emphasis, however, is the need to ensure that nationally, within our own borders, Indonesia itself is ready, including in terms of its national connectivity, in order to fully benefit from the regional community-building efforts. Our global and regional diplomatic efforts will be underpinned by solid bilateral diplomacy. ...

http://thejakartaherald.com/indonesia-and-the-world-2010-part-2-of-2/

.04 Liverpool pioneers regional community renewable energy fund

Northwest Regional Development Agency (press release) – Warrington, UK

Liverpool City Council (LCC) in partnership with Foundation, a climate fund for the North West, has today (Monday, February 8th) become the first local authority in England’s North West to launch a community renewable power initiative that will deliver measurable carbon savings. Grants are available to charities, community groups and schools based in the city for micro generation schemes such as wind and solar projects and heat pumps that need some funding to make a start. The fund totaling up to £100,000 comes from LCC’s Area Based Grant Programme and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). Foundation is an innovative climate fund for the Northwest that helps local organisations to tackle climate change. Foundation will manage and administer the fund, applying its environmental expertise to assess the carbon benefit of each project proposed. ...

http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/press-releases/201001/liverpool-foundation.aspx

.05 Olympic torch travelling through one of the most diverse regions of Canada

Winnipeg Free Press - Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA

As the Olympic torch run makes its way through metro Vancouver in the coming days, it will visit one of the largest Indo-Canadian communities in the world outside India and one of the most vibrant Chinese communities outside China. But some say the Olympic celebrations so far have failed to reflect that diversity in the host province of the 2010 Winter Games. There has been great debate over the presence of French at the Games, but the fact is that Mandarin or Cantonese would be more practical in the region where 43.6% of the total population is Chinese-Canadian, according to the 2006 census. There are more than 400,000 Chinese Canadians in the province, most concentrated in Richmond and Burnaby, B.C. ...

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/olympics/83835132.html

.06 Arroyo launches 'super region' project in Batangas

Inquirer.net - Makati City Philippines

President Arroyo described the Urban Luzon Beltway as being composed of the southern part of Central Luzon, the entire Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon region) and half of Region IV-B-- specifically the islands of Mindoro and Marinduque--which have been the country's bases of industry, manufacturing and trade and commerce. ... The beltway is one of the five super regions created by the President in 2006 pursuant to Executive Order No. 561. …She said that as an economist, she stressed discipline in fund management. Ms Arroyo stressed the need to strengthen the economy through human resources and infrastructure like the Urban Luzon Beltway. ...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100208-252069/Arroyo-launches-super-region-project-in-Batangas

.07 Putin to chair meeting of govt commission for regional development

ITAR-TASS - Moscow, Russia

... The development strategy of the information society in the Russian Federation that the Russian president approved on February 7, 2008 sets as one of the priorities higher efficiency of the state management, better cooperation between the civil society and business with the state authorities, a higher quality and quicker provision of the state services. One of the main components of the strategy is the concept of forming the Russian electronic government, ... In most Russian constituent territories the Internet portals were created to provide the official information about the work of the state authorities and state purchases. The agencies and structures, which are in charge of the informatization in the regions and the transition of the state services in the electronic form, were determined. Regional information systems are being created. In several federal constituent territories complex solutions are under development to embrace the informatization of all spheres of the work of regional authorities and the whole scope of the state services. ...

http://www.tass-online.ru/?page=pages&pageID=24&langID=2

.08 SPO supports decentralization

B92 - Belgrade, Serbia

The Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) wants laws passed to encourage a decentralization of the country, SPO Director Aleksandar Jugović said. “The SPO is strongly against any kind of initiatives for creating an independent statistical Sandžak sub-region, and we are serious in our efforts to decentralize Serbia. That is why we are demanding the emergency adoption of laws that would return property and authority to municipalities and cities in Serbia,” Jugović said. ... “Regionalization is a process with which we must economically restore the underdeveloped parts of Serbia. One of the goals of regionalization, respecting the principle of equal regional development, is stability, and unity in the entire country, not causing new divisions,” Jugović said.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=02&dd=07&nav_id=65043

.09 Asia's never-closer union: Regional economic integration has a long, long way to go

The Economist - London, UK

... for the past 20-odd years a pan-Asian conversation about the benefits of deeper integration has only grown. The end of cold-war tensions within Asia allowed the conversation to begin. An early prize, says Mr Nag, was the “Greater Mekong Subregion”, created in 1992. It grouped five South-East Asian countries (and two Chinese provinces) with the aim of building a transport and energy infrastructure shared by all. The breakthrough, says Mr Nag, came with the acceptance that though all member countries would benefit, they would not all do so equally or at the same time. Similar subregional initiatives are proliferating in South, Central and South-East Asia. For the moment, says Mr Nag, these subregions are separate “garlands”, that need to be strung together. There is a practical aspect to this. ...

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15452622

.10 Disasters are not rare, so prepare

FT.com - London, UK

A natural event that kills more than 50,000 people has occurred, on average, once every four years since 1970. ... . Given the frequency of natural catastrophes, we need rapid response teams on a global scale analogous to local fire departments. In every region of the globe, we should have a rapid response organisation, under clear leadership, primed to organise the logistics, search and rescue teams, medical support, drinking water, basic nourishment and shelter within hours of a natural catastrophe. Each regional group would be responsible, with the affected government’s permission, for mobilising and managing the initial emergency response – for at least the first week after a disaster. It would direct the allocation of NGO resources in this period, ensuring that the most important are landed, unloaded and delivered where needed. ... Very bad, very big surprises happen often. They are all man-made to some extent. We need to be prepared – and we need stronger global management of them on this small planet.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5e80454a-0925-11df-ba88-00144feabdc0.html?catid=9&SID=google

.11 Regionalization Heralds New Era in Morocco's Institutional Reforms, PAM SG

Brunei fm - Brunei Darussalam

Regionization is a new project which heralds a new era in Morocco’s institutional reforms and which will mark the decades to come, said Secretary General of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah on Saturday. Speaking at the opening of a meeting on “Enlarged Regionalization and its socio-economic objectives”, Biadillah said this project reflects the will to change modes of governance based on proximity and on putting the human element at the heart of development strategies. He recalled that PAM’s agenda is based on these principles, insisting on the importance of the regional approach in the creation and the fair distribution of resources. ...

http://news.brunei.fm/2010/02/01/regionalization-heralds-new-era-in-moroccos-institutional-reforms-pam-sg/#

.12 National anti-regionalism strategy to be drafted

Yemen News Agency - Sana'a, Yemen

Ministry of Endowments and Guidance is to draft a national anti-regionalism strategy. The ministerial committee of preparing the national strategy asked the ministry of endowments to draft the strategy which aims at enhancing moderation and combating bad thoughts in the society in addition to raise awareness about tolerance and loyalty for the nation. The strategy will be drafted in accordance with Holy Quran, laws, previous approved strategies and international conventions which have been ratified by Republic of Yemen.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news204647.htm

.13 Progress on East Africa Community Protocol

Africa Rise Blog

(Video and text) The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organisation of the Republics of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Burundi with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. … The realization of a large regional economic bloc encompassing Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda with a combined population of more than 125 million people, land area of 1.82 million sq kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product of $60 billion (2008*), bears great strategic and geopolitical significance and prospects of a renewed and reinvigorated East African Community. …

http://unitedafrica.blogspot.com/2010/01/progress-on-east-africa-community.html

.14 PRRD mulls carbon neutrality

Energeticcity.ca - Fort St. John, BC, CA

The Peace River Regional District [http://www.peaceriverrd.bc.ca/] is taking more steps towards becoming carbon neutral by 2012. Directors met in Dawson Creek on Thursday, and discussed a Regional Community Energy Partnership. ... What’s unique about the proposed Regional Community Energy Partnership, is that the PRRD wants to keep the generated carbon-offset funds within the Regional District. ... before any Regional Community Energy Partnership can come into play, a feasibility study needs to be conducted to investigate if the idea would actually work in the Peace. So, Directors voted in favour of including $45,000 in the 2010 budget for such a study. ...

http://www.energeticcity.ca/fortstjohn/news/01/28/10/prrd-mulls-carbon-neutrality

.15 The Next Decade's Top Sustainability Trends

WorldChanging.com

What trends are likely the next ten years? … 8. Focus on Urban Agriculture and Foodsheds - Time Period: 2012-2019 - As fuel prices rise and unexpected energy shortages occur, food prices will rise rapidly, especially for food that must be transported long distances via airplanes, stored and processed. The alternative is greater local and regional food production in and around cities. Existing cities in Latin America (Havana, Cuba--pictured above--and Quito, Ecuador), Africa (Dar Es Salam, Tanzania; Kampala, Uganda) and Asia (Seoul, South Korea), have produced significant quantities of produce or aquaculture within their city limits. Cities in North America that have maintained or are building or rebuilding strong regional food networks include Seattle, Honolulu, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. … 9. Resiliency planning: cities, towns, homes - Time Period: 2010-2019

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010922.html

.16 It's a National Shame Regionalism Has Undermined Nationalism in Mumbai

NewsBlaze - Folsom, CA, USA

... Besides, talking about Mumbai, he said nothing insulting except that Mumbai belongs to all Indians. It is really a matter of shame that two Senas have taken over the rights of Mumbai treating it as their exclusive property. It is also not clear who is ruling in Maharashtra, it is Senas or Congress. These extra-constitutional authorities are trying to undermine the unity of the country and create an atmosphere of distrust between the people. ...

http://newsblaze.com/story/20100207133055jams.nb/topstory.html

.17 Crown Beverages eyes regional market

New Vision - Kampala, Uganda

LOCAL soft drinks manufacturer, Crown Beverages, is set to roll out its operations to other regional economies. The move, according to the company’s board chairman, Amos Nzeyi, aims to consolidate its market share amid increasing competition in the beverages industry. “Crown Beverages will cross borders and I believe with everybody’s support, we will be able to achieve this,” Nzeyi said. He was on Saturday speaking at an event to celebrate the company’s achievements for the past year at Hotel Africana in Kampala. ...

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/709487

.18 Megaslumming - A Journey Through sub-Saharan Africa's Largest Shantytown

Share The World's Resources

Kibera has become one of the most infamous slums in the world. But the visiting pop stars, politicians and Western journalists seldom explain how the enduring poverty and inequality in Kenya is intimately related to an unjust economic system that connects our different worlds. In this exposé, Adam Parsons sets out to unravel how a ‘megaslum’ such as Kibera came to exist, what economic forces shape the reality of life for slum-dwellers in Africa, and what it really means to live in extreme poverty. In a mix of travel writing, history and political narrative, Megaslumming vividly describes life in the slum through the eyes of its different residents – the AIDS orphans, the grandmother-headed households, the neglected schools, the Nubian elders, and most of all the street boys who become the author’s guides and bodyguards inside the dangerous shantytown. …

http://www.stwr.org/megaslumming-a-journey-through-sub-saharan-africas-largest-shantytown.html

.19 First-Ever Drop In Filings Under Patent Cooperation Treaty Seen In 2009

Intellectual Property Watch (blog)

International patent filings under the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Patent Cooperation Treaty fell for the first time in three decades in 2009, owing to a deep economic downturn, WIPO officials said today. Overall patent filings fell 4.5 percent in 2009, but industrialised nations were particularly hard-hit, and are also expected to have slower growth rates in 2010 than emerging economies. ... The picture was more variegated at the national level. The biggest industrialised-country players in the international patent system saw major declines in their filings in 2009, with the US filing 11.4 percent fewer patents than in 2008, Germany losing 11.2 percent, Sweden 11.3 and Canada 11.7 percent of filings. But China increased its patent filings 29.7 percent, enough to surpass France and become the fifth largest patent filer to the PCT, meaning that now three of the top five are Asian states. The other two Asian nations in the top five also saw increased performance, ...

http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/02/08/first-ever-drop-in-filings-under-patent-cooperation-treaty-in-2009/

12. Blogging about Regional Communities Contents

.01 Regional Economy vs Global Economy

Loving Home in Practice

The horrible consequence of the predominance of global scale business (manufacture, logistics and retailing) is that regional marketplaces have been utterly destroyed. ... There clearly are regional businesses, but the norm is of national and global scale. ... At the time when the global retailers became prominent, they superceded (killed) regional marketplaces. The regional retailers, regional wholesalers, and largely regional manufacturers, all vanished in the 1980’s and 90’s. The institutional structure of the regional manufacturers and the networks of wholesalers is now destroyed. ... There is no warehousing and middle-men structure to support regional retailers, and those that would try would face financially compromised customers (paying late, going bankrupt). Its a remote prospect at this point. ... A state has very limited powers relative to the supply chain of labor standards (slave and child labor), environmental (toxins, deforestation), monopoly practices, etc. There is no regional scale governance. A large consequence of the shift to a regional scale economy would a great increase in the distribution of employment. If manufacturing, distribution, and retailing is relatively local, then jobs will be as well. …

http://rwitty.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/regional-economy-vs-global-economy/

.02 Economic Development Marketing and Attraction: Communicating Your Community’s Economic Competitive Advantage

Inside Business Blog

In developing a community’s or region’s economic development marketing and attraction strategy, it’s important to have a greater understanding of the regional economy and its industries. The more accurately one can identify those industries and firms that best match the community’s existing capabilities, the more accurately one can target their economic development marketing and attraction efforts.

http://blog.nsbdc.org/2010/02/01/economic-development-marketing-and-attraction-communicating-your-community%E2%80%99s-economic-competitive-advantage/

.03 Vote with Your Fork! State of the Pantry Report

Adventures In Daily Living

Here are our goals, in no particular order, with the over-arching consideration in parentheses.

* to shun misery-laden production practices (personal ethical health, preservation of small parcel agriculture[usually]),

* to shun edible-food-like products that have factory origins (personal physical health, personal financial health, regional environmental health*).

* to shun farming practices that rely on the intense use of petroleum-based fertilizers (personal health, regional environmental health).

* to shun foods laden with antibiotics and insecticides (personal physical health, community/regional environmental health).

Here is our State of the Pantry report:

Goals Met:

* Beef -- Misery-free grass-fed beef born, raised, and butchered in one set of pastures within our region. Purchased directly from farmer.

* Eggs -- Our own misery-free yard-fed hens give us plenty of these.

* Flour -- Organic regional flour milled by locally-owned flour mill.

http://www.adventuresindailyliving.blogspot.com/2010/02/vote-with-your-fork-state-of-pantry.html

.04 The commons as a common paradigm for social movements and beyond

CommonsBlog

We can only promote the commons as a new narrative for the 21st century if they are identified as a common denominator by different social movements and schools of thought. In my point of view, enforcing the commons would be not only possible, but strategically intelligent. Here are 15 reasons why: … 6. Focussing the commons brings three big C into a new balance: Cooperation, Command and Competition. There is no cooperation without competition and vice-versa, but in a commons based society the recognition is gained by those who perform best in cooperation and not in competition. The slogan is: Out-cooperate instead of out-compete. The specific rules for cooperation in a commons system vary from setting to setting. Nobody can command them from above. From commons research and practice we learn, that all over the world many commons governance systems are self-regulating, that means: they are creating their own monitoring systems. Or they are self-regulating and coordinate at different institutional levels.

http://commonsblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/the-commons-as-a-common-paradigm-for-social-movements-and-beyond/

and http://www.onthecommons.org/content.php?id=2642

.05 Neo-liberalism beats Neo-realism

Politics in Motion

According to Neo-liberals there are many cases in which institutions do matter. They can: provide information; reduce transaction costs; make commitments credible; establish focal points for coordination, and in general facilitate the operation of reciprocity (Keoane & Martin 1994). What Keohane & Martin defend is that, contrary to Neo-realist belief, states can functionally make use of the existence and good function of institutions to improve the quality of information and optimize potential gains from cooperation. They also make more than, as Mersheimer criticizes, simply preventing cheating. Institutions have the ability to work as moderators and control to a certain extent “fears of unequal gains from cooperation” (Keohane & Martin 1994). ...

http://politicsinmotion.blogspot.com/2007/05/neo-liberalism-beats-neo-realism.html

13. Announcements and Regional Links. Contents

.01 International Conference of Innovative Cities - March 10 -13 - Curitiba, Brazil

Four Days, Four Major Themes:

1 - The Revival of Cities | Remarkable experiences on social and technological innovations that are competing for the construction of a new urban environment (including the environment for the development of the new industry)

2 - The reinvention of the government from cities | Remarkable experiences on management innovations (including urban planning and management of policies and innovative programs)| Remarkable experiences on political innovations (including policies and politics) | The City as "Living Organism".

3 - The development governance in cities | Remarkable experiences on innovations for the endogenous development | Remarkable experiences on innovations for sustainability | The City as a Network and Sustainability of Cities.

4 - Networking City and City Networks | Presentation of the FIEP-OPTI project, 'Curitiba, Innovative City' | Formation of the Innovative Cities Network initial center.

http://www.cidadesinovadoras.org.br/english/

.02 Regional Studies Association Sessions and Annual Regional Studies Journal Lecture by Professor Paul Krugman - April 15 & 16 at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Conference, Washington D.C., USA

Thursday - April 15th

Regional Studies Association - Day of Sessions

Session speakers: Ann Markusen, Sam Ock Park, Maryann Feldman, Andrew Isserman,

Henry Yeung and Susan Christopherson

Session topics:

* Innovation and Restructuring

* Ecological and Social Perspectives

* Urban Responses and Strategies

* Regional Resilience Panel Debate

* Regional Resilience Plenary - Professor Ed Glaeser

“Two Centuries of Urban Resurgence and Decline”

Regional Studies Journal Annual Lecture

Friday April 16th - 12:40pm

Professor Paul Krugman - Nobel Prize Winner

“The New Economic Geography, Now Middle Aged”

To attend the above sessions please register for the AAG Annual Conference.

Day rates available. Discounts apply if booking before 17th March

http://www.aag.org/annualmeetings/2010/index.htm

Regional Studies Association - www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk

.03 Oceanology International 2010 Conference - 9 - 11 March - London

Oceanology International is the world’s premier meeting place for the marine science and ocean technology community. The Oceanology International 2010 conference, developed with the Society for Underwater Technology, will focus on the five core technical disciplines: Navigation & Positioning; Hydrography/Geophysics; Marine Environment; Geotechnics; Ocean Observation and Forecasting.

http://www.oceanologyinternational.com/

14. Financial Crisis. Contents

.01 The Celtic Tiger Savaged the Irish - RenegadeEconomist

Fred Harrison lectures to five hundred people at Trinity College Dublin and explains where to go from here for Ireland and her people.

Video - 7:27 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPBWTJsc5Og&feature

Books: http://www.fredharrison.org/publications.asp

.02 Think the PIGS Are in Trouble? These 7 U.S. States Could Be Heading for Something Worse - SeekingAlpha.com

The inevitable coming of the sovereign debt panic finally engulfed Europe this week as the derisively (or perhaps affectionately) named PIGS spilled their slop on the continent. But Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain are hardly worthy of so much attention. In truth, they are little more than the currently favored proxies among the leveraged speculator community (cough) for the larger problem of all sovereign debt. Indeed, the credit default swaps on these smaller European satellite states were not alone this week in making large moves higher. UK sovereign risk rose strongly, and so did US sovereign risk. With a downgrade warning from Moody’s to boot.

Notable among three of the PIGS are their relatively small populations, and small contributions to either world or European GDP. While Spain has a population over 45 million, Portugal and Greece have populations roughly equal to a US state, such as Ohio–at around 10 million. And Ireland? The Emerald Isle has a population similar to Kentucky, at around 4 million. While the PIGS are without question a problem for Europe, whatever problems they present for Brussels are easily matched by the looming headache for Washington that’s coming from large, US states such as California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan.

I’ve identified seven large US states by four criteria that are sure to cause trouble for Washington’s political class at least for the next 3 years, through the 2012 elections. These are states with big populations, very high rates of unemployment, and which have already had to borrow big to pay unemployment claims. In addition, as a kind of Gregor.us kicker, I’ve thrown in a fourth criteria to identify those states that are large net importers of energy. Because the step change to higher energy prices played, and continues to play, such a large role in the developed world’s financial crisis it’s instructive to identify those US states that will struggle for years against the rising tide of higher energy costs.

...

http://seekingalpha.com/article/187051-think-the-pigs-are-in-trouble-these-7-u-s-states-could-be-heading-for-something-worse?

15. Custom search: region, regions, regional communities Contents

To search on topics like those in Regional Community Development News use this custom search engine which utilizes over 2000 regional related sites.

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.” It is my thesis that "regional communities” are emerging where multi-jurisdictional regional council organizations exist.

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 Google Search services. 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. Regional Community Development News is published bi-monthly based on news reports as of the publication date.

For the Blog and RSS feed go to: http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/

News updates via Twitter: http://twitter.com/tomchristoffel

Delicious Bookmarks: http://delicious.com/I.see.regions.work

Questions, comments or items to feature in Regional Community Development News?

Please email the Editor: Tom.Christoffel@gmail.com

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

Tom (Thomas J.) Christoffel, AICP - http://www.regional-communities.com/