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Regional Community Development News – October 14, 2009 [regions_work]

 

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 - .17

Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet … 11.01 - .10

Blogging about Regional Communities … 12.01 - .02

Announcements and Regional Links … 13.01 - .02

Financial Crisis …14.01 - .02

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

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Top Regional Community stories

  1. Counties share $700K in federal stimulus funds - Rutland Herald – Rutland, VT, USA

Four southern Vermont counties will receive nearly $700,000 in economic stimulus money to promote energy efficiency.

Independent Sen. Bernard Sanders, who heads the Senate Environment Committee's Green Jobs and New Economy Subcommittee, authored legislation that established the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

"The block grant program recognizes the importance of local efforts to create good-paying jobs in developing sustainable energy and promoting energy efficiency," Sanders said. "What I particularly like about this approach is that it relies on local initiatives and grassroots participation."

The grants were designated for county governments and Vermont, which does not have county government, was initially ineligible for the money. Sanders, along with Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy and Democratic Rep. Peter Welch, appealed to the Department of Energy to create county equivalent governing bodies, which opened the door for regional planning commissions to apply for the money.

"We had great support from all three offices in our federal delegation," said James Matteau, executive director of the Windham Regional Commission [ http://www.rpc.windham.vt.us/ ], which will receive $130,800 in stimulus money.

Peter Gregory, executive director of the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commission [ http://www.trorc.org/  ] in Woodstock, said his organization would use the $193,300 it is sharing with the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission to perform energy audits of municipal buildings and provide money for retrofit work.

The Addison County Regional Planning Commission [ http://www.acrpc.org/ ]  will also use some of its $153,700 for energy audits of as many as 30 municipal buildings, said executive director Adam Lougee, …

The grants hopefully will help the planning commissions to create programs that are self-sustaining, Gregory said.

"Although this is stimulus money and it will end at some point, we are trying to establish a program that will outlive its funding source," Gregory said.

The Rutland Regional Planning Commission [ http://www.rutlandrpc.org/ ] will receive $189,700

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20091014/NEWS02/910140340/1003/NEWS02

 

  2. Eros Triumphs…At Least in Some Places, Mapping Natural Population Increases - New Geography

As with other advanced capitalist societies, the US population is aging. About 30 percent of US counties experienced natural decrease – more deaths than births – in the 2000-2007 period.

Nevertheless, the most exceptional feature of the United States remains its unusually high level of natural increase, and significant degree of population growth. This is often attributed to the high level of immigration, especially from Mexico, illegal as well as legal, and their high fertility. This process is indeed critical, even though most of the migration is in fact legal, and the share from Mexico is not as high as commonly perceived. Also most of the Hispanic population in the United States is native, not immigrant.

Perhaps a more important feature of US society contributing to a smaller decline in fertility than in most other advanced countries is the extraordinary cultural traditionalism of perhaps half the American population. This is reflected in the so-called “culture wars”: a more educated modernism, pejoratively dubbed as “secular humanist,” versus a more traditional, religion-observing “moral majority.”

Conservatives campaign against abortion and even contraception, and maintain an amazingly high level of religiosity and skepticism of science, creating a climate favorable to a level of fertility above replacement levels (2.1 per female). The super pro-child Mormon Church alone claims millions of members, and evangelical groups boast even more. This creates a fascinating, future-influencing tension between a younger-growing, more educated population choosing lower fertility on average, and a more traditional population more successful at reproducing themselves!

Natural increase, then, can be expected in the following kinds of areas. …

Geography of Natural Increase

Figure 1 maps natural increase by five levels, …

Map 2 sorts counties according to in or out migration, population gain or loss, and the role of natural increase versus net in-migration. … border region counties …

http://www.newgeography.com/content/001090-eros-triumphs…at-least-some-places-mapping-natural-population-increases

 

  3. Globalization, but also regionalization - AlArabiya.net

In this era of globalization, countries do still pay a great deal of attention to matters of national interest and concern. Against the belief of some, globalization does not erode or diminish the role of nation states, it, in many ways, augments and fosters it.

But countries should be paying much attention to globalization, as it has become a reality and active engagement with it is a must.

" In the Middle East, for example, collaboration has been either minimal or not up to expectations. Borders and many old-fashioned regulations, procedures, attitudes, prejudices and biases greatly hinder (at times totally obstruct) not just the flow of persons and goods, but also basic levels of coordination and cooperation, and implementation of good ideas "

Then there are many who stress the importance of engaging at both national and global levels. But few are talking about another important level of engagement: regional.

Countries are often clustered in regions. This is why one talks, for example, about the Arab world, Southeast Asia, Central America, the Middle East, etc. As such, matters concerning regions should receive much attention.

Some regions have been paying good (at time excellent) attention to their affairs, coordinating matters of mutual concern skillfully and efficiently. Many examples can be cited from Europe, Southeast Asia and North and South America to illustrate models of good regional cooperation.

Other regions have not witnessed much cooperation among countries making them up.

In the Middle East, for example, collaboration has been either minimal or not up to expectations. Borders and many old-fashioned regulations, procedures, attitudes, prejudices and biases greatly hinder (at times totally obstruct) not just the flow of persons and goods, but also basic levels of coordination and cooperation, and implementation of good ideas. …

http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2009/10/09/87460.html

 

  4. Logistics dream: Chamber wants to remake region's roads, rail, airports into global hub -Crain's Detroit Business - MI, USA

Three hundred years ago, the Detroit region was a thriving trading post of fur trappers and frontier settlers, a strategic gateway into the virgin American interior and worthy of geopolitical maneuvering by the great powers of the day.

Now, the Detroit Regional Chamber wants to remake the region into a modern inland air-sea-rail-ground port worthy of its colonial history through an economic development and jobs-creation initiative designed to take advantage of U.S. logistics spending forecasted to grow to $14 trillion from $4 trillion now.

To do so will require money, time, patience and cooperation.

For starters, the chamber's effort to create a global logistics hub out of Detroit and surrounding metro areas — known as Translinked — needs $1.5 million to lay a foundation by the end of next year.

The chamber has applied for government grants and private funding and expects to know in coming months if it will get the money, said Melissa Roy, the chamber's senior director of government relations and the point person on the Translinked effort.

Answering those questions together is important before we embark on a regional governance model or plan,” Roy said. “It is a challenge.

...

“It's often difficult to get the region on the same page for anything,” Roy said.

Besides the regional and state political leadership, the chamber is targeting entities such as port authorities, economic development corporations, managers of transportation systems and private industry.

…

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091013/EMAIL01/310139998#

 

  5. Officials sidetrack county's rail plans - SignOnSanDiego.com - CA, USA

The scenic railway that threads along San Diego County's coast has been in need of expansion and renovation for years.

So when the federal government recently launched its economic stimulus program, San Diego's regional planning agency sought $377 million to pay for improvements, including laying new track and replacing creaky bridges.

Most of the request never made it to Washington.

Instead, state officials decided to seek rail stimulus money for a single big-ticket project: a bullet train that doesn't include San Diego in its initial development.

Critics argue that the region — part of the second-busiest rail corridor in the nation — was robbed of a chance to move ahead with a series of shovel-ready improvements so the state could seek money for a project that's fatally flawed.

To Jim Mills, the former state senator who helped shape San Diego's modern-day rail system, the request shows misplaced priorities.

 “This was a good opportunity to improve existing rail service,” said Mills, known as the father of the San Diego Trolley. “San Diego County got shortchanged.”

San Diegan Lynn Schenk, a California High-Speed Rail Authority board member, said the rail system will ultimately bring huge benefits to the region, including thousands of construction jobs as well as congestion relief.

Although not the first phase of the project, construction of a Riverside-to-San Diego leg could begin by 2014, with completion by 2022, Schenk said.

…

Schenk and others say the coastal railway is a worthy candidate for other sources of government money, including state transportation bonds.

The San Diego Association of Governments, the region's planning agency, identified the $377 million in rail improvements between San Clemente and downtown San Diego.

…

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/14/1n14train183934/?metro&zIndex=182205

 

  6. White House on board to fix Detroit's bus mess – Detroit Free Press - Detroit, MI, USA

Federal officials are coming soon to figure out what can be done to help Detroit's struggling bus system, the Obama administration's top transportation official said Tuesday.

"It's the most common thing I've heard," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday, after a two-day visit to Detroit. "We need to figure out what they need. Is it more money, more equipment?"

The city -- facing a budget deficit -- has cut bus routes and 113 jobs in the Detroit Department of Transportation, leaving some bus riders stranded. …

Ed Cardenas, spokesman for Mayor Dave Bing, said the city looks forward to working with the Obama administration, "and we appreciate the offer of support."

Transit is going to be a federal priority as President Barack Obama pushes for pedestrain-friendly communities.

"One of the most critical aspects that we'll be looking at is there has to be a regional collaboration," he said. "There isn't enough money to do these things single-handedly."

In the late 1970s, the region walked away from $600 million in federal money to help build a light-rail system from downtown Detroit to Oakland and Macomb counties because city and suburban officials couldn't agree. In 2002, Gov. John Engler vetoed a bill that would have created a regional transportation authority.

"You all have to get your act together on this. It's not that complicated," LaHood said.

Metro Detroit leaders have agreed on a master plan, but they still must get the Legislature to create a regional transit authority, …

http://www.freep.com/article/20091014/NEWS06/910140304/1320/White-House-on-board-to-fix-Detroit-s-bus-mess

 

  7. Federally funded regional consortium to test ways to improve education - The Kansas City Star – Kansas City, MO, USA

With federal dollars flying at education at the speed of a national emergency, the Obama administration would like to know the money is fueling ideas that work.

Answers to that billion-dollar question soon may come from Kansas City.

Five universities from Kansas and Missouri are teaming up with at least 32 area school districts, plus Catholic schools and charter schools, to create an education research laboratory that is garnering national attention.

“We are at a real crucial time in public education,” John Q. Easton, a Department of Education administrator, recently told a group of educators and researchers in Kansas City.

Easton spoke of the burden weighing on himself and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

“We’re spending billions of dollars,” Easton said. “And he (Duncan) said we don’t want to wait to find out five or six years down the road what ideas are successful and what aren’t.”

Kansas City is an unlikely — but potentially effective — source for quick answers.

The region is unlikely because education data are splintered between two state systems and across a diverse field of small to medium-size school districts.

Only a few of the larger Johnson County districts serve more than 20,000 students. Kansas and Missouri also use different performance tests that resist comparisons across the state line.

All of that makes it hard to amass the kind of usable data that have marked a successful research collaboration between Chicago-area universities and the 400,000-student Chicago public schools.

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1503284.html

 

  8. Upcoming conference will focus on regional development - Times-West Virginian - Fairmont, WV, USA

The Regional Research Institute at West Virginia University and the Economic Development Administration are coming together to focus on regional development during an upcoming conference.

Randall Jackson is director of the WVU Regional Research Institute and also a professor in the university’s geology and geography department. The RRI, founded in 1965, focuses on regional economic development research.

“Our mission over all of those years has centered on the study of regional economic development with a focus on lagging regions,” he said. “Our research is not limited just to West Virginia or the Appalachian region, (but) we obviously take special interest in research that has application to our own region.”

…

As a public service, the institute publishes the Web Book of Regional Science [http://www.rri.wvu.edu/regscweb.htm],  which is a fairly extensive collection of reference materials that instructors around the globe use for course materials and that professionals and planning agencies also utilize. …

WVU’s Regional Research Institute and the Economic Development Administration are co-hosting a conference in Morgantown this month. The First Annual EDA Economic Development Research Symposium will take place at the Clarion Hotel Morgan on Oct. 21 and 22. The symposium is titled “Charting the Course for Regional Development.”

…

The EDA is looking to be informed about the work that is being done and examine how those endeavors can be leveraged for future projects and policies, he said. The symposium will include presentations of research projects and a variety of panel sessions and discussions.

“These are all issues related to regional economic development strategies,” Jackson said.

He said discussion topics will include regional innovation systems, educational institutions and levels of research and development, workforce issues, the characteristics most conducive to presenting a healthy economy, and much more.

…

 

http://www.timeswv.com/business/local_story_284045441.html

 

  9. Philadelphia Launches Web Site to Focus on Regional Social Innovations and Social Entrepreneurs - PRNewswire - USA

On October 14 Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal (www.philasocialinnovations.org), the first regional web-based journal of its kind, launches to bring together Philadelphia's top social innovators and entrepreneurs to recognize and solve current social issues. The quarterly Journal will provide a forum for the Greater Philadelphia region's top social innovators -- those who have demonstrated an exceptional capacity to recognize social problems and apply entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage high-impact social change locally, regionally and beyond.

"Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal will build a pipeline of social innovations for expansion, meeting our community's needs. Now more than ever, we need to invest in programs that work and find innovative, effective solutions to our nation's most serious challenges," comments Michele Jolin, Senior Advisor for Social Innovation for the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal co-founders Nicholas Torres of Congreso and Tine Hansen-Turton of National Nursing Centers Consortium and Public Health Management Corporation want to bridge formal research with practice. Inspired by Stanford Social Innovation Review, also a sponsor of the Journal, Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal pioneers a new avenue, bringing attention to the current and ongoing innovative work in the Greater Philadelphia nonprofit and social sector business community with respect to access to health care, human capital, education and workforce development, and violence prevention.

"The Philadelphia region leads in creating cutting edge social innovations, many of which go unnoticed," says Torres. "Many of our region's organizations and their leaders receive a great deal of regional, state, national, and in some cases international recognition; yet, we see very little opportunity for these agencies to publish their own social innovations, share best practices or lessons learned. Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal presents that opportunity."

 

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philadelphia-launches-web-site-to-focus-on-regional-social-innovations-and-social-entrepreneurs-64000152.html

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  Mayors in Rhode Island look at consolidating for savings

Providence Journal - RI, USA

The regionalization of public-safety and public-works services in seven metropolitan Providence communities is the goal of enabling legislation that Providence  Mayor David N. Cicilline plans to submit to the  General Assembly. The legislation, drafted after discussions with the other municipal leaders, is aimed at clearing potential hurdles to regionalization that may exist in city and town charters, state law or regulations so that the seven communities — Providence, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls — could begin making plans for creation of metropolitan police, fire and public-works districts. The goal of regionalization, Cicilline says, is to maintain services and to cut costs in difficult economic conditions. “I think all of the mayors recognize that these are extraordinary times, and while we’re working very hard to grow our economies … at the same time I think we have to be willing to look at new models for the delivery of services … so that we can realize some savings because of the economies of scale,” Cicilline said. Planning for exactly how the metropolitan districts would work in a region that represents some 43 percent of the state’s population would not begin in earnest unless the legislation is passed, the mayor said. ...

 

http://www.projo.com/ri/eastprovidence/content/METRO_PUBLIC_SAFETY_10-02-09_83FTLPT_v92.3cf4d7c.html

 

    .02  Tri-State Summit highlights results of cooperation

Hannibal.net - Hannibal, MO, USA

The road to prosperity is built with regional cooperation and support for businesses that are willing to take risks.  Speakers hammered home the message at Monday’s Tri-State Development Summit in Fairfield, Iowa. The event, the eighth such gathering in 13 years, stressed the needs of workforce, infrastructure, incentives and livability in 35 counties of Northeast Missouri, West-Central Illinois and Southeast Iowa. Entrepreneurial expert Deb Markley said businesses don’t worry about geographic boundaries, especially during hard times.  “Regionalism is essential,” Markley said. “Half the battle is getting people to think regionally. That’s happened here.” … George Walley of the Hannibal-based Northeast Missouri Development Authority said regionalism leads to a “better use of resources” in promoting growth. ...

 

http://www.hannibal.net/news_local/x593082082/Tri-State-Summit-highlights-results-of-cooperation

 

    .03  Clayton County Transit to Fold under Budget Pressure

Public Broadcasting Atlanta - Atlanta, GA, USA

The public transportation service that helped more than 2 million Clayton County residents get around last year will stop on March 31st. The County's Board of Commissioners voted yesterday to shut C-TRAN down in the face of funding challenges, rather than modify it. ... The Commission may revisit the decision if state funding becomes available. But Tom Weyandt of the Atlanta Regional Commission says it's unlikely that the General Assembly would consider C-TRAN alone ... "It seems to me that the issue probably needs to focus on how we're going to focus on developing a sustained source of transit funding for all the transit operations we have in the region. It's not clear how Clayton might get that any sooner. The Assembly did not approve recent attempts to allow for regional transportation funding. So C-TRAN riders will likely have to find back-up plans for transportation." ...

 

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1566112/Atlanta/Clayton.County.Transit.to.Fold.under.Budget.Pressure

 

    .04  Regional forum on levee plan is Wednesday

Hannibal.net – Hannibal, MO, USA

… invitation letter for the forum, commissioners say the plan “holds much promise for most areas, but could cause huge amounts of damage to the crops, livestock, homes and businesses in the eastern part of Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties.” Mike Klingner is a Quincy, Ill., engineer with extensive experience in river studies worldwide. He is a member of the Upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Association, which has endorsed the plan. Klingner said the proposal is not set in stone and there is room for it to be “fine-tuned.” The key, he said, will be regional cooperation, because Congress won’t authorize funding if there isn’t agreement on both sides of the river. …

 

http://www.hannibal.net/news_local/x1128385017/Regional-forum-on-levee-plan-is-Wednesday

 

    .05  Speak your mind in a Northeast regional energy survey

Pine Journal - Cloquet, MN, USA

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) and Iron Range Resources (IRR) are working in collaboration to survey and assess activity and needs related to energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy projects in northeast Minnesota. The results of this survey will guide efforts to develop financial and planning assistance outreach programs for communities working on energy related projects. ... The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) is a regional comprehensive planning and development agency serving the counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis in Northeast Minnesota. ARDC’s mission is to serve the people of the Arrowhead Region by providing local units of government and citizen groups a means to work cooperatively in identifying needs, solving problems and fostering local leadership.

 

http://www.pinejournal.com/event/article/id/17991/

 

    .06  New Mexico remakes itself a hub for emerging Smart Grid

Green.VentureBeat.com

New Mexico may become the epicenter of the cleaner, more efficient Smart Grid shaping up all over the country. A proposal unveiled by state governor Bill Richardson today calls for a massive electric transmission station in Clovis, N.M., dubbed the Tres Amigas Super Station, designed to connect the U.S.’s three main power grids and better channel solar and wind energy. The proposed project, which would take about five years to build beginning in 2011 or 2012, would be the largest power converter in the world, covering 22 square miles and fundamentally changing how electricity flows across the country. New Mexico, which would benefit tremendously from the jobs and revenue created by the facility, was chosen because it is located nearest to where the three power grids — referred to as the East, West and Texas interconnections — meet up. On top of that, conditions in the state would allow it to generate up to 27 gigawatts of solar and wind energy. ... Tres Amigas would route energy through underground superconductor pipelines (measuring 3 feet in diameter) equipped with AC/DC converters to provide seamless transmission between one region and the next. …

 

http://green.venturebeat.com/2009/10/13/new-mexico-remakes-itself-as-hub-for-emerging-smart-grid/

 

 

    .07  Wrong way on FasTracks funds

Denver Post - CO, USA

Putting new rapid transit money in untouchable silos, reserved for certain FasTracks lines, might seem like a safe approach for suburban politicians who feel their towns have been shortchanged by the multibillion-dollar transit expansion plan. But it's a strategy that threatens to undermine the regionalism on which the project was founded while ignoring the true reason for RTD's present difficulties: unrealistic revenue and cost estimates. ... We hope a new, realistic set of projections will spark realistic discussions about how to get the project done in a way that will serve all of those who bought into the idea that FasTracks would unite the metro area both politically and through mass transit.

 

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_13555807

 

    .08  Atlanta unfairly blocks reservoirs

Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA

Metro Atlanta has been blessed with a deluge of late-summer rains. But the downpours will do little to address a historic drought and our long-term water crisis. We need new strategies now to ensure that the water needs of metro Atlantans can be met, and we need to work together — and not at cross-purposes — to create more water storage capacity in our region. This came into sharp focus when U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson ruled July 17 that Congress never intended for Lake Lanier to be used for water-drinking purposes. Judge Magnuson gave the region three years to resolve two decades of water conflicts with Florida and Alabama. Failing a new congressional resolution allowing metro Atlanta to use this critical water supply for drinking purposes, metro Atlanta’s water withdrawal, the judge ruled, must revert back to 1970s levels. But of course, our growth has exploded since the 1970s. ...

 

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/atlanta-unfairly-blocks-reservoirs-163143.html

 

    .09  New Jersey's tax structure warps land-use decisions

newjerseynewsroom.com - NJ, USA

A recent Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Poll revealed, to no one's surprise, that New Jerseyans are not happy about paying the nation's highest property taxes. But the poll also offered some surprising insights into what we are willing to do to change this state of affairs-including taking some significant steps that would improve the way land-use decisions are made, and allow for more regional governance and cost-sharing. ...

 

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/commentary/new-jerseys-tax-structure-warps-land-use-decisions

 

    .10  Residents voice concern with bullet train plans

Gilroy Dispatch - Gilroy, CA, USA

Local skeptics of the California High-Speed Rail Authority's grand vision of bullet trains zipping up and down the state at 200 mph voiced their concerns ... resident asked how the lawsuit filed against the rail authority would affect the project. ...  "That's up to the judge and attorneys," said Dave Mansen, a regional project manager for the rail authority. "Our attorneys have asked us not to comment on the specifics." Mansen would say, however, that the presiding judge chose not to issue the stop work order requested by the plaintiffs. ...

 

http://www.gilroydispatch.com/news/260070-residents-voice-concern-with-bullet-train-plans

 

    .11  ACLU raises questions about intelligence center plans

The Daily Texan - Austin, TX, USA

The American Civil Liberties Union is expressing concern about the privacy policy draft for the soon-to-be established Austin Regional Intelligence Center, citing unclear language regarding military involvement and the administration of information. The center will be a single intelligence-gathering entity led by the Austin Police Department with participating agencies from across Central Texas, including the Round Rock Police Department and the sheriff’s offices of both Travis and Williamson counties. ... APD gave the ACLU a Sept. 3 draft of the center’s privacy policy, and the ACLU then submitted their concerns, including the lack of a clause that specifically states military participation in domestic intelligence-gathering be forbidden in compliance with federal law. ...

 

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/top-stories/aclu-raises-questions-about-intelligence-center-plans-1.1997167

 

    .12  Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone Adds Five Counties to its Region

Reuters - USA

The US Foreign-Trade Zones Board approved a broad expansion of the Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone Inc. (GFTZ) - a move which widens the organization's reach into Middle-Georgia and paves the way for numerous companies to reap economic benefits from the program.  ... The expansion represents the successful effort for the GFTZ to take a more regional approach and management to what has been largely a metro Atlanta initiative. GFTZ had maintained sites in seven counties surrounding the Atlanta metro region - Clayton, Fayette, Cherokee, Muscogee, Spalding, Gwinnett, and Henry.  GFTZ has also sponsored multiple FTZ subzone applications at individual company facilities throughout Georgia. Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization responsible for oversight of Foreign Trade Zone #26, located in Atlanta. ...

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS153061+13-Oct-2009+PRN20091013

 

    .13  Business competition prize doubled to $200000

The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com

New York’s Creative Core Emerging Business Competition is doubling its prize money for the company that shows itself to be the most innovative and growth-oriented emerging business in the 12-county central Upstate region. The Central Upstate Regional Alliance, the group that has sponsored the annual competition since its launch in 2007, plans to announce today that the top prize next year will be $200,000, twice as much as the $100,000 grand prize awarded each of the last three years. Allen Naples, president of the Syracuse Division of M&T Bank and chairman of the Regional Alliance, said the increase makes it the largest privately-funded cash prize of its kind in the nation. ...

 

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/business_competition_prize_dou.html

 

    .14  Tonight on TribTV: Community leaders to take residents' questions at regional forum

wisconsinrapidstribune.com Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

Leaders from nine south Wood County municipalities will be available to answer residents’ questions at a first-of-its-kind forum tonight. Sponsored by River Cities Community Access, the event is designed to give community members the opportunity to better understand collaborative efforts of local municipal officials and to find out more about regional issues. ...

 

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20091014/WRT0101/91014135/1982

 

    .15  Ping Identity Helps Regional Information Sharing Systems® Extend Information Sharing Across Law Enforcement Agencies

Reuters.com

Three years after launching its Trusted Credentials Project (TCP), more than 1,200 law enforcement officers are logging into their native systems and gaining immediate access to Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) resources with the help of Ping Identity. RISS users can also access resources on other systems using Ping Identity.  A federally funded program with more than 8,500 member agencies, RISS supports efforts to combat terrorist activity, illegal drug trafficking, organized criminal activity, and other criminal priorities across jurisdictional lines. ...

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS88945+14-Oct-2009+BW20091014

 

    .16  Metro audit brings 54 recommendations

Portland Business Journal - Portland, OR, USA

Officials from Metro, the Portland area’s regional government that oversees land use and planning issues, said the agency’s audits last year yielded 54 recommendations that will improve the agency’s operations. ... The agency reported that it has three audits under way. One, which will analyze operations in the Oregon Zoo, is expected to be completed next month. A regional transportation study will be released in January while Metro’s financial conditions audit comes out in May. Metro is also planning audits on the region’s natural areas, the agency’s budget and the way it oversees large contracts.

 

http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/10/12/daily22.html

 

    .17  Bay Bridge motorists could soon pay $6 to cross span

The San Francisco Examiner - CA

Driving across the Bay Bridge could cost $6 as early as the middle of next year. The suggested toll hike is one of three proposals that would have Bay Area drivers paying more to cross the seven state-owned bridges in the region. The money would raise more than $160 million for regional infrastructure projects. ...

 

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Bay-Bridge-motorists-could-soon-pay-6-to-cross-span-during-busy-travel-times-64262562.html

 

11. Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet   Contents

    .01  Buses running again but row far from over

New Zealand Herald - Auckland, NZ

Auckland's main bus fleet is due back on the roads this morning, but a week-long lockout of drivers has left community leaders seething over damage to the credibility of public transport in the region. The five-month dispute between NZ Bus and its unionised workforce remains far from settled after 500 drivers and cleaners yesterday voted down a revised pay offer in a secret ballot by a 95 per cent margin. ... "Auckland is the loser ... There has been a huge credibility loss by the provider. "All they have done is put us back a couple of years into the mindset that says every time there needs to be a negotiation we can't count on the buses being there - that's a huge loss." Mr Barnett, who is also deputy chairman of the Auckland Regional Council, said he held the bus provider fully accountable for the disruption rather than its drivers. Regional chairman Mike Lee believed the company was "taking an almost colonial approach" and feared it would take months if not years for bus patronage to recover in difficult political times for securing enough money for the region's transport needs. ...

 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603283

 

    .02  EU, China hold high-level meeting on regional policy

China View - China

The European Union and China held … the 4th high-level meeting on regional policy to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field. This annual meeting is taking place within the framework of the EU-China dialogue on regional policy, aiming to agree on a joint working program for 2010 to pursue a mutually beneficial exchange of experience on regional policy. "The regional policy dialogue is one of the most successful aspects of cooperation in the overall EU-China policy dialogue, " European Commissioner for Regional Policy Pawe Samecki said in a press release ahead of the meeting. "We still have a lot to learn from each other to tackle our respective regional policy challenges," the commissioner added. The meeting has mainly focused on the publication of a joint study on EU-China regional policies. The study, which should be ready by the end of the year, will compare key aspects of regional policy in China and the EU including the classification of regions, regional governance issues, and the role of regional policy in promoting innovation and competitiveness. ...

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/13/content_12226054.htm

 

    .03  Russia attaches great importance to cooperation at regional level with China: Russian PM

China View - China

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said here Tuesday Russia attached great importance to cooperation with China at the regional level. He made the remarks in an interview with Chinese media Tuesday during his first official visit to China since he took office as prime minister last May.  China and Russia concluded a bilateral planning outline of regional cooperation between northeast China and the Russian Far East Region and Eastern Siberia in September.  "China has worked out a plan for revitalization of its northeastern industrial bases and Russia has plans for developing its Far East region, Baikal region and Eastern Siberia", said Putin. "It will be mutually beneficial for both countries to coordinate regional development." ...

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/13/content_12225681.htm

 

    .04  Fashola Challenges World's Lawyers for a New Legal Order

THIS DAY - Nigeria

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola SAN, has called for a new legal order on the African continent that would reverse the current trend where the gun is cheaper than the hoe and the recurrent and tragic issue of genocide is reversed. Fashola who was speaking at a session of the African Regional Forum of the International Bar Association … ‘I predict that so much of the survival of the planet will depend on Africa’s blessings and resources and most importantly, on her people’, he said. ‘She must therefore be approached with respect’ he said to great applause.

Fashola who spoke with the IBA President, Fernando Pelaez-Pier, present also called for a review of the principle of non-interference by sovereign states. ‘The principle and policies on which the world was re-ordered after World War II, the principle of non-interference, should be revised. Rwanda, for instance, happened and everybody stood back’ he said. Fashola whose speech was interrupted several times by spontaneous applause called for ‘A new legal order that lifts the veil of sovereignty’, declaring, law was made for man and not man for the law.

He challenged the world’s lawyers, particularly members of the African Regional Forum, to take action ‘that would unleash the new legal order’. …

 

http://www.thisdayonline.com/who_we_are.php

 

    .05  SCO states must share vision on regional peace: PM

Daily Times - Pakistan

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Wednesday to adopt a “shared vision of trans-regional cooperation” for peace and development in the region. “I have no doubt that by collective wisdom and concerted efforts, we can contribute to building a prosperous future,” Gilani said while addressing the eighth annual meeting of the SCO council of heads of governments – which was attended y Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Secretary General Bolat Nurgaliev and heads of other SCO governments. The prime minister said that challenges facing the region – especially the financial crisis, terrorism and extremism and the energy crisis – needed to be addressed on priority. ...

 

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\10\15\story_15-10-2009_pg7_1

 

    .06  Ensuring regional cooperation, integration promote Africa's interest: State Minister

waltainfo.com - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

... 6th Session of the Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration held in Addis Ababa at the UN Conference Center. Regional integration in Africa has been a challenge mainly due to, among others, weak infrastructural development, weak institutional infrastructure, and lack of stakeholders’ capacity in terms of finance and human resources. “Regional integration is not an end by itself. It is rather a tool that contributes towards achieving sustainable economic growth and reducing the level of poverty,” the minister noted. ...

 

http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15800&Itemid=47

 

    .07  Troms County chair of Barents Regional Council

BarentsObserver.com

... first area of priority is to improve the structures of cooperation in the Barents Region and develop a closer contact between the different regions. As important is the work to implement other regional cooperation structures in the north, and also the EU efforts in the north like the Arctic strategy and the Northern Dimension. The second area which Troms will prioritize is to promote sustainable constraints in the north. The Barents Region has a large amount of various natural resources. Therefore it is important to promote research on climate and environment and the use of modern technology. The oil and gas activity outside the coast of Barents Region will create possibilities and synergies in the High North. The opening of the Polar region for transport is an additional potential for activity in the region. Svendsgård urged politicians of the north to join resources in a common plan on how to face the common challenges and possibilities of the years to come. ... The third important area of priority for the Troms Chairmanship is to promote culture and business development. The aim is to strengthen the political focus on business development, and cultural understanding is a central factor to accomplish this. Through cultural awareness Troms wish to dismantle obstacles and create close relations across the borders, and thus develop the fundament for better business relations. …

 

http://www.barentsobserver.com/troms-county-chair-of-barents-regional-council.4643272-116320.html

 

    .08  Dealing with China: African countries must model a regional approach - Andani

Joy Online - Ghana

The Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana has asked African countries to model a regional approach in their dealings with China in order to get proper dealings and returns from the relationships. Alhassan Andani said China presents such a huge opportunity for African countries to exploit to develop their respective countries. Mr. Andani however cautioned that dealing with China on bilateral basis might not be the most ideal way of advancing the larger interest of the individual countries. ...

 

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/200910/36402.asp

 

    .09  President Ben Ali's address at Tataouine Governorate Regional Council's special session

Tunisia Online News - Tunisia

... I am pleased to chair today the special session of the Regional Council of the Governorate of Tataouine, as part of the tradition we have established to follow up the development process in all regions of the country and enrich it with the necessary measures and decisions. I take this opportunity to greet and pay tribute to the inhabitants of the Governorate of Tataouine, for their unswerving adherence to the choices of the Change, and their active endeavour to promote the development process in their region and make strides forward in all fields. ... Regional development is a support base and a source of enrichment for national development; and the latter can be comprehensive, fair and balanced only when all efforts and energies are joined to make best use of the natural, cultural, tourist and economic specificities of each region, producing that convergence that is so vital for developing our economy, enhancing our potential and spreading quality of life throughout our country.”

 

http://www.tunisiaonlinenews.com/?p=26047

 

    .10  Template on disaster risk to be adopted

Business Mirror - Makati City, Philippines

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will launch in the regions beginning next month the guidelines in determining the various sources of disaster and finding the ways at reducing their impact on lives and properties. It will also ask the local governments to factor into the template the possible aggravating effect of climate change as manifested in the two recent devastating typhoons. Director Susan Jose of the Neda Regional Development Coordination Staff said the guidelines on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in the regions and provinces will be launched for application in the regions “to help the local governments delineate the hazards and identify the characteristics of these sources of disasters.” ...

 

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/17311-template-on-disaster-risk-to-be-adopted.html

 

 

12. Blogging about Regional Communities   Contents

    .01  Regionalism

The Prosperity Blog

I went to a really great discussion today at the University of Washington: remarks and a panel featuring Bruce Katz, the vice president and founding director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C.  Katz was in town to give a lecture on Tuesday night as part of the UW’s Danz Lecture Series, and he hung around Wednesday morning to do a more intimate session with a bunch of local bigwigs and leading regional thinkers (note: I am neither, but I got to go anyway).

Anyway, the discussion was really fascinating, centering on how the central Puget Sound can more successfully act as a region, and be an economic and policy leader for the country’s recovery and beyond. But, as Gene Duvernoy of the Cascade Land Conservancy – one of the panelists – pointed out, there was one big problem with the conversation.

That problem, of course, was that it was mostly “preaching to the choir.”

...

So what are we going to do about it? Katz thinks it’s a vision thing:

The metropolis does not have a crisp collaborative vision, critical in today’s hyper-global competition. There are pieces of a vision, given the fine work of groups like the Puget Sound Regional Council, Cascade Land Conservancy, and SkillUp Washington. Now is the time to pull these disparate activities together, forge a common vision and then align federal and state investments in service of the goal.

 

I actually disagree.  We’ve got plenty of vision, like VISION 2040 and the Cascade Agenda.  And it’s not that we lack agreement on them or that they’re flawed documents; it’s that people don’t know about them. ...

http://prosperityblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/regionalism/

 

    .02  Gorham vs. Berlin vs. Randolph

Last Print Journalist

I skipped the Berlin city council this evening to attend a public hearing in Gorham about expanding ATV trail usage ... One final thought: some people (including Chris Gamache from the Bureau of Trails) spoke of regionalization. I've heard that term a lot lately, from talking about schools to local government to economic development. But then, back at each town hall and city council chambers, I hear councilors and selectmen talking about how they want the businesses in their town to benefit, that they don't care about the community down the road. The Grand Hotels, Grand Adventures initiative argues the region doesn't have a critical mass to draw people in any one town, but as a region they do. But the region isn't a region; it's like Afghanistan or Africa—carved out of a map by people disconnected from its past, its future, its economy and its people. Gorham doesn't like to be associated with Berlin, and Berlin resents Gorham's success. No one there talks to Lancaster or Errol, and Colebrook is off by itself. Grand Hotels, Grand Adventures is an effort to make this appear a cohesive unit outside Coös County, but there is no effort to make it a cohesive unit within Coös County. It would be a shame if Gorham scoops the ATVers away from Berlin, if for no other reason than it will heighten the animosity between the two. The two communities will continue fighting each other, instead of cooperating to make each other stronger.

Mayor David Bertrand said in an interview today the current council thinks outside the box, something past Berlin city councils haven't done. But when it comes to regionalism, this council is in step with past councils. Provincialism runs deep, and it seems to be a box the region can't find its way out of. In a city and a region searching for useful answers to complex questions, it's a shame to see so much animosity directed at people stuck in the same boat.

 

http://lastprintjournalist.blogspot.com/2009/10/gorham-vs-berlin-vs-randolph.html

 

13. Announcements and Regional Links.   Contents

    .01  56th North American Regional Science Association International (RSAI) Conference - San Francisco, November 18 - 21, 2009

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

 

    .02  Regional Studies Association Winter Conference 2009 - Global Recession: Regional Impacts on Housing, Jobs, Health and Wellbeing - 27th November 2009, The Resource Centre, London, UK

 

Information and registration:

https://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/ei/getdemo.ei?id=11&s=_0AS0VNI6L

 

14. Financial Crisis.   Contents

    .01  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 U.S. and vulnerability of families to economic  setbacks. Ms. Warren is currently Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel for TARP funds.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A&feature

 

Background Interview:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Uk-DwUvJw&feature=channel

 

    .02    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 University of Missouri, Kansas City and is the author of “The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One.”  See it at Google books:  http://books.google.com/books?id=SI3F8wEuT24C&dq=“The+Best+Way+to+Rob+a+Bank+Is+to+Own+One.”&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=9EWTSuLiFMPhlAeR4fyYDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result#v=twopage&q=&f=false

 

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

     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

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

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

Please email the editor: Tom.Christoffel@...

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

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

Regional Community Development News – September 16 & 23, 2009 [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 articles …10.01 - .23

Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet … 11.01 - .13

Blogging about Regional Communities … 12.01 - .03

Announcements and Regional Links … 13.01 - .03

Financial Crisis …14.01 - .02

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

_________________________________________________________________________

Top Regional Community stories

 

Note: All - Sorry for the delay in releasing this. I'm in London for the Regional Studies Association. The BBC reported today, October 6, about the web posting of Gmail, Yahoo and other email accounts and passwords. When I went to change my passwords, I found I'd not approved this version for distribution after links had been checked. Cheers from the U.K. Tom Christoffel, Editor

1. Regional Council Self-Assessment and Resource Toolkit – NADO News Release

The new on-line “Regional Council Self-Assessment and Resource Toolkit” is intended to assist executive directors of regional councils, along with policy board members, in conducting a basic organizational analysis.

The toolkit is based on extensive interviews, observations and input from national, state and local leaders involved in the regional council industry (including EDA’s 381 Economic Development Districts). The toolkit is intended to help policy officials and executive directors think through the various aspects and challenges of governing and operating a highly successful regional council. It does not necessarily cover every aspect of regional council management, but it does provide a starting point for conducting an honest self-assessment of the overall condition of the organization.

Regional councils serve a unique role in public management. The positions of regional council executive director and policy board member offer major challenges and opportunities. The best training for executive directors is often on-the-job training and peer mentoring, even though most directors have post-graduate degrees in regional planning, public administration, business management or public policy. Since regional councils typically lack the traditional powers of local government, such as tax and bonding authority, regulatory enforcement, and planning and zoning ordinances, regional council leaders and staff must rely on a specific set of skills. These include building consensus and ownership, establishing credibility through the power of ideas and knowledge, and serving as public entrepreneurs and innovators.

Regional councils are political entities that must function politically—yet also in a nonpartisan manner—to be effective. ...

 The toolkit is organized as follows:

  1. Era of New Regionalism:  Positioning Your Regional Council in a New Landscape

  2. Your Regional Council’s Role in a Modern Era of Regionalism:  Checklist for Action

  3. Seven Significant Issues Facing Regional Councils

  4. Managing An Effective Regional Council Policy Board

  5. Becoming an Effective Regional Council Leader:  Checklists and Resources for Executive Directors

  6. State Associations of Regional Councils

  7. Regional Council Snapshots:  Innovations and Noteworthy Practices

  8. Peer Resource Exchange:  Food for Thought on Key Organizational Issues

  9. Concepts of Leadership

The toolkit is a product of a partnership of:

NADO - the National Association of Development Organizations - http://www.nado.org

MACOG -  the Missouri Association of Councils of Governments - http://www.macogonline.org/ , and DDAA -  the Development District Association of Appalachia - http://www.ddaa-ldd.org/.

 

Toolkit PDF:  http://www.nado.org/pubs/toolkit.pdf

 

Note: This publication should be of interest to other executives of regional organizations as well as staffers who have such a position as a career goal.  Ed.

 

  2. Editorial: Is it time to reconsider local government? - Old Colony Memorial and Plymouth Bulletin - Massachusetts, USA

Between 1643 and 1812, Massachusetts incorporated 14 county governments. …

Between 1997 and 2000, eight of the states’ counties were abolished; six, including Plymouth County, remain, although three of those were reorganized into different forms. … The reason for their abolition: They provided minimal services and were deemed unnecessary, wasteful and inefficient … The vast majority of government services were performed by either the state or the cities and towns. And there was a growing desire for regional approaches to planning and the administration of certain services that viewed county structure as irrelevant.

…

Yet, how efficient is municipal government, based on political boundaries established many years ago that yielded 351 cities and towns, all with local governments? That’s a lot of police and fire departments, public works departments and school districts…

Is there a better model for local governance? Tom Calter thinks so.

Calter, D-Kingston, is serving his second term as a state representative. … He’s seen the inner workings of town government. And he doesn’t like part of what he sees.

“Municipalities can’t make the current form of government work,” he told a gathering of regional business and civic leaders … “Quite simply, they are no longer able to increase their budgets to provide the next level of services our citizens have come to expect.”

It’s time for local governments to consolidate services, he said, just as business has been doing for decades. And he said the fastest way to do that is by using county government.

“We can’t afford to keep everything local,” he said. “We need to regionalize schools, police officers and fire departments. Although we may end up with the same amount of police, firemen and teachers, we could do away with costly bureaucracies, sell surplus buildings and benefit from greater economies and operating efficiencies.”

…

http://www.wickedlocal.com/plymouth/opinion/editorials/x1073705121/Editorial-Is-it-time-to-reconsider-local-government

 

  3. Massachusetts Regionalization Month – Mass.gov

There are countless examples of regionalization across the Commonwealth.  With the help of 13 Regional Planning Agencies in the state and the collaborative effort of neighboring municipalities, there are many opportunities for cities and towns to combine resources.  Shared services can have a positive impact on the participating communities, providing more efficient processes and cost-saving solutions.  Whether it is by creating regional 911 communication centers, intercity recycling programs, or sharing local accounting programs, there are a number of successful examples that communities can learn from as they consider regionalizing certain local services that make sense for their community.

 

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3terminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Our+Team&L2=Lieutenant+Governor+Timothy+P.+Murray&sid=Agov3&b=terminalcontent&f=lg_regionalmonth&csid=Agov3

 

Note: See listing of Resources including MA Regional Planning agencies. Ed.

 

  4. Meadowlands trains-to-game show potential of regional rail - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com - New Jersey, USA

The inauguration of the special game-day trains marks a small but important first step in the regionalization of passenger rail service, whereby trains from the three commuter railroads that serve New Jersey and New York will, for the first time, run on one another's tracks.

This autumn, before 1 p.m. kickoffs for either Jets or Giants games, three NJ Transit trains will run from New Haven, Conn., through New York's Penn Station to the Secaucus transfer station, where fans will switch to trains to Giants Stadium.

… all three commuter railroads are setting new ridership records annually and expect more growth before the big projects come on line. Facilities like Penn Station must be used more efficiently at nominal cost.

Running trains through the station will not require new platforms or tracks. By not "dwelling" at a platform until its scheduled return trip, as most trains do now, a train that runs through creates a new platform slot for another to use.

This seems a simple and inexpensive idea, but it has eluded railroads for years because of a lack of vision in the statehouses, an entrenched rivalry among the railroads and their managers, and geographically restrictive labor agreements.

"The barriers to regional rail are less geographic and more institutional, labor and political," said Elliot Sander, who pushed for the football trains while MTA chief, as did NJ Transit's chief Richard Sarles.

For regional rail to fully blossom, one technical obstacle that must fall is the different ways railroads collect electricity. …  

The rail agencies believe the three-year football train pilot will show they have set aside rivalries to operate a high-quality service between states. Already, tickets are available on the commuter railroads for the entire trip.

http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2009/09/meadowlands_trainstogame_show.html

 

 5. Governor Rell Announces State’s First-Ever Comprehensive Economic Strategic Plan - State of Connecticut - News Release September 16, 2009

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced the release of the state’s first-ever Economic Strategic Plan – a detailed, statewide blueprint for keeping and growing jobs, making the state more business-friendly and investing in the infrastructure and technology that will keep Connecticut competitive in the 21st Century.

Governor Rell said: “The plan outlines the smart, targeted investments we need to make in housing, our transportation system and work force development. It spells out the commitments needed from government leaders in both the Executive and Legislative branches to work together to eliminate roadblocks to growth and build on a climate for success. And it makes clear that these steps must be taken with the principle of Responsible Growth foremost in mind – preserving the charm and character of our state for our children and for generations to come.”

            The full text of the nearly 550-page plan is being posted today on the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Web site at www.ct.gov/ecd

            As the plan was being developed, DECD held public meetings in 10 cities and towns in late 2007 and early 2008 to gather input from residents, business leaders and lawmakers. Since then, the global economic downturn has taken a tremendous toll on Connecticut families and employers, causing tens of thousands of job losses and leading to multi-billion-dollar state budget deficits

    Recommendations include:

    * Creating a $100 million, public-private student loan partnership, offering loan forgiveness in most-needed occupations such as science and engineering and depending on the length of career spent in Connecticut after graduation.

    * Creating a $25 million International Opportunities Program to encourage global technology companies to locate their North American headquarters in Connecticut

    * Implementing an Angel Investor Tax Credit, giving a tax break to individuals, corporations or institutions that invest in qualified start-up enterprises in areas such as biotechnology, digital media and “green” technology.

    * Continuing the development of regionalism – programs and policies that have cities and towns working together rather than competing with one another.

 

 Full Release  http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3675&Q=446946        

  

  6. Passenger rail service brought $7B in investments, jobs, developer says - Dayton Daily News - Dayton, OH, USA

A land developer from Maine visited Dayton on Tuesday, Sept. 15, to tell local business and government leaders that Maine’s investment in passenger rail service has delivered benefits exceeding what planners expected.

Martin said Maine invested less than $100 million, and that triggered over $7 billion in additional construction investment, almost 7 million square feet of new commercial space and 18,000 new jobs. “It’s been like that all over the country, and there’s no reason to believe Ohio can’t be the same,” Martin said.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission [http://www.mvrpc.org/] hosted Martin’s visit to Dayton to highlight the potential benefits of Ohio’s 3C “Quick Start” passenger rail plan.

The 3C plan would establish rail service connecting Ohio’s big three cities — Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati — with service to Dayton and other cities. The Ohio Rail Development Commission officially gave its approval this week for efforts to secure $400 million in federal stimulus funds to finance the development.

Critics have questioned whether such a large investment in rail service is justified in Ohio particularly when operation of a train system will require continuing government subsidies. Some question whether enough people would use passenger trains in Ohio to make the project worthwhile.

Martin said the same questions were raised in Maine in 1995 when a smaller proposal for rail service from Boston, Mass., to Portland, Maine, was proposed.

The service, which started in 2001, has exceeded all ridership projections. Among the major related investments, Martin said, was Mattsun Development’s redevelopment of a more than 100-year-old mill property on Saco Island, Maine, for residential, commercial and recreational use.

…

About 30 people attended a presentation by Martin at the planning commission’s Center for Regional Cooperation in Dayton …

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/passenger-rail-service-brought-7b-in-investments-jobs-developer-says-300395.html

 

  7. Joel Cayford: Ministers are grabbing the real power for city's planning - The New Zealand Herald - Auckland, NZ

Who will plan Auckland? Answers to this question are hard to find in the public discussion about transition, Maori seats and Auckland's boundaries.

But it is an important question and it is important it gets answered publicly because Auckland planning - the lack of planning, the costs of planning, or the adequacy of planning - were high on the list of arguments in favour of restructuring Auckland local government.

Few disagreed with the need to strengthen Auckland's regional governance - particularly of regional infrastructure like water, wastewater and transport - and that the planning of regional infrastructure needed to be integrated with land-use planning.

However, there has not been universal agreement about the institutional arrangements needed to deliver this sensible objective - hence the efforts of a royal commission and a parliamentary select committee.

Important questions about organisational structures, political representation, and the jobs of more than 6000 local government employees need to be answered, but so does the question about how Auckland will be planned, and who will plan it.

Recent events suggest Government wants Auckland to be planned in Wellington by ministers, and not by councillors elected to the proposed Auckland Council.

The strongest and most worrying indication of this shift in decision-making are the pet transport projects being peddled by Minister of Transport …

… Government-driven interventions strike at the bedrock of Auckland strategic planning. Built up decision by decision, Auckland's current strategic plan started with a Metropolitan Urban Limit policy in 1999, included a transport strategy in 2005 supporting freight, private and public transport, and today recognises strengthened regional governance is needed to deliver integrated urban development …

Auckland might be the city of sails, but it will not take kindly to being treated as some sort of Third-World infrastructure development project run out of Wellington.

…

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10597738

 

  8. The Business Case for the Arts - Pop City - Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The arts allow us to imagine a new way to live and envision the world. Artists and cultural organizations create a world in which art and business collaborate to spur development and revitalization in Pittsburgh, serving as a model for cities around the globe.

It is no surprise that Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Andy Warhol Museum and Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts high school were selected to host the main White House events during the Pittsburgh Summit.

…

The arts also contribute to the economic fabric of the region. The non-profit arts and culture industry in Allegheny County generates $341 million in economic activity —$230.7 million by the organizations themselves and an additional $110.7 million in event related spending by audiences. In addition, the industry supports over 10,192 full-time equivalent jobs and $33.7 million in local and state government tax revenues.*

…

Locally, there is a history of successful business-arts partnerships. The world renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra acts as ambassador for our city through its international tours and performances. The Orchestra has partnered with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliate the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance on tours to Europe and Asia, bringing business opportunities to Western Pennsylvania.

deeplocal, a Pittsburgh based multi-media company, has created "in-residence" fellowships for businesses and artists. For the artists, the term "in-residence" means the artists are in a location, free to create and design new artwork or compose new music. For businesses, this translates to innovative problem solving, creating efficient business models or finding methods to increase productivity.

Nationally there is a trend to connect art and business sectors in order to generate new ideas, ingenuity and efficiency. In February 2004, Harvard Business Review exclaimed, the "MFA is the new MBA," giving master of fine arts degrees the same relevance as a master of business degree in the business sector.

...

http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/BusinessArt%20091609.aspx

 

 9.  Megaregions and America’s economic recovery: A look at opportunities for megaregional planning across the U.S. – SPUR - Urbanist

It has been almost five years since the concept of "megaregions" surfaced and gained recognition among urban planners and regionalists in the United States. My organization, America 2050, in the course of advocating for a national infrastructure plan, has worked with partners around the country, including SPUR, to bring this concept of a new, expanded urban scale to the fore in discussions about America's changing demographics, land-use patterns, transportation demands and energy needs in the 21st century.

The idea that our planning processes ought to take into account the scale at which travel patterns, electric grids, business relationships, housing markets and natural systems actually occur is straightforward. But the concept has been slow to take hold in federal policy — except in transportation. There, the recent infusion of funding for high-speed rail has highlighted the important role of megaregions in planning and building support for high-speed rail corridors.

While high-speed rail may set the stage for megaregions' debut in national policy discussions, this framework for spatial planning and coordination has many more applications. Right now the nation is experiencing not only an economic recession, but a profound transformation. How the nation emerges from this recession in terms of the structure of its economy, infrastructure, energy supply, workforce and approach to the natural environment will largely determine our ability to compete and prosper in the 21st century. As we contemplate a transformation in each of these areas, we also must look at the spatial dimension of our planning, governance and implementation systems.

Over the course of the past year, America 2050 has held a series of megaregion forums around the country with the aim of identifying infrastructure priorities that could be included in a national infrastructure plan. Last December's conference in Sacramento, "Investing in America's Competitiveness," co-sponsored by SPUR, the Bay Area Council, MTC and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Councils of Government was part of this series and focused on infrastructure challenges in the Northern California megaregion.

Our reasoning for regional organization is this: …

http://spur.org/publications/library/article/megaregions_and_america%E2%80%99s_economic_recovery

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

Bold font is used to add emphasis to key words and phrases. 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  Brookings: Sacramento region's economy is weak

Sacramento Business Journal - CA, USA

The Sacramento region’s ailing economy is one of the nation’s weakest, hobbled by the fast-rising jobless rate and the free-falling home prices this year, according to a closely watched quarterly report released Tuesday. The four-county region was one of the 40-worst markets in the nation during the second quarter, joining the ranks of Charlotte, N.C.; Cleveland and Phoenix. The capital is in good company, with every California region also falling in the 40-worst category. Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose joined Sacramento in the second-worst tier at spots No. 61 through 80. Modesto, Riverside-San Bernardino and Stockton were listed among the 20-worst markets nationwide, joining Detroit, Las Vegas and many cities in Florida and Ohio, according to the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. … The best cities for economic recovery? Austin; Baton Rouge, La.; and Columbia, S.C.  The Golden State fared poorly in the survey, with no region in the top 60. The complete report is available at http://www.brookings.edu/metro/2009_09_metro_monitor.aspx

 

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/09/14/daily31.html

 

    .02  Region's Big Four leaders support regional cooperation on transit

Crain's Detroit Business - Michigan, USA

The Big Four didn’t quite hold hands and sing “Kumbaya,” but the tone at a Friday panel discussion at the Tri-County summit at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn Friday was friendly, if subdued. The four regional leaders — the Big Four is a nickname for the mayor of Detroit and the leaders of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties — talked about regional cooperation on transit, with Paul Gieleghem, chairman of the Macomb County Commission, calling transit a “game changer” for the area.  Oakland County Executive Brooks Patterson said his office has received a rough draft of a regional transit mission statement from John Hertel, CEO of Detroit Regional Mass Transit. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said he hasn’t had time to digest the latest wave of transit plans, but said he supports the concept. Detroit’s financial condition underscores the need for regional success — if Detroit goes into receivership, Oakland County will lose its prized Aaa bond rating, Patterson said. ...

 

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090918/FREE/909189985

 

    .03  Green Coast goes to Washington — Area leaders convene in capital

Pacific Coast Business Times - Santa Barbara, CA, USA

With the Obama administration nudging climate change toward the top of the political agenda, the new energy economy was a timely topic as 25 business and community leaders from the Tri-Counties convened for a day of discussions hosted by U.S. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara. Capps said she was encouraged by efforts to develop a regional economic development plan to encourage clean technology companies under the umbrella of a Green Coast Alliance. “This is an opportunity for the entire region to develop jobs at a time when the economy is weak,” Capps said. “We come from a position of being in a deficit compared to the rest of the world.” ...

 

http://pacbiztimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1111&Itemid=

 

    .04  Regional gang initiative grant award announced

Reno Gazette Journal - NV, USA

The Carson City, Lyon County and Douglas County Sheriff's Offices have been notified by the Office of Criminal Justice Assistance of the award of approximately $350,000 for the conceptual formation of a tri-county Regional Gang Initiative, ... Gang issues in the three counties have been a priority concern for some time, the sheriff said. "In many cases, officers are doing double duty on patrol and gang enforcement. These officers also face jurisdictional boundaries. The grant acknowledges that gangs do not recognize our county lines. They often live, function, and create discord in many different areas at the same time. By their nature, they are often transient and move to areas with the least gang enforcement presence. "This characteristic requires intense multi-agency cooperation and communications. ...

 

http://www.rgj.com/article/20090914/NEWS/90914055/1321/NEWS

 

    .05  3-state collaboration receives national grant to address nursing shortages

Warwick Beacon - Warwick, RI, USA

Tufts Health Plan Foundation in Watertown, Mass. has been chosen as one of 19 foundations nationwide to receive funding from Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future, a national initiative to help address the long-term shortage of nurses across the country. To develop solutions and lead efforts within Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, the foundation has been awarded a two-year grant of $250,000 to support an extensive collaboration in the three states that will develop a regional approach to nursing education. Rhode Island nurse leaders from academic and practice settings across the state will participate in this three-state collaboration, “Creativity and Connections: Building a Regional Nursing Education Framework.” ...

 

http://www.warwickonline.com/pages/full_story/push?article-3-state+collaboration+receives+national+grant+to+address+nursing+shortages%20&id=3257126&instance=home_news_right

 

    .06  Shining Light Awards Honor Three for Outstanding Commitment to Region

Reuters -

The 2009 "Shining Light Regional Cooperation Awards" will be awarded to Judge Damon J. Keith, Mariam C. Noland and Brittany Galisdorfer for the important contributions they have made to regional cooperation, progress and understanding in Metropolitan Detroit. ... This award recognizes an individual in the public spotlight who is taking risks and demonstrating courage to improve regional cooperation and understanding. ... The Detroit Free Press and Metropolitan Affairs Coalition launched the Shining Light Awards in 2007 to highlight the critical importance of regional cooperation to the success of Southeast Michigan. ... The Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, established in 1958, is a public/private partnership dedicated to improving greater Detroit's quality of life and creating economic opportunity through regional cooperation.  Visit its website http://www.mac-web.org/

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS126762+31-Aug-2009+PRN20090831

 

    .07  Civic Innovation Lab Has $9.4 Million Economic Impact on Cuyahoga ...

Reuters - USA

The investments and activities of The Civic Innovation Lab, the Northeast Ohio grassroots economic development organization that provides mentorship and $30,000 in funding to early stage entrepreneurs, generated economic impact in Cuyahoga County.  The Lab generated $9.4 million in economic output in 2008, added 128 jobs, increased household income by $4.1 million, and generated $1.2 million in taxes.  The study was conducted by the Center for Economic  Development at Cleveland State University and assumes that these 32 companies and organizations would not have existed without the initial funding from the Lab. Economic impact is the estimate of the economic benefits an organization creates in a given region.  ...

http://www.civicinnovationlab.org/

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS150266+14-Sep-2009+PRN20090914

 

    .08  Salazar Launches DOI Climate Change Response Strategy - U.S. Department of the Interior – Press Release

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar launched the Department of the Interior’s first-ever coordinated strategy to address current and future impacts of climate change on America’s land, water, ocean, fish, wildlife, and cultural resources on September 14.  The secretarial order establishes a framework through which Interior bureaus will coordinate climate change science and resource management strategies.  Under the framework:

    * A new Climate Change Response Council, led by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Counselor, will coordinate DOI’s response to the impacts of climate change within and among the Interior bureaus and will work to improve the sharing and communication of climate change impact science, including through http://www.data.gov/ ;

    * Eight DOI regional Climate Change Response Centers, serving Alaska, the Northeast, the Southeast, the Southwest, the Midwest, the West, Northwest, and Pacific regions – will synthesize existing climate change impact data and management strategies, help resource managers put them into action on the ground, and engage the public through education initiatives; and …

 

http://www.doi.gov/climatechange/

 

    .09  Metro Atlanta foreclosures swamp last year's record

Atlanta Journal Constitution - Atlanta, GA, USA

With three months left in 2009, the number of metro Atlanta foreclosure notices has already surpassed last year’s record, a sign of how deep the recession has been as well as a portent of further trouble as the economy struggles to regain its footing. ... “When you can’t sell property, that takes away one of the largest remedies for curing default. Right now, the market is pretty slow.” The biggest increases in foreclosure listings are in Cobb, Gwinnett, Cherokee and Forsyth counties, said Dan Immergluck, professor of city and regional planning at Georgia Tech. “Certainly it partly reflects the worsening regional labor market since 2008. It also reflects a continuing suburbanization of the foreclosure problem and a shift to higher value homes. ...

 

http://www.ajc.com/business/metro-atlanta-foreclosures-swamp-140045.html

 

    .10  Seattle's version of sharing: Scraps for Tacoma, good stuff for us

TheNewsTribune.com

Regionalism died last week. Don’t blame Russell Investments. It took cynical advantage of provincial rivalries for fun and profit. Its owners in the cosmopolitan city of Milwaukee decided Russell needed a fancier address. Getting an office tower for 40 cents on the dollars didn’t hurt either. I just wish they would have told us so we could have avoided the humiliation of trying to keep the company in a town it had no interest in. No, regionalism was killed by Seattle and state leaders who preach it only when it benefits Seattle. At the same time that it views itself as a global city, its business and political powers act provincially. ...

 

http://www.thenewstribune.com/callaghan/story/882623.html

 

    .11  Taylor says regionalism will help state economic development

Planet Weekly - Alabama, USA

Bill Taylor, president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), is promoting regionalism in development for the State of Alabama. "It is a team approach. It brings more resources together in a common approach." Taylor, the former CEO and president of Mercedes Benz U.S. International, ... As Taylor has contacted development officials throughout the state, he saw no lack of motivation, desire and commitment, but he also saw a need for support, ideas and direction. "We need to bring more people to the party....We will continue to work with communities." Taylor had a meeting that afternoon with three counties to join together for one effort. ...

 

http://www.theplanetweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1683&Itemid=53

 

    .12  Coast fielding statewide hopefuls

Hattiesburg American - Mississippi, USA

Regionalism has strongly influenced the inner political workings of the Legislature over the years, pitting representatives from the Delta against those from northeast Mississippi hill country and senators from the piney woods against those from the coastal marshlands. Outside the Capitol, there's little to be gained - and much to be lost - by any group of candidates campaigning as a geographical bloc. Mississippi is a long state north to south, encompassing several cultures. It's more than 360 miles from the Civil War battlefield in the Appalachian foothills outside Corinth to the shrimp boats and casinos in coastal Biloxi. Folks in one part of the state tend to view those in far-flung places as foreigners.

 

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090915/OPINION/909150304

 

    .13  RDA debate draws 200

Gary Post Tribune - Indiana, USA

The future of the Regional Development Authority and Porter County's role in it were the hot topics at Tuesday night's symposium in Valparaiso. ... Much of the discontent with the RDA has come from Porter County. In April, the Porter County Council voted 4-3 to leave the RDA, which it joined in 2005, and to stop sending money collected from the County Economic Development Income Tax to pay its portion of RDA funds -- about $3.5 million each year. The money is gathering in an escrow account while a judge considers the legality of the council's move. Morris said the RDA was created to tackle four projects: expanding Gary/Chicago International Airport; implementing the Marquette Plan for the Lake Michigan shoreline; extending the South Shore train line into Porter County and southern Lake County; and establishing a Regional Bus Authority. "Regionalism is becoming more and more important," Morris said. "Times are tight and resources are scarce." Supporters of the RDA cited the organization as the only way to get transformational projects accomplished, and they said the demand for public transportation will grow as energy costs grow. ...

 

http://www.post-trib.com/news/1785509,rda0923.article

 

    .14  Urban Land Institute will use greenways to start connecting ...

Memphis Commercial Appeal - Tennessee, USA

Improving regional dialogue on important issues is the most pressing of seven new initiatives recently established by the Urban Land Institute Memphis, the new chairman says. "Right now, regional topics don't get the focus they deserve," said Russell 'Rusty' Bloodworth, who chairs the five-year-old Mid-South chapter. … new chairman of Urban Land Institute Memphis, which promotes "responsible" use of land. Sustainability, connectivity and more green space, exemplified by Schilling Farms in Collierville (backdrop), are some of the institute's concerns. The overarching goal of the institute is to promote the "responsible" use of land and to help create sustainable, thriving communities. ... The institute will begin promoting regionalism in earnest with "Greenways for the Mid-South Region: Connect the Dots," a workshop in early November ...

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/sep/23/a-regional-view/

 

    .15  UB Report Shows Little Savings from Downsizing

WBFO - Buffalo, New York, USA

The UB Regionalism Institute and the UB Law School released a report Thursday that examined the benefits and costs associated with downsizing governments. The institute did an analysis of all 44 local village, town and city governing boards. The study comes at a time when some municipalities are considering downsizing the number of legislators representing them. … Joyce Kryszak talked with the Institute's Director Kate Foster to find out why. (Audio) 

Link to full report: http://www.regional-institute.buffalo.edu/Research/Series.cfm?ID=63&Series=20

 

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1556004/WBFO.News/UB.Report.Shows.Little.Savings.from.Downsizing

 

    .16  Secrets of the city

Detroit Metro Times - Michigan, USA

The battered abandonment, the veritable concrete jungles and the wrecked streets give Detroit its ghostly and troubled tone. It also makes the once glorious metropolis one of the world's most enigmatic modern cities. It's true. Blunt and simple: People dig Detroit, but nobody's rushing to move here. It's a wonder to outsiders — from Bloomfield Hills to Yokohama, Japan — why those residents who've the means to move away continue to stay, and how a city on life support continues to grasp onto what's left. "What is left?" they ask. But those who don't regularly navigate Detroit's busted up avenues have yet to discover the regionalism and power of Detroit life. … There's a beating Motor City heart — which was once found in dozens of monstrous factories — that now exists in cockeyed places, like in those that produce art. …

 

http://www.metrotimes.com/arts/story.asp?id=14363

 

    .17  Two-town alliance pondered

Nashoba Publishing – Massachusetts, USA

The Regionalization Planning Committee voted unanimously at its Sept. 1 meeting not to pursue the three-town system it had envisioned. In a way, it was no surprise. As the deadline approached, proponents were clear about the sticking point -- state transition money. Although not promised, there was hope it could be found, somewhere. It was not. "We never heard back from the governor's office," after a meeting at the Statehouse last month, Simmons said. "The board felt it was an insurmountable road block." ... "We still think the three-town region is the best option," Simmons said, but absent that, there may be opportunities for collaboration between Ayer and Shirley school districts, which already have close ties. ...

 

http://www.nashobapublishing.com/shirley_news/ci_13365845

 

    .18  Charity forms regional alliance

Winston-Salem Journal – NC, USA

Eight local corps of the Salvation Army have formed an alliance to better publicize the work they do in the Triad region. "We really hope it will increase an overall awareness of the services that are comprehensive and available to folks throughout this service area," Maj. Terry Israel, the corps officer in Winston-Salem, said yesterday at a news conference. The corps involved in the alliance are in Asheboro; Burlington; Davidson County; Greensboro; High Point; Mount Airy; Rockingham-Caswell counties; and Winston-Salem, serving Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin counties. ... Israel said that the alliance will eliminate unnecessary duplications of administrative tasks and structures, and help the corps benefit from the strengths of each unit and share best practices.

 

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/sep/16/charity-forms-regional-alliance/business/

 

    .19  Muskegon County Road Commission considers crushing roads to gravel

The Muskegon Chronicle - MI, USA

Looking to stop putting patchwork Band-Aids on three rural roads, the Muskegon County Road Commission is considering crushing them back into gravel as a longer term cost-saving measure. ... More than 20 of Michigan's 83 counties have turned rural roads to gravel with no immediate plans to repave, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. Approximately 50 miles have been reverted in the past three years. ... Comment: ... We used to live on a blacktop road, Brunswick Road north of Holton in Muskegon County. The Muskegon County road Commissioner ordered it ground it up last fall. We now have a big slimy mess with more pot-holes than we ever had before. …

 

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/08/muskegon_county_road_commissio_1.html

 

    .20  Prisoners of the Census: How the Incarcerated are Counted Distorts our Politics

Stateside Dispatch - Progressive States Network

Currently the Census Bureau counts prisoners as residing at their place of incarceration.  While this serves the constitutional purpose of the census - determining the relative populations of the states for congressional reapportionment - it has in the past few decades resulted in significant unintended consequences.  The two main secondary purposes of the census are state and local legislative reapportionment, and determining funding for federal grants that are based on population or demographics.  For these uses the distortions in population counts caused by prisons can and do throw the process out of whack.  …

 

http://www.progressivestates.org/node/23532#1

 

    .21  AP source: Census worker hanged with 'fed' on body

The Associated Press

A U.S. Census worker found hanged from a tree near a Kentucky cemetery had the word "fed" scrawled on his chest, a law enforcement official said Wednesday, and the FBI is investigating whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment. ... Investigators have said little about the case. FBI spokesman David Beyer said the bureau is assisting state police and declined to confirm or discuss any details about the crime scene. "Our job is to determine if there was foul play involved — and that's part of the investigation — and if there was foul play involved, whether that is related to his employment as a Census worker," said Beyer. Attacking a federal worker during or because of his federal job is a federal crime. Census employees were told Sparkman's truck was found nearby, and a computer he was using for work was found inside it, she said. He worked part-time for the Census, usually conducting interviews once or twice a month. Sparkman has worked for the Census since 2003, spanning five counties in the surrounding area. Much of his recent work had been in Clay County, officials said. Door-to-door operations have been suspended in Clay County pending a resolution of the investigation, Scurry-Johnson said. The Census Bureau has yet to begin door-to-door canvassing for the 2010 head count, but it has thousands of field workers doing smaller surveys on various demographic topics on behalf of federal agencies. ...

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbzG_BlkG2Hfc818EPRRn1bBlP6gD9ATASJ00

 

    .22  Red Snow Warning: The End of Welfare Water and the Drying of the West

TomDispatch.com

...

Dead forests, of course, are fuel for the dramatic, massive wildfires you now see so regularly on the TV news. We had quite a few of those wildfires this summer in Utah, but -- what with southern California burning -- they didn't make the evening news anywhere but here. That statement can be made all over the West. Both the frequency and size of fires are on the rise in our region. Early in the summer of 2008, while more than 2,000 separate wildfires raged across his state, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a point that many Western governors might soon be making. He claimed that California's fire season is now 365 days long. The infernos that licked the edges of the Los Angeles basin this August were at once catastrophic and routine.

...

 

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175113/chip_ward_the_ruins_in_our_future

 

   .23  VeriFone VTS Taxi Payment & Media Systems Now in Maryland

Reuters - USA

Barwood is the first taxi company in the Washington, DC, metro region to equip its cabs with PIMs that speed acceptance of credit and debit cards, while also providing access to video services.  Barwood, which handles about 1.2 million rides a year, expects to have monitors in its entire fleet of 435 taxis by the end of the year. ... "Across the country, forward-thinking fleet owners and municipal transportation planners are recognizing that technology available today can improve passenger convenience while bringing new efficiencies to management of taxi services."

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS101885+16-Sep-2009+BW20090916

 

 

11. Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet   Contents

    .01  Top 100 Urban Thinkers

Planetizen

Planetizen readers have spoken. After more than 14,000 votes, the urban planning community has named the 100 top urban thinkers. Atop the list: Jane Jacobs.

The poll was active for one month, from August 7th to September 7th, 2009. We would never claim that this is a definitive list; voters were given free reign to submit and vote for whomever they liked. Overall, the list includes some of the brightest, most influential and most controversial figures in the development of cities and places.

The Top Ten Urban Thinkers:

  1. Jane Jacobs

  2. Andres Duany

  3. Christopher Alexander

  4. Frederick Law Olmsted

  5. Kevin A. Lynch

  6. Daniel Burnham

  7. Lewis Mumford

  8. Leon Krier

  9. William H. Whyte

10. Jan Gehl

 

See the full list of Planetizen's Top Urban Thinkers: http://www.planetizen.com/topthinkers

 

    .02  Media seminar on secularism and militant regionalism

Merinews -  India

WITH THE upcoming of Maharashtra state elections starting October 13, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC) and the Press Club of Mumbai organised a seminar on increasing regionalism in politics … Sudhaman who initiated the discussion, stated that despite all its setbacks, India is one of the few countries in the world where democracy has thrived in such a large scale. “One simply can’t deny the fact, democracy has actually led to substantial development of the country”, Sudhaman stated. He also credited Rajiv Gandhi for completely changing the political thinking in the country. … Ganesh Kanate, editor, TV9, opined that the root cause of militant regionalism was due to lack of ideology in political parties in India. “The problem is, since 1960, there has been no change in the main policies affecting the functioning of the country. This is because there is no original thought”, he said. The main idea espoused by almost all of the speakers, is that the suppression of regional needs and aspiration is the main cause of the rise of regionalism in India. But they also agreed that the media plays a big role in a democracy. They said that as members of the fourth estate, it becomes the duty of the journalist to keep problems such as corruption at bay by acting as the whistle blowers of the society.

 

http://www.merinews.com/article/media-seminar-on-secularism-and-militant-regionalism/15784136.shtml

 

    .03  Battlelines drawn to save region's assets

Auckland stuff.co.nz

"The war’s not yet over." That’s the word from Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee who says the government’s flip-flop on the Rodney district’s supercity boundary is "an outstanding victory". And the reversal, announced on Monday, shows there’s still a chance the southern boundaries could also be redrawn, Mr Lee says. ...

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/papakura-courier/2867466/Battlelines-drawn-to-save-region-s-assets

 

    .04  Council of Atlantic Premiers Launch “Let’s Right the Future” Wellness Campaign in Canada

Scotia.Web.ca – Canada

Helping children to live active and healthier lives is the goal of a new Atlantic wellness social marketing campaign, “Let’s Right the Future,” launched today by the Council of Atlantic Premiers in Saint John, New Brunswick. Premiers kicked off the campaign by highlighting the English and French TV ads and the campaign website www.rightthefuture.ca. The objective of the campaign is to inspire an Atlantic wellness movement and to make wellness everyone’s business. … The Council of Atlantic Premiers was formed by a memorandum of understanding between the four Atlantic provinces in May 2000, and is committed to identifying and pursuing opportunities for joint action among the region’s provincial governments. This commitment builds on a strong foundation of regional unity and intergovernmental cooperation spanning more than three decades. …

 

http://www.scotiaweb.ca/news/council-of-atlantic-premiers/let-s-right-the-future-wellness-campaign-launched.html

 

    .05  $100 Bil. Set for Regional Development

Korea Times

The government will spend a total of 126 trillion won over the coming five years on the country's regional development. The five-year project was reported Wednesday to President Lee Myung-bak during a Presidential committee on regional development meeting, said the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. A total of 126 trillion ($104.2 billion) will be spent through 2013 on the long-term growth scheme, in which all Korean provinces are regrouped into seven regions with differentiated outlines to bolster business and secure global competitiveness, as well as build up the quality of life for residents. ... Under the plan, each area will autonomously develop key projects in industries, manpower and social infrastructure under the supervision of a special committee headed by governors. ...

 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/09/123_51942.html

 

    .06  Chile's Mapuches Call for Regional Autonomy

World Press Review - Worldpress.org

Leaders of Chile's indigenous Mapuche community have seized upon the death of activist Jaime Mendoza Collío to rev up their long-standing campaign for land reform and political autonomy in southern Chile. Simmering tensions that periodically burst into brief fits of violence have come to mark the Araucanía in southern Chile, the area in which most of the country's 900,000 Mapuches live. ... The Chilean government's reaction to Mapuche acts of land seizure and vandalism has attracted international attention and criticism for its harsh severity, calling into question Chile's reputation as one of the hemisphere's most strongly consolidated democracies. ... Now Mapuche political leaders are taking the logic of land reform one step further and demanding regional autonomy for Wallmapu, as Mapudungun speakers call the Araucanía. ...

 

http://www.worldpress.org/Americas/3418.cfm

 

    .07  Progressive internationalism

Jamaica Gleaner - Jamaica

P.J. Patterson, this year's recipient of the Order of CARICOM has said, "Mature regionalism will remain a pipe dream unless authority is vested in an executive mechanism with full-time responsibility to ensure the implementation, within a specified time frame, of critical decisions taken by the heads or other designated organs of the community". Some formula must be found and agreement reached for what Dr Rainford calls 'collective sovereignty' and "enhanced governance arrangements". ...

 

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090920/focus/focus4.html

 

    .08  Acquiring political points on quarrels: Serbia and its neighbors with same problems from the past

Blic Online

“Strained relations and frequent incidents among the states from the region are not unusual and unexpected after the earthquake which happened during the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Although we are always named as the region of the western Balkans, we are not the region and these parts are not related. The only thing that connects us is a desire to join the EU and that is the reason why it is important to keep the dynamics of getting closer to the EU. The only thing which prevents us from returning to our old pace is our common European future,” says Predrag Simic, the Professor from the Faculty of Political Science ... “All leaders from this region are excellent allies, because instead of solving far more difficult problems of the borders, unemployment and of attracting foreign investments, they give each other a chance for opening old battlefields. Thus they cover up their inability to solve real life problems. This will be a problem for a long time in the region and the real solution lies in Brussels,” said Komsic.

 

http://www.blic.rs/infocus.php?id=5165

 

    .09  Tadiæ tells party end of crisis is "near"

B92.net

DS leader Boris Tadiæ told his party's main board meeting in Belgrade on Saturday that the end of the economic crisis is at hand, but that it is "not over yet". However, he warned against complacency. ... He also spoke about political goals to say "there are no changes there – Serbia's most important goal is EU membership". ... Speaking about the country's regionalization, Tadiæ said that this must not amount to ideas about creating "new centers of power and quasi-states on Serbia's soil", adding that the process would require "several years" to complete. …

 

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=09&dd=12&nav_id=61726

 

    .10  Rotterdam rules set to usher in a sea change

Livemint.com - The Wall Street Journal

A new international convention, known as the Rotterdam Rules, on the carriage of containerized freight by sea and involving an inland journey, is taking shape. The draft United Nations (UN) Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea will be open for signature by all member states at a ceremony on 23 September in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, and afterwards at the UN headquarters in New York. The convention, which took a decade in the making, will require ratification by at least 20 states.  ... According to Nicollette van der Jagt, secretary general of the European Shippers Council, the proposed convention does not fully address multimodal (carriage of goods using different modes of transport such as roads, rail and sea) issues. The new rules could prevent worldwide multimodal solutions from being developed for many years. “Because of that, the Rotterdam Rules could accelerate rather than restrain regionalization in this area as they appear to contain loopholes as to their mandatory application”, she said. ...

 

http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/17204445/Rotterdam-rules-set-to-usher-i.html?h=B

 

    .11  Forest conservation: who has the right idea?

SidewaysNews.com

The Thai government’s recent U-turn on its decision to remove monks in temples in environmentally-protected areas has once again underlined the conflicting ideologies over forest conservation in Thailand. Last week, the Thai Natural Resources and Environment Ministry abandoned its plan to evict temples encroaching on protected forest. The eviction was fiercely opposed by the monks because of their long-standing tradition of meditating in the forest (a practice since the time of Buddha) and because they regard themselves as protectors of the area, unlike some government-approved commercial operations. Despite this, the monks - like forest villages - have no legal rights or recognition. Around 5,331 villages have registered their community forest programmes with the Thai Royal Forestry Department, but their entitlement, authority and use of the land is dependent on the liberalism of the regional RFD officer. Pearmsak Makarabhirom, a former officer at the Regional Community Forestry Centre, who made proposals on the issue of forest monks more than 10 years ago, told Sideways News: “Thai communities have been so strong and tried their best to protect and manage forests without any legal support, but many cases are still being sent to court.” ...

 

http://www.sidewaysnews.com/environment-nature/forest-conservation-who-has-right-idea

 

    .12  Carbon Financing and Community Forestry

Mongabay.com

The following is a text of a Call for Action issued after the First Regional Forum for People and Forests: Carbon Financing and Community Forestry.  The three-day event brought together key people to analyze the risks, opportunities, and constraints that carbon financing presents for Asia-Pacific’s forest-dependent people. ... As forests in the Asia-Pacific region can potentially absorb a large proportion of global carbon dioxide emissions, the need for healthy and sustainable forest ecosystems cannot be understated nor undersold. But we must go beyond carbon to promote and ‘sell’ biodiversity, watershed conservation, and sustainable forest management as an essential holistic package. Local people hold the key to healthy forests in this region. They have the closest direct stake in forest resources and will affect the outcome of any forest management strategy, including those aimed at climate change mitigation. For carbon financing to succeed, it must learn from three decades of community forestry experience and actively engage and benefit local people.

 

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0919-recoftc.html

 

    .13  Oh No! Global Warming Is Affecting Beer Production

Treehugger.com

The quality of Saaz hops, which are required to make pilsner lager, has been decreasing lately, and climatologist Martin Mozny of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute thinks he knows why: Global warming. Indeed, Saaz hops are delicate and the higher air temperatures in the Czech Republic are affecting them negatively. ... But of course climate change doesn't stop at the borders of the Czech Republic. Regions of eastern Germany and central Slovakia have noticed similar changes in their crops. Beer is just an example here. Lots of other crops, plants and animals are being affected by global warming. ...

 

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/global-warming-affecting-beer-production-saaz-hops-pilsner-beer.php

 

12. Blogging about Regional Communities   Contents

    .01  Transit Summit spells out need for regional cooperation

Racine Post

A "Transit Summit" was held in Milwaukee last week to lay out the need for cooperation on bus and train service throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Kerry Thomas, executive director Kerry Thomas, executive director of Transit NOW, the group pushing for KRM from Kenosha to Milwaukee, attended the pro-transit summit and wrote a summary of the gathering, which is printed below. Here are a few key points:

  * Scott Bernstein, a national expert on transit and regional economies, said southeastern Wisconsin is competing with 400 other regions for federal money to aid economic development. The money is needed because the Milwaukee region, which includes Racine, now ranks 336th out of 392 regions as a place to live and do business. Declining transit is a major region for the decline, Bernstein said. ...

 

http://news.racinepost.com/2009/09/transit-summit-spells-out-need-for.html

 

    .02  40/40/20 demonstrates the pitfalls of regional transportation planning

horsesass.org

I’ve had a couple arguments in recent weeks over the merits of regional transportation governance reform,  ... Now, I don’t question the need for regional transportation planning and cooperation; buses, trains, cars and trucks cross city and county lines, so it would be stupid for our roads and transit not to interoperate. And I don’t question either the need for suburban buses, or the fact that service to these less dense areas necessarily requires a larger subsidy per passenger mile than more crowded, and thus more cost-efficient, city routes. (The fare to expense ratio in Metro’s Seattle-centric West area was roughly 26% in 2007, compared to 14% for the East area.) But when the political compromises necessary to facilitate “regional governance” result in rigid, sub-area allocations like Metro’s 40/40/20 rule, or Sound Transit’s subarea equity provisions, it can’t help but hamper the ability of Seattle taxpayers to provide themselves the level of service they want and need. ...

 

http://horsesass.org/?p=20513

 

    .03  Four Officials From 'Kindred Cities' of Boulder to Speak at Sept. 23 Public Forum

Huffington Post (blog)

Four prominent leaders from Aspen, Colo., Madison, Wis., Portland, Ore. and Sante Fe, N.M. will share their experiences and thoughts in an evening forum, Wednesday, Sept. 23, titled "Separated at Birth: Insights from Kindred Communities." ... several topics, including:

    * How a city's image or "narrative" affects growth both positively and negatively.

    * How university cities navigate issues of "town and gown."

    * How cities work regionally, integrating community issues within larger growth areas.

    * How cities develop sustainable "green" policies.

    * How a city's success can lead to an increasing lack of economic diversity.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-lewis/four-officials-from-kindr_b_293599.html

 

 

13. Announcements and Regional Links.   Contents

    .01  6th Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Roundtable - September 30 – October 1, 2009 - Frederick, Maryland

Smart and Sustainable – Local & Regional, State and Multi-State -

How will planning contribute to achieving these goals of the citizenry?

For: Planners and Elected and Appointed Officials, Business Persons and Citizens

Sponsored by: Regional and Intergovernmental Planning Division, American Planning Association and APA Chapters: Delaware, Maryland, National Capital Area, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia to allow no admission cost to participants.

Hosted by: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG)

Historic Roundtable Support: AMPO, NADO, NARC

Location: Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County, 15 W Patrick St., Frederick, Maryland 21701

Agenda: http://semanticommunity.wik.is/@api/deki/files/1671/=Mid-Atlantic.Regional.Planning.Roundtable.6.agenda.draft.6.pdf

 

Registration: http://www.mwcog.org/calendar/ 

 

    .02  Studies Identify Trouble Ahead for Pennsylvania’s Communities Statewide - Issues PA

Three new studies are sounding a warning bell for Pennsylvania municipalities and the state as a whole: without major changes in the structures and laws that govern municipalities and the way they are financed, and unless communities are empowered to work more closely together, their fiscal and physical integrity is at grave risk and the state’s economy will continue to struggle in the coming decades. The independent studies released by three major research institutions concurrently today are:

    * an assessment of the fiscal health of Pennsylvania municipalities by the Pennsylvania Economy League, called "Structuring Healthy Communities;"

    * an update of the 2003 "Back to Prosperity" report, entitled "Committing to Prosperity," prepared by the Brookings Institution for The Campaign to Renew Pennsylvania; and

    * "Strengthening Rural Pennsylvania," a policy brief on rural issues authored by a team of researchers from The Pennsylvania State University.

…

The Penn State study revealed that the trends -- both positive and negative -- impact communities of all sizes throughout the state.

"Sometimes we have a tendency to think of rural areas as being separate from urban and suburban areas, and we make decisions about each in a public-policy vacuum," said Ted Alter, Penn State professor of agricultural, environmental and regional economics. "We need to recognize that policy changes often create a domino effect that does not stop when it gets to rural Pennsylvania."

The issues rural Pennsylvanians identified as most critical are parallel to those of residents of more densely populated communities. Yet, rural development policy has tended to focus on specific economic segments, rather than address the complexity of rural communities. The report outlines a place-based policy approach that works to leverage a region’s unique assets, encourages regional cooperation among local governments and between the public and private sectors, and takes a more holistic view of economic development. 

 

http://www.issuespa.com/articles/19661

 

    .03  Genuine Progress Indicator – Wikipedia

The genuine progress indicator (GPI) is a concept in green economics and welfare economics that has been suggested to replace gross domestic product (GDP) as a metric of economic growth.

GPI is an attempt to measure whether a country's growth, increased production of goods, and expanding services have actually resulted in the improvement of the welfare (or well-being) of the people in the country. GPI advocates claim that it can more reliably measure economic progress, as it distinguishes between worthwhile growth and uneconomic growth. …

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genuine_progress_indicator

 

14. Financial Crisis.   Contents

    .01  Why capitalism fails - Boston Globe - MA, USA

Since the global financial system started unraveling in dramatic fashion two years ago, distinguished economists have suffered a crisis of their own. Ivy League professors who had trumpeted the dawn of a new era of stability have scrambled to explain how, exactly, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression had ambushed their entire profession.

Amid the hand-wringing and the self-flagellation, a few more cerebral commentators started to speak about the arrival of a “Minsky moment,” and a growing number of insiders began to warn of a coming “Minsky meltdown.”

“Minsky” was shorthand for Hyman Minsky, a hitherto obscure macroeconomist who died over a decade ago. … He predicted, decades ago, almost exactly the kind of meltdown that recently hammered the global economy.

…

Minsky called his idea the “Financial Instability Hypothesis.” In the wake of a depression, he noted, financial institutions are extraordinarily conservative, as are businesses. With the borrowers and the lenders who fuel the economy all steering clear of high-risk deals, things go smoothly: loans are almost always paid on time, businesses generally succeed, and everyone does well. That success, however, inevitably encourages borrowers and lenders to take on more risk in the reasonable hope of making more money. As Minsky observed, “Success breeds a disregard of the possibility of failure.”

As people forget that failure is a possibility, a “euphoric economy” eventually develops, fueled by the rise of far riskier borrowers - what he called speculative borrowers, those whose income would cover interest payments but not the principal; and those he called “Ponzi borrowers,” those whose income could cover neither, and could only pay their bills by borrowing still further. …

Once that kind of economy had developed, any panic could wreck the market. …

 

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/09/13/why_capitalism_fails/#

 

    .02  Is your bank ‘underwater’? Check its debt level – msnbc.com

Banks with heavy debt loads are concentrated in a few states. The map shows the percentage of banks in each state that ended the second quarter with "troubled asset ratios" greater than 100, meaning they have more troubled loans than capital and loan loss reserves to cover them. Click through a state to look up any bank in the U.S., using the BankTracker from the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32651151/ns/business-us_business/from/ET

 

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

     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

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

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

Please email the editor: Tom.Christoffel@...

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

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

Regional Community Development News – August 26, 2009 [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 articles …10.01 - .xx

Other Regional Community News for Our Local Planet … 11.01 - .xx

Blogging about Regional Communities … 12.01 - .xx

Announcements and Regional Links … 13.01 - .xx

Financial Crisis …14.01 - .xx

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

_________________________________________________________________________

Top Regional Community stories

  1. Beyond Burnham: Area residents weigh in on transit plans for 2040; many favor denser communities - Chicago Tribune Cityscapes - Chicago, IL, USA

Schaumburg resident Mike Williams never realized road construction costs would decrease if more people moved into condominium buildings.

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't leave things the way they are. If we leave things the way they are, it won't be a good future."

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 Chicago area has been remarkably similar, CMAP officials said.

"For me, that's one of the more interesting things we've found," said Bob Dean, principal regional planner. "We are hearing very consistent results. It's good for a regional plan like this."

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's difficult for people to think 30 years ahead, especially when they're worried about their children's education next year or having a job tomorrow.

But he pointed to the transit system as a reason to plan ahead.

The current system works for people traveling to Chicago. But there is no public transportation available to take people from one suburb to another. …

 

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're building a real REGIONAL mandate. …

 

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/08/beyond-burnham-area-residents-weigh-in-on-transit-plans-for-2040-many-favor-denser-communities-.html

 

 

  2. Teeple helping more light bulbs turn on in thinking regionally - Jacksonville Daily Record - FL, USA

Brian Teeple has been promoting the idea of regionalism for Northeast Florida for more than 20 years.

“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, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties.  …

It’s one of 11 such regional councils in Florida and 547 across the country, and is governed locally by a 35-member board of directors composed by elected officials and gubernatorial appointees as well as four ex-officio nonvoting members.

...

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 Northeast Florida,� he said, smiling.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=528712

 

  3. ASEAN's imagined community at 42 - Jakarta Post - Indonesia

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's agnostics and disgruntled scholars noshed on ASEAN's embellished alphabet soup - AEC, AFTA, AMM, ARF, ASEAN+3, CLMV, GMS, PMC, SEANWFZ, TAC and ZOPFAN, to name a few.

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 Indonesia ingrained the now 10-member grouping as a cornerstone of Indonesian foreign policy.

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 - Gainesville, GA, USA

When things aren’t working out, sometimes it is best to try something different. At least that’s Hall County’s view.

The county’s Board of Commissioners is looking into leaving the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission [http://www.gmrdc.org/ ] over a disputed additional charge of $5,000.

A regional commission offers counties individual support as well as regional planning. State law requires counties to belong to one of Georgia’s 12 commissions, but does not mandate which one they must belong to.

The GMRC requested $142,936 from Hall County for 2009 and $147,617 for 2010, citing population growth as the need for additional funding.

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,� Bell said. “We have two options technically.�

…

 “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 - Fall River, MA, USA

Highway Surveyor Charles J. Macomber thinks regionalization is overrated.

Macomber made this statement after Freetown was able to solicit lower bids for rock salt this coming winter than the regionalized bulk purchase bids solicited by Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District. [http://www.srpedd.org/ ]

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 - Qunicy, MA, USA

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, Halifax, Hanover, Kingston, Middleboro, Pembroke and Whitman, have expressed interest in such a plan.

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 Centralia and Tracey McDaneld of Salem,� Chesley said. “We were able to lay some groundwork and present basic ideas for regionalism in the near future.�

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 - Natchez, MS, USA

The Mississippi River cuts through the heart of our community, but it’s only as big of a barrier as we make it in our minds.

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 Vidalia Port project received another bit of good news, as another $1.5 million in federal funds seems to be secured for the project. If ultimately approved, the new funding legislation would bring the total federal dollars set aside for the Vidalia Port to $2.5 million.

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

 

Natchez, Adams County, MS - RC: Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District  http://www.swmpdd.com/

 

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 - Natchez, MS, USA

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 Natchez-Adams County’s Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee for seeing the need and making the event happen. It’s one of several such good project the committee seems to be working these days, including working to bring all of the schools together under one common school calendar.

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've gone from an idea of regionalism as co-operation of local businesses in promoting the area as a region, to the idea of the ports as some sort of basis for regional effort, to the idea of regionalism in education.

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's agenda, presented to locals via outside facilitators- hence the guest speakers. …

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 - USA

… "MPOs are ideally suited to the regional realities of today's metropolitan areas and to the task of shaping future growth in multi-jurisdictional communities."  But, with some exceptions that Bill cites, there's a hitch:

    They largely lack power to implement the transportation improvement plans (TIPs) they recommend. That's why we can think of them as "sleeping giants." They can propose, but not dispose. They can veto federally funded projects allocated under state plans, but not rewrite them. So they have few if any teeth.

With a rewrite of federal transportation law just around the corner, we have an opportunity to do some constructive dental work.  Here are Bill's six ideas for strengthening MPOs and giving them a mission better-suited for 21st century problems: …

 

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 Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - PA, USA

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 Pittsburgh's transformation.

"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's 36 colleges and universities to innovate an industry in health care and life sciences, he told about 200 people who attended Tuesday's "Behind the Scenes" look at the summit.

"We also invested in infrastructure," Flanagan said, citing the city's arts and culture, outdoor recreation and green buildings. "If we didn't have a green convention center," Flanagan said, "we probably wouldn't have the G-20." …

 

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 Alliance for Regional Stewardship. ... The John Parr Award will be made annually to recognize individuals who have dedicated their work and personal service, as well as social and political capital, to regional stewardship. The Award named in his honor is the only recognition that the Alliance bestows upon individuals. It was formally presented to Neal, Curt and Farley at the Alliance’s Annual Meeting and Regional Strategies Forum ....

 

http://citistates.com/archives/444/

 

    .04  Editorial: Nail those HOV fixes

Dallas Morning News – TX, USA

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. North Texas will never be able to build the roadway capacity to satisfy demand. The time, money and land do not exist. The alternative is solving the congestion problem in new and innovative ways. HOV lanes should remain part of this picture.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-hov_23edi.State.Edition1.1d6dd63.html

 

    .05  COLUMN: Regional collaboration has power

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune - WI, USA

Now more than ever, it is important for leaders from throughout central Wisconsin to come together in a collaborative alliance to increase the economic prosperity of our region. Recent economic conditions have made it very apparent that the strong regions of our state will be those that work together to develop their work force, businesses and community organizations and build upon their unique strengths and resources. Centergy Inc. is the regional nonprofit economic development corporation serving the central Wisconsin region and working to build the important coalitions and to develop the creative initiatives that will lead to economic growth.  ...

 

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20090821/WRT06/908210374/1861

 

    .06  'Lessons from Appalachia' trail guide to regional prosperity?

Illinois Valley News - Cave Junction, Oregon

An ambitious and far-reaching regional plan that could result in Southwestern Oregon arts-and-crafts endeavors pulling off an “economic miracle� is being percolated. And helping to handle the brewing process to boost economic development is Jerry Work, who operates The Dovetail Joint with his wife, Sharon, in Kerby. In April the couple traveled to the Appalachian region “to learn how its population so successfully leveraged its regionally produced art-and-craft items into a major new industry there.� ... Among observations by Jerry & Sharon: “During 2008 in just Western North Carolina (an area not that much larger than S.W. Oregon) regionally produced arts and crafts have become a $206 million-per-year industry. ...

 

http://www.illinois-valley-news.com/archive/2009/08/19/story-lessons_from_appalachia.html

 

    .07  Countywide talks seen worthwhile

Laconia Citizen - Laconia, NH, USA

The series of listening sessions that Belknap County officials held in every community in June were productive. ... commissioners heard "strong support for funding outside agencies" and also had some "good discussions about funding." There was a desire, he added, to collaborate and to regionalize services. Forum attendees were asked to envision what Belknap County would be like in 2014, and comments, among others, included that the county be strong economically, that the county government deliver services not provided by the municipalities, that it operate efficiently and that it be ready to deal with the needs of an increasingly older county population. Jack Terrill, president of the Lakes Region United Way, hoped that in five years "we all will have adopted common goals for the county." ...

 

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090813/GJNEWS02/708139659/-1/CITNEWS

 

    .08  A process that deserves to continue

Laconia Citizen - Laconia, NH, USA

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

Detroit Free Press

... the discussion of regionalism as a solution to the city’s ills has been a hot topic in and around Detroit for a number of years now. The thinking among supporters of this philosophy seems to be that by integrating Detroit’s operations into a broader regional entity, Detroit will inevitably benefit by being absorbed into a much larger, and healthier, whole. ... what worries me about the push for regionalism is that I see uncomfortable parallels between what is happening to DPS and what is being proposed as a remedy for Detroit. ... according to a July Free Press report “other than bankruptcy, DPS may also have to expand its number of charter schools, liquidate assets and privatize major departments such as transportation, technology, maintenance, custodial and security services.� In other words, the only way to save DPS may be to pull it apart. Similarly, the day may soon be coming when Detroiters will lose much of Detroit in order to save the region. ... if the plan is to break up Detroit to save the region, then shouldn’t Detroiters have some input?

 

Comments: … They have had input. The folks responsible for being asleep at the wheel were voted for by Detroiters. I don't see how that is confusing ...

 

http://www.freep.com/article/20090811/OPINION05/90811027/1068/OPINION/Keep-the-patient-whole

 

    .10  Greater Pittsburgh communities share law-enforcement resources: Regionalism

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. Allegheny County's 130 municipalities are patrolled by 104 police departments; Cuyahoga County's 60 communities are patrolled by 59 departments. ... Allegheny officials say a willingness to let others do the foot work saves millions of dollars and provides a better quality of law enforcement than some of the smaller communities could otherwise afford. And the chiefs in those communities outside Pittsburgh don't think twice about calling in the county police and county crime lab on any serious crime. ...

 

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

Monessen Valley Independent – New Stanton, PA, USA

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's no book, there's no book on how you do this," said Hartman, in regard to regionalizing police departments. "If anyone tells you there's a book on regionalization, they're not telling you the truth." ...

 

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/s_638105.html

 

    .13  ARC wants help identifying regionally important resources

Gwinnett Daily Post - Lawrenceville, GA, USA

If you ever thought Gwinnett's decommissioned water towers were historical landmarks that needed saving, keep reading. The Atlanta Regional Commission wants your help. The ARC is asking for the cooperation and assistance of the entire metro area as it develops its "Plan 2040." Specifically, it wants residents and local governments to nominate what its calling "regionally important resources" of the 20-county metro Atlanta area. The resources can be land, water, buildings or other landmarks of geographical, environmental or historical significance. Once the resources are nominated and then finally designated regionally important, they'll then be accounted for in future ARC plans as those might apply to land use or transportation. ...

 

http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/Main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=62872

 

    .14  Water coalition to reorganize

Joplin Globe - Joplin, MO, USA

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 Joplin, voted to retain legal counsel to create a new public organization with the authority to issue tax-exempt bonds or work with an entity that can do so. It also will seek the power of eminent domain. ... The location of the proposed reservoir sites and related studies may be viewed at http://tri-statewater.org ...

 

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_231212249.html

 

    .15  Figliola: Regionalism is the Answer

Long Island Business News – New York, USA

Long Island is home to many manufacturers already engaged in development or manufacturing of clean energy products.  For instance, two years ago Hailo, Inc. a Germany company that makes ladders and elevators for large wind towers opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Islip. In Brookhaven the Caithness power plant went on-line, which will be the cleanest burning plant in the Northeast.  But in order for the region to capitalize on this emerging industry and gain a market share the local economic development agencies must, as a region, work together to promote its assets. Our elected leaders need to collaborate and continue to develop new policies that will help companies like our friends from Germany move here and prosper. ...

 

http://libn.com/thedebateroom/2009/08/13/figliola-regionalism-is-the-answer/

 

    .16  Just What Is A Regional Super?

RhinoTimes.com - Greensboro, NC

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's regionalization plan splits Guilford County Schools into five regions, four of which – the central, northern, southeastern and western regions – are geographic. The fifth, dubbed the Enrichment Region, is non-geographic and contains nine of the school system's poorest-performing schools, in an effort to fix them. ... Note that the regional superintendents don't "make" budgetary or staffing decisions, "create" instructional programs, "assign" resources, "implement" plans or "write" long-range improvement plans. That would require real authority.

 

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-i-2009-08-20-198957.112113_Just_What_Is_A_Regional_Super.html

 

    .17  Plan B on regionalization

Asbury Park Press -NJ, USA

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's another example of why voluntary consolidation will never eliminate the waste inherent in New Jersey's 566 municipalities. ... With today's economy, shared services should be more attractive to towns that have been reluctant to make any concessions to home rule. As Lake Como Mayor Michael Ryan noted, "If we do nothing, the police budget will be more than the current municipal budget" in a decade. It's time for other mayors in the region to take their blinders off.

 

http://www.app.com/article/20090817/OPINION01/908170307/1029/opinion/Plan+B+on+regionalization

 

    .18  Bob Solari: It's time to regionalize Vero Beach's sewer and water service

Vero Beach Press-Journal - Vero Beach, FL

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  California county prepares for possible consolidation of services

American City & County

State budget cuts may force the county to regionalize its highway department, as well. County Administrative Officer David Shoemaker said the state is considering borrowing money from local governments, such as revenue generated from the highway users tax. Glenn County's highway users tax funds much of its road maintenance, and without it, the county may have to share regional road services with nearby counties, ...

 

http://americancityandcounty.com/admin/county-service-consolidation-20090817/

 

    .20  Seattle voters reject 20-cent grocery bag fee

The Associated Press

Seattle voters have rejected a 20-cent fee for every paper or plastic bag they get from supermarkets, drug stores and convenience stores. ... With about half the ballots counted in the all-mail vote, the bag fee was failing 58 percent to 42 percent in Tuesday's primary. City leaders had passed an ordinance to charge the bag fee, which was to start in January. But the plastics industry bankrolled a referendum to put the question to voters in Tuesday's election. ... Several states from Colorado to Texas to Virginia debated bag bans or fees this year, but no statewide ban or fee has been enacted. Washington, D.C., passed a 5-cent fee on paper or plastic bags, and the Outer Banks region in North Carolina banned plastic bags this year. But New York City dropped a proposed 5-cent bag fee in June, and Philadelphia rejected a plastic bag ban. ...

 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hd_S0WoWaSEo8kQiJ7PTPfmCLw4wD9A5P2G80

 

    .21  Wisconsin's New North studies cellulosic ethanol

Wisbusiness.com

The New North Inc., an 18-county regional economic development organization in Northeast Wisconsin, has commissioned a two-part study about the economic development opportunities associated with producing cellulosic ethanol in the region. Here are a few facts about the project: * Phase one of the study details the availability of forest products in the region. The results have recently been released and are available for download ...

 

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=167572

 

    .22  Stimulus Money Tapped to Spur EHR Growth

AAFP News Now - USA

Nearly $1.2 billion soon will be available to help the nation's hospitals, physicians and other health care professionals purchase and use electronic health records, or EHRs,  ... Money from the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health, or HITECH, Act priority grant programs, which are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will start flowing in 2010. ... "Together, the grants will offer much-needed local and regional assistance and technical support to providers while enabling coordination and alignment within and among states, ultimately allowing information to follow patients anywhere within the health care system," ...

 

http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20090826hitech-grants.html

 

    .23  Fiddle championship, festival return to Casper

Casper Journal - Casper, WY

Casper will host the 19th Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Fiddle Championships & Music Festival ... The event is presented by the Wyoming Fiddlers’ Association District #4. The weekend’s events will include a competition for fiddlers from around the region, workshops and family entertainment. ...

 

http://www.casperjournal.com/articles/2009/08/12/arts/arts081209c.txt

 

    .24  Elkton, JMU Work On Economic Plan

DNRonline.com – Harrisonburg, VA

Elkton officials are looking to a local university for help on a kind of "stimulus plan" for the town. Graduate students from James Madison University will create an economic development plan for Elkton this coming semester as part of their curriculum, officials said. Town officials met last month with Nicholas Swartz, an assistant professor of political science, to discuss the venture and how it will work. The JMU crew, made up of students in the school's Master of Public Administration program, will work with town officials to identify Elkton's business atmosphere and ways to improve it. Students in Swartz's urban policy and regionalism course will "focus on identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the town's economy," ... The town worked with JMU on a similar project about five years ago, but the plan was shelved. "It didn't get the interest I thought it should get, and a lot of the stuff wasn't acted on," said Councilman Rick Workman, ...

 

http://www.rocktownweekly.com/news_details.php?AID=39836&CHID=2

 

    .25  Land Trusts Along Connecticut River And Shoreline May Go Regional

Hartford Courant - CT, USA

Land trusts in towns along the lower Connecticut River and shoreline are thinking of forming a regional collaboration to strengthen their individual small groups. Towns such as Haddam, Lyme, Chester and Old Saybrook have small volunteer groups whose land preservation efforts could be bolstered by working together, said Margot Burns, environmental planner with the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency. The agency and the Connecticut River Gateway Commission are co-hosting a forum in September to discuss the idea of regionalizing the area's land trusts. ...

 

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-shoreline-land-trust-0807.artaug07,0,5002775.story

 

    .26  There Go the Servers: Lightning's New Perils

The Wall Street Journal - USA

New research even suggests that lightning's effect on technology can shape the course of regional economies. After analyzing lightning data for the lower 48 states, four economists from the University of Copenhagen found that those states more prone to lightning strikes tended to see worker productivity grow more slowly than in states with very little lightning. This held true when the economists controlled for a range of other factors, including hurricane frequency, urban density and the education, age and racial characteristics of local populations. ...

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125115407600555075.html

 

    .27  The New American Dream: Renting

The Wall Street Journal - USA

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's economic vitality. It's a story riddled with irony—for at the same time that Uncle Sam brought the dream of home ownership to reality—he kept his role mostly hidden, except to the army banking, real-estate and construction lobbyists who rose to protect their industries' newfound gains. ...

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204409904574350432677038184.html

 

    .28  'Fastest Dying Cities' Meet for a Lively Talk

The Wall Street Journal - USA

Here's an idea for saving Rust Belt cities: Tell bloggers and radio stations to stop calling your town a basket case. That was one suggestion from representatives of eight of the 10 cities labeled last year as America's fastest dying. They met at the Dayton Convention Center last weekend to swap ideas about how to halt the long skid that's turned cities like Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo, N.Y., into shorthand for dystopia. The city representatives lunched on $6 sloppy Joes and commiserated through Power Point strategy sessions: Lure back former residents, entice entrepreneurs and artists, convert blighted pockets into parkland. What emerged was a sense of desperation over the difficulty of rebounding from both real problems -- declining populations, dwindling tax bases -- and perceived woes. Valarie McCall expressed frustration at marketing a city that still echoed the image of the polluted Cuyahoga River catching fire. "That was 1969," said Ms. McCall, Cleveland's chief of governmental affairs. "Come on, I wasn't even born then." ...

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125011106498326993.html

 

    .29  It Ain't Where Ya From

New York Press

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't all bad. As Talib Kweli, a Brooklyn-born rapper, said at a show last October, ... hip-hop has become more about the image of the artist than his or her music. Still, the fall of regionalism and the rise of the Internet aren’t all bad. As Talib Kweli, a Brooklyn-born rapper, said at a show last October, “Now that it’s based on the Internet, you can be more creative.� ...

 

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's funding and activities to address homelessness. He's been working on homelessness issues for almost 30 years. He's seen many approaches fail, and he thinks it's time for cities to radically rethink their homeless problems. "If what we've relied on in the past -- that is if good intentions, well-meaning programs and humanitarian gestures -- if they could end homelessness, it would have been history decades ago," said Mangano. "If punitive interventions could end homelessness, you wouldn't have any homeless people down in Skid Row." These traditional approaches are not without merit, but many say they need an update. ...

 

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 New Zealand

Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee is accusing the Government of doing a secret deal which would dramatically change the region's northern boundary. Mr Lee believes the boundary will be moved south to around Waiwera - but the Government is not revealing its plans for the shape of the region just yet.  Prime Minister John Key says the Cabinet considered boundary changes about a week ago but he is not saying yet what they are and is warning people not to jump to conclusions. The boundary change would reportedly slice through what is currently Rodney District and could cut 50 beaches and eight regional parks, moving them and residents to the control of more northern local authorities. ...

 

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/25/1245c27e999b

 

    .02  Province spikes Metro plan to send trash to Washington

Vancouver Sun - BC, CA

The provincial government plans to outlaw the international export of B.C.'s trash, leaving Metro Vancouver stumped over how to deal with a looming garbage crisis in the region. Metro Vancouver had asked the province to amend the region's solid waste management plan so it could temporarily dump 600,000 tonnes of trash annually in a landfill in Washington state after the Cache Creek dump closes next year. But it appears the government has other plans. A section of the throne speech unveiled Tuesday said the government will: "Act to outlaw the international export of British Columbia's garbage and landfill waste."...

 

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Province+spikes+Metro+plan+send+trash+Washington/1930461/story.html

 

    .03  Turkey offers ‘limitless’ cooperation with Iraq

Today's Zamin- Ä°stanbul, Turkey

Turkey is ready to engage in limitless cooperation with regional countries in order to once again turn the Mesopotamian region, which was once the cradle of a succession of glorious civilizations, into a prosperous area, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Tuesday during an official visit to Baghdad. ... His bold remarks on Turkey's vision regarding regional cooperation came at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart ... “We want the Mesopotamian region to once again become one of the most productive and prosperous regions in the world in all fields including water -- but not only water,� Davutoğlu was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. “Particularly calling on friendly and brotherly countries like Syria and Iraq, we offer limitless cooperation for turning our region once more into the rising star of the world,� Davutoğlu said. Stressing that the region should take the global place it deserves, Davutoğlu said problems should be avoided between Iraq, Syria and Turkey, in order to reach this goal. ...

 

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-183738-turkey-offers-limitless-cooperation-with-iraq.html

 

    .04  Japan must shake off US-style globalization

Christian Science Monitor - USA

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 Asia. I believe that the East Asian region, which is showing increasing vitality in its economic growth and even closer mutual ties, must be recognized as Japan's basic sphere of being. Therefore, we must continue to make efforts to build frameworks for stable economic cooperation and national security across the region.  ... Unlike Europe, the countries of this region differ in their population sizes, development stages and political systems, and therefore economic integration cannot be achieved over the short term. However, we should nonetheless aspire to move toward regional currency integration as a natural extension of the rapid economic growth begun by Japan, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and then achieved by the ASEAN nations and China. We must therefore spare no effort to build the permanent security frameworks essential to underpinning currency integration. ...

 

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0819/p09s07-coop.html

 

    .05  Op-Ed Contributor NATO and World Security

New York Times - NY, USA

... 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?_r=1

 

    .06  Love thy neighbour

Calcutta Telegraph

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 India. These attacks are a blatant violation of that right. If they go unpunished, it will have a demoralising effect on millions of migrants,� says Mahendra Mohan. ...

 

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090812/jsp/opinion/story_11351001.jsp

 

    .07  Curse of Korea's Regionalism

The Korea Times

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 Korea that is felt daily, is that the division on the Korean peninsula is not so much that between North Korea and South Korea as that between east and west. Unfortunately divided by a mountain range between the two regions, South Korea has more animosity between the eastern section of Korea and the western section, the Seoul region being evenly split and often becoming the tie-breaker in elections, than between North and South. Consider these facts recently made public about regionalism: ...

 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/08/137_50182.html

 

    .08  [Editorial] Kim DJ's Funeral Should Promote Nat'l Unity

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 Korea’s further growth. Kim’s state funeral is hoped to encourage Koreans to lean toward reconciliation and integration and make an all-out effort for harmony.

 

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2009082046468

 

    .09  MP hits out at region being 'political football'

Rochdale Online - Rochdale, England

Phil Woolas MP, making his first official speaking engagement as the newly appointed Minister for the North West, told the 'Northwest Conversation' that the region could lead the UK out of recession. ...  if the region were a state, it would be the 12th largest in the EU with an economy worth £120bn in 2008. The region's import/export balance was strong and the educational attainment of the North West was the highest outside of London. He added that there was much to be proud of with the region's strong international brand driven by its outstanding contribution to sport and culture. ...

 

http://www.rochdalseonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/27825/mp-hits-out-at-region-being-political-football

 

    .10  WE SAY: Voice of the Pacific heard with reverence

Island Business - Suva, Fiji

The progress of regionalism in the sprawling Pacific Islands environment could be best described as patchy. Despite their collective vulnerabilities and the many attributes they share including shared histories, cultures and ways of life that is so inextricably linked with the all encompassing ocean, it has been hard to find all the young and developing Pacific Islands nations to be on the same page on a number of issues. ... And this is despite an over-arching mechanism being in place to address the collective interests of the nations of the Pacific Islands in the form of the Pacific Islands Forum. Nevertheless, there have been some excellent instances where regionalism has worked exceedingly well bringing the fruit of collectivism by putting regional interests above individual national interests to protect and leverage the collective natural wealth of the people of this geographically vast region. The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) [ http://www.ffa.int/ ], which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, is undoubtedly one such example of an organisation that clearly shows how regionalism can successfully work to guard the interests of the region as a whole and also show the world the power of collective bargaining power. ... One of the testaments to its success is the proliferation of Pacific Islands-owned and locally and regionally-based fishing fleets that have been commercial successes in recent years. ...

 

http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=18801/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl

 

    .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 Singapore, bringing together business leaders and policy makers from all twenty-one APEC member economies. The theme for Singapore's chairmanship of the summit was "Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region," reflecting the continuing efforts of APEC to facilitate trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. In today's challenging global economic environment, these efforts have become even more important for the success of international business. ...

 

http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/564592

 

    .12  Board raises its voice over cuts

Chilliwack Times - Chilliwack, BC, CA

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 Fraser Canyon. The system raises most--approximately 90 per cent--of its revenue regionally but gets a portion from the province to support initiatives such as literacy programs, ones that now face questions because of a lack of funds. Libraries across B.C. have not received their 2009 grants. For the Fraser Valley system, this amounts to approximately $1.7 million of the budget. "It's still a big cut for the Fraser Valley Regional Library system," ...

 

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's transport infrastructure into the 21st century according to the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce. ... “It is essential for the future of the regional economy that access into and out of Wellington is as good as it can be. Today’s announcement represents a major step toward that goal and demonstrates the government’s commitment to correcting the regional infrastructure deficit. ...

 

http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=10437

 

    .14  ČR closes 6 of 13 regional Eurocentres

Prague Daily Monitor - Prague 3, Czech Republic

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 Faturová, from the EU Minister's press department, said on Tuesday. She said the government is now looking for ways to make the supply of information on EU themes to the public more effective. ...

 

http://praguemonitor.com/2009/08/19/%C4%8Dr-closes-6-13-regional-eurocentres

 

    .15  Sugar price increases put food makers on alert

Los Angeles Times - CA, USA

The price of sugar on world markets has soared this year, prompting a coalition of the nation's largest food manufacturers to warn of a pending shortage and to ask the Agriculture Department to ease quotas on imports. … Weather problems in the sugar-producing regions of India, the diversion of Brazilian sugar cane to produce ethanol, and a growing global sweet tooth are behind the increase, according to analysts. In a recent letter to Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, the group warned of "unprecedented shortages." Without higher quotas on sugar imports, "consumers will pay higher prices, food manufacturing jobs will be at risk and trading patterns will be distorted," the food companies said. ...

 

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sugar14-2009aug14,0,4601168.story

 

    .16  'Eka3':Creating regionally, acting locally

The Daily Star - Lebanon

Hassan runs the Lebanon branch of eka3, which has a foot planted in three regional cities: Amman, Cairo and Beirut. Founded by the Palestinian musician Tamer Abu Ghazaleh in June 2007, the aim was to have an artist-led label that promoted the musicians over the albums they produce. ... “We are a regional label that functions locally. We are trying to make the region smaller.� ... For more information on eka3, visit www.eka3productions.com

 

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&article_id=105161

 

    .17  Stratford joins groundbreaking regional alliance

The Beacon Herald - Stratford, Ontario

10 YEARS AGO - 1999  ... Stratford joined forces with St. Thomas and Woodstock to form the Southwestern Ontario Marketing Alliance [http://www.somasite.com/ ], a groundbreaking regional alliance aimed at marketing and promoting the area to the manufacturing industry. ...

 

http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1714879

 

    .18  Think-what we gave to Pakistan

Pakistan Observer

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 Pakistan. ... We resolve to augment the ideological legacy of the Quaid. We shall face every aspect of history with equanimity. Our focus is on a grand future. United we stand today to defeat ugliness of negativism, greed, parochialism and regionalism�, resolved the youth. Our focus is on a grand future. United we stand today to defeat ugliness of negativism, greed, parochialism and regionalism�, resolved the youth.

 

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's Crisis Management Division in Philadelphia, "there are over 20,000 reported kidnap for Ransom incidents annually, with 48 percent of them occurring in Latin America."  ... Additionally, the term "reported" is deceiving due largely to the fact that statistically speaking, less than 20% of kidnap cases go reported and that actual numbers estimated by experts indicate that the actual kidnap numbers range between 5 to 6 times the reported number of kidnap cases. ... Lately Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's), Corporate Representatives and Organizations have been more proactive in training their members as well as initiating Kidnap Insurance policies to protect themselves. ...

 

http://www.castlerockinternational.com/news/casualty-insurance/kidnap-ransom-extortion/104-top-10-kidnap-rated-countries-with-ransom-stats

 

    .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 Naples on 14 and 15 October 2009, INTERACT will give an overview of if and how European regions are developing or have developed a methodology in transferring ETC results into their regional policy. ...

 

http://www.interact-eu.net/news/cooperation_programmes_and_regional_policy_a_dynamic_mechanism/7/3303

 

    .21  Maori seats working well for regional council

Scoop.co.nz

Environment Bay of Plenty Chairman John Cronin said the regional council’s three separate Maori constituency seats have worked well and he doesn’t see any changes in the near future.

“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. Environment Bay of Plenty has had separate Maori seats since 2001 and is the only council in the country with separate Maori representation. ...

 

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0908/S00378.htm

 

    .22  Paul Romer's radical idea: Charter cities

TEDTalks – video

How can a struggling country break out of poverty if it's trapped in a system of bad rules? Economist Paul Romer unveils a bold idea: "charter cities," city-scale administrative zones governed by a coalition of nations. (Could Guantánamo Bay become the next Hong Kong?)

Note: Real problem, unreal solution. Ed.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSHBma0Ithk&feature

 

12. Blogging about Regional Communities   Contents

    .01  Hampton Roads Informs

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, Kent State University’s Center for Public Administration and Public Policy and its Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative released a study that assesses alternative approaches for managing vital infrastructure in cities that are losing population.  The report makes it clear that infrastructure management is best viewed from a regional perspective, and it includes recommendations about potential areas for management improvements. “We identified a series of long-term steps that can help improve the management of our water, energy, and transportation infrastructure in cities that are losing population,� said Dr. John Hoornbeek, one of the study’s co-authors. Some of the long term recommendations included in the report are: ...

 

    .022  EfficientGovNow Award Recipients Named

After 31 days of voting and strong “get-out-the-vote� campaigns by the nine finalists, the residents of Northeast Ohio have made their choice and determined the three EfficientGovNow collaboration projects that will receive grants from the Fund for Our Economic Future. A total of 13,483 qualified votes were cast during July.  Individuals could vote for up to three projects, with point values assigned for each first, second and third place vote. The final results are: ...

 

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 Penticton, West Kelowna, Kelowna and Vernon on Monday to discuss hot topics in the municipalities. A few key issues were regional governance and regional transit. “We discussed issues around a Valley-wide governance. There is an interest certainly illustrated by the four municipalities to work together on transit issues and air-quality issues,� Bennett said in Kelowna. He said the meetings were a learning experience for him, figuring out what is important to the municipalities in the Okanagan.  ... [ http://okanagan.com/maps/ ]

 

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's EUtopia

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 Britain may well be a result of belonging to the EU. Wales, Scotland, and yes, even places such as Cornwall, may well decide that they will be better off under the EU and free of England. Whether this was intentional or no people such as myself have resigned ourselves to the ‘regionalization’ of England and expect other regions to break away. There is a growing sense that we are returning to the Essex/Mercia/ Northumberland scenario. As a Devonian, a Dumonii, I am afraid that I and many friends will never submit to EU rule. You see what a can of worms we have opened here. We are back to fighting Imperial Rome. I’d agree that the EU makes such things possible (regional development funds and the like being able to fill the cash gap previously provided by nation state apparatus), I don’t necessarily see this as entirely down to the EU. …

 

http://www.jcm.org.uk/blog/?p=2362

 

    .06  Why the end is nigh for regionalism in Europe

The Lobby

This apparently contradictory trend of both centralisation towards Brussels and devolution towards the regions looked to be the way forward – until along comes the biggest financial meltdown since the 1930s.  Now it’s all about strength in numbers.  Catalonia is relying on handouts from the Spanish government in Madrid, Bretons are happy to stick the Gwenn-ha-du flag on their car and leave it at that, and the once proudly independent Iceland, though a country in its own right since breaking with Denmark in 1944, has come running to the EU searching for economic sanctuary. So has regionalism within Europe had its day?  Possibly, and though no doubt ETA and some patriotic kilt-wearing Scots may think differently, what the recent crisis has shown us is the pretty straightforward maxim that, when times are tough, larger countries fare better than smaller countries. ...

 

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'd be wiser to integrate a different alignment all together with all 30 teams effected.  The true optimal alignment wouldn't be the ultra-regionalism that you see at current (where the Eastern Conference is the eastern seaboard teams and the west is everything else) but two divisions that take up all three regions of the continent - east, central and west - much like in Major League Baseball and the National Football League. ...

 

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? 'Where everybody matters' is the one adopted by my own local council. ...

 

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 America Part Five: Secession Fever

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.

 

http://projectworldawareness.com/2009/08/the-ruling-class-sponsored-race-war-and-the-balkanization-of-america-part-five-secession-fever/

 

    .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] …

 

http://www.prisonplanet.com/controlling-the-global-economy-bilderberg-the-trilateral-commission-and-the-federal-reserve.html

 

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'll help you discover how investing in setting up your business in the Netherlands pays you dividends all across Europe.

 

Contact: http://www.nfia.com/contact_nfia_north_america.html

 

    .02  2009 Executive Directors' Conference - October 4-6, 2009 -National Association of Regional Councils

Join the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Arizona COG/MPO Directors Association and NARC for your 2009 Executive Directors' Conference in Phoenix, AZ. This conference will include sessions on building and maintaining strong regional organizations, discussion on entrepreneurial opportunities in shared services, program delivery, and joint purchasing, discussion on emerging policy issues, and targeted management training relevant to Executive Directors and their Senior Staff through a new offering by the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) as well as other timely and relevant sessions. ICMA is offering Executive Directors advanced training on specific management issues - from managing the current financial crisis to managing staff capital.

 

Link:  http://narc.org/events/conferences/what-is-the-executive-directors-conference/2008-executive-directors.html

 

     .03  56th North American Regional Science Association International (RSAI) Conference - San Francisco, November 18 - 21, 2009

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 - London

Plenary Presentations:

• Professor Danny Dorling, University of Sheffield Spatial Patterns of Health, Housing and Jobs

• Dr. Michelle Mahdon, The Work Foundation Work and Wellbeing

• Dr. Emma Baker, Flinders University, Australia Housing & Health, particularly Mental Health

• Christer Larsson, Malmö City Planning Office, Sweden

• Dr Dimitris Ballas, University of Sheffield The Geography of Subjective Happiness and Wellbeing

• Professor Andy Pike, Newcastle University Placing the Run on Northern Rock

 

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 - Coventry University

Speakers:

• Will Hutton, The Work Foundation Manufacturing, the Knowledge Economy and the need for and Industrial Policy

• Professor David Bailey, Coventry University The Impact of the Recession and Credit Crunch on the Auto Industry and Policy Responses

• Professor Keith Cowling, Warwick University Industrial Policy to Rebuild the Economy

• Dr. Lisa De Propris, Birmingham Business School Diversifying Mature Industrial Regions

• Professor Mark Hart, Aston University Entrepreneurship and Innovation as Strategies for Business Survival and Growth

• Norman Price, Science City Planning for Future Technologies

• Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Business Secretary

 

Info & registration:  http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/events/future.asp

 

14. Financial Crisis.   Contents

    .01  Vermont Mortgage Laws Shut the Door on Bust -- and Boom

The Wall Street Journal - USA

Compare Vermont to other states on four measures of boom and bust. Vermont's strict mortgage-lending laws largely prevented the state's residents from ...

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125054188939938015.html

 

    .02  Pablo Triana: Why Nassim Taleb is the True Predictor of this Crisis

The Huffington Post - USA

... 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' and ultimately the taxpayers', money.

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 University of Missouri, Kansas City and is the author of “The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One.�  See it at Google books:  http://books.google.com/books?id=SI3F8wEuT24C&dq=“The+Best+Way+to+Rob+a+Bank+Is+to+Own+One.�&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=9EWTSuLiFMPhlAeR4fyYDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result#v=twopage&q=&f=false

 

    .04  The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class

UC Television Video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A&feature

 

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 U.S. and vulnerability of families to economic  setbacks. Ms. Warren is currently Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel for TARP funds.

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 United States.  This will have grave implications for a world economy used to seeing the American consumer as an economic growth engine and consumer of first choice. Retail sales in the United States have fallen 10% since peaking in November 2007. Much of this decline represents a permanent fall in consumption by overly indebted American consumers.

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: Germany and France, Singapore, and Hong Kong, to name a few, have all posted positive economic growth.  China looks likely to hit its 2009 growth target of 8%. But, the U.S., generally assumed to be a leader in recovery, is looking like a laggard.  Mind you, there are other laggards like Spain and Ireland too.  Why are these countries lagging?  The Balance Sheet Recession.

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 United States during the Great Depression and Japan during its Lost Decade.  He explains the factor connecting those two episodes was a consistent desire of economic agents (in this case, businesses) to reduce debt even in the face of massive monetary accommodation.

When debt levels are enormous, as they are right now in the United States, an economic downturn becomes existential for a great many forcing people to reduce debt. Recession lowers asset prices (think houses and shares) while the debt used to buy those assets remains. Because the debt levels are so high, suddenly everyone is over-indebted. Many are technically insolvent, their assets now worth less than their debts.  And the three D’s come into play:  a downturn leads to debt deflation, deleveraging, and ultimately depression.  The D-Process is what truly separates depression from recession and why I have said we are living through a depression with a small ‘d’ right now.

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

 

 

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