Brookings: Programs - Metropolitan Policy Program

Cities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 08, 2009, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

On December 8, Brookings and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) will bring together civic and business leaders, policymakers, and administration officials for a conversation about practical and imaginative ways to promote alternative forms of transportation. The event will launch Cities for Cycling, a NACTO project to break down barriers to bicycle-friendly street design in municipalities around the United States.

Rethinking the Way on Infrastructure

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With rising concern about the nation’s anemic job numbers, infrastructure has emerged as a centerpiece of a number of proposed “jobs bills.” In a Hill op-ed, Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes point out that infrastructure is not necessarily a cure-all and outline the federal leadership and strategies necessary for successful investment in the way we move goods, people and power.

Building a Strong, Independent DC Community College

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A report commissioned by Greater Washington Research at Brookings and DC Appleseed underscores the need for a strong community college in the District of Columbia. The report, conducted by JBL Associates, recognizes the steps already taken by the new Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) and recommends that the city support CCDC in moving towards independence from the University of the District of Columbia, with its own administration, board of trustees, budget and academic accreditation.

How the Recession’s Affecting Immigration

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With U.S. unemployment at a 26-year high Americans will be feeling the economic downturn for some time. Jill Wilson and Audrey Singer identify the major shifts in U.S. immigration trends that have been impacted by the economic recession.

Fiscal Challenges Facing Cities: Implications for Economic Recovery

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 19, 2009, 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM

The current economic crisis is not only a national crisis; it is also a metropolitan crisis. And soon the downturn will bring a local government fiscal crisis. On November 19, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program and the National League of Cities co-hosted a forum on city fiscal conditions, the responses being undertaken by creative mayors, and the implications for national economic recovery.

Fiscal Challenges Facing Cities: Implications for Recovery

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The current economic crisis is not only a national crisis; it is also a metropolitan crisis; and it will soon become a local government fiscal crisis. In this framing report, Mark Muro and Christopher Hoene assert the importance of local government fiscal conditions to national economic performance, survey current and projected fiscal conditions, review implications for economic recovery, and offer a menu of federal policy options to help minimize city layoffs and service cuts that could harm the economy.

The Case for Budget Autonomy in the District of Columbia

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Testifying before the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, Alice M. Rivlin, Director of Greater Washington Research at Brookings, asserted that the District of Columbia government should have greater autonomy over its own budget. Once the District government finalizes its budget spending out of its own source revenues, Dr. Rivlin states that it should not be altered or delayed by Congress.

The Scouting Report: Metro Areas and the Uneven Economic Recovery

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 18, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

What stands in the way of recovery? On Wednesday, November 18, Alan Berube and Politico Senior Editor David Mark answered questions in a live web chat about how the nation’s large metropolitan areas—including Washington, DC—have fared in the downturn.

The Scouting Report Web Chat: Metro Areas and the Uneven Economic Recovery

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Local Governments to Face Large-Scale Cuts

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:12:00 GMT

Despite reports that the economy is recovering from the recession, there will likely be large-scale city government layoffs, deep cuts to local government services and halted or delayed capital projects in the next year or two. Mark Muro, policy director of the Metropolitan Policy program, explains economic cycles and their impact on city and local governments.

A Recessionary Mirror Across the Pond

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A United Kingdom based organization Centre for Cities released a new interactive map that follows the downturn and recovery of the UK’s major urban areas over the last 20 months. Alan Berube identifies that what a U.K. metro area did before the downturn had a big impact on its performance during the downturn.

Innovation’s Conference Committee Hurdle

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

America continues to grope toward the development of an effective innovation strategy as part of a credible push toward economic reinvention. Mark Muro and Andrew Reamer urge Congress to implement and test an important new strategy - a regional industry clusters program. This program would play a critical role in the nation’s economic recovery and longer-term revitalization at the metropolitan and rural levels ultimately stimulating innovation and job-creation.

How We're Doing: What's Blocking the Recovery

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the economy’s expansion in the last quarter, many American workers still lack jobs, the confidence to spend or a home to call their own. A team of Brookings experts began tracking data early this year to assess various dimensions of national and international well-being. The second quarterly "How We’re Doing" index looks at forces that stand in the way of a strong rebound and asks, "where are we going?"

Can We Build Our Way to Reduced Carbon Emissions?

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's climate change bill ignores the demand side of the equation which focuses on changing the built environment—the nations’ buildings and transportation systems, says Christopher Leinberger. He calls for policy that promotes demand mitigation measures so more Americans will use less energy and emit less greenhouse gases where they live, work and recreate.

Karen Dynan and Alan Berube Comment on the Second “How We’re Doing” Index

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:39:00 GMT

Despite the economy’s expansion last quarter, many American workers still lack jobs, the confidence to spend money or a home to call their own. Brookings scholars have been tracking data on various dimensions of national and international well-being since early this year. Karen Dynan and Alan Berube examine the findings in the second Brookings “How We’re Doing” Index.

Census Dodges a Bullet but the Immigration Issue Remains

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Senate voted 60-39 to approve cloture on the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, effectively blocking the controversial amendment that would bar the 2010 Census, unless it collected data on citizenship and immigration status. Audrey Singer responds to this news, and shows that though the Census will continue, the issue still remains.

Feds Pony Up Toward Great Lakes Water ‘Magic’

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During a recent visit to Milwaukee, John Austin explored the economic revitalization of the Great Lakes region. Austin writes that these efforts have been given a major boost by President Obama, signing a bill that provided $475 million in Great Lakes cleanup dollars, a down-payment on a long term multi-billion dollar federal-state-local plan to clean water and reboot municipal waste systems. The empirical data shows that the clean up is creating jobs and is an economic engine throughout the Great Lakes region.

Cap-and-Trade Costs: Place Matters

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Much is in question today as Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chairman Barbara Boxer tries to push ahead with work on climate-change legislation, with Republicans threatening a boycott of the markup. Mark Muro and Jonathan Rothwell examine the costs of cap-and-trade regulations for the U.S. economy and families.

Who Cares About Federal Economic Statistics?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a guest commentary for Economy.com’s Dismal Scientist, Andrew Reamer argues that while prospects for the federal economic statistical system are much improved compared to two years ago, the budget deficit will lead to pressures to reduce statistical agency spending. These pressures are much more likely to be alleviated if data users speak loudly about the substantial return the nation receives on relatively small investments in economic statistics.

Around the Halls: Is the Recession Over?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The nation appears to have entered a fragile state of recovery, with the worst recession since the 1930s at an end. After four straight quarters of contracting economic activity, the Commerce Department reported this morning that the economy grew in the third quarter of 2009, fueled by government spending on cars and homes. Experts from around the halls of Brookings responded to this news.

The Great Recession: What Comes Next for America’s Metros

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz discusses the Great Recession from the United States metropolitan perspective and sketches the shape of the next U.S. economy whose future prosperity is slowly coming into view.

The Great Recession: What Comes Next for Our Metropolitan Nation

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At an event with Congressman John Olver in Holyoke, Mass., Bruce Katz outlined the contours and implications of a low-carbon, innovation-fueled, and export-oriented economy for our Metro Nation, and specifically older New England metros. Using the example of post-industrial European cities, he emphasized the importance of metropolitan areas having a strong federal partner to drive the next economy.

Metropolitans in the Middle

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Some say there’s little that can be done to promote metro areas’ status in U.S. federalism but actually there’s a ton that can and should be done. Mark Muro outlines remedies for the absence of middle-tier (metro or regional) government in the context of the U.S. federalism debate.

Economic Recovery and the Earned Income Tax Credit

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the National Community Tax Coalition’s inaugural Day of Action on Capitol Hill, Elizabeth Kneebone discussed how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 increased support for low-income working families.

The Suburbanization of American Poverty

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The latest data from the Census Bureau reveal that the first year of the Great Recession boosted American poverty, but Sun Belt metro areas and large suburbs bore the brunt of poverty increases in 2008. Elizabeth Kneebone explores recent city and suburban poverty trends in this Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity article.

The Great Recession: What Comes Next for Our Metro Nation

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At a gathering at the University of Washington, Bruce Katz described the elements of a low-carbon, innovation-led and export-oriented economy that is coming to view in the midst of the Great Recession. While the Seattle metropolis has many of the assets necessary to take part in this next economy, it needs renewed civic collaboration, governance reform, and a partnership with the "two Washingtons," Olympia, and D.C., to achieve productive, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

Metropolitan Planning for Sustainable Growth

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 13, 2009, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

On October 13, the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program hosted a panel discussion around how to best prepare and support metropolitan regions in the development of integrated blueprint plans for sustainable growth.

Seattle's Opportunity Emerging from the Great Recession

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz outlines the many metropolitan assets that could form the basis for the Seattle region’s economic recovery and evolution. However, Seattle won’t get there without renewed civic collaboration, smart government action and an overarching regional vision.

Changing the Census? Don’t Even Think about It

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Preparations for April’s 2010 census are well underway but a last-minute amendment introduced by Sens. David Vitter (R-LA) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) threatens to derail it. In order to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the apportionment process, the Senators want to bar the Census Bureau from moving ahead unless it adds questions on citizenship and immigration status. Audrey Singer and Andrew Reamer say that the Senate should reject this amendment because it would result in inaccuracy, increased costs, and ironically disrupt the apportionment process.

Smarter Dumb Tax Policy

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers nears expiration, congressional leaders are considering an extension and an expansion of the program. However, Alan Berube argues that this is not only poor tax policy but also, because of regional variations in housing prices, potentially inflationary.

An Analysis of Air Travel Trends in the Great Lakes Region

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The economic recession and contraction in the auto and manufacturing industries have had a significant impact on air travel trends in the Great Lakes region’s metropolitan areas, according to Robert Puentes, Adie Tomer and John Austin. The fall-off in air travel in the last ten years has been precipitous in the region, but a return to economic growth will challenge the most connected metropolitan areas.

Expect Delays: An Analysis of Air Travel Trends in the United States

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer assess metropolitan air travel trends over the past two decades. They find that most travel is consolidated within a select group of 26 metropolitan areas, which contribute to the country’s highest volume corridors and produce the worst on-time performance. Their findings reveal serious implications for the country’s aviation infrastructure as passenger volumes are predicted to grow in the coming years.

Air Travel Congestion in the United States

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:16:15 GMT

While air travel has made the globe and the nation more accessible, simply flying from one state to the next is often fraught with delayed flights, runway congestion and a host of other problems. Robert Puentes, an author of a new report on air travel trends, says that their report findings can help policymakers address critical issues affecting the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

Creating Sustainable Global Cities

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

October 06, 2009, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October of every year as World Habitat Day. On October 6, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program hosted an event and panel discussion focused on creating sustainable global cities. The program highlighted metropolitan models for managing climate change while restoring national economies and advancing opportunities for low-income populations.

The Senate Climate Wrangle Begins

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Senators Kerry and Boxer recently unveiled their climate bill calling for the creation and funding of a string of energy innovation hubs that are dedicated to clean energy technology development and deployment. Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman reviewed the bill—especially as it impacts metro and regional areas—and noted its similarities and differences with the House of Representative's climate bill, Waxman-Markey.

MetroDCMonitor: Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in the Greater Washington Region

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Greater Washington Research at Brookings partnered with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program to create the first MetroDCMonitor, a quarterly publication tracking indicators of economic recession and recovery in the Washington region and the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. The report finds that the Washington area is weathering the recession comparatively well with a less volatile labor market than other metros and a healthy gross regional product. However, the housing market is weaker, and regional averages mask varying levels of economic distress throughout the area.

What Comes Next for Our Metro Nation: The New Forces Driving Regionalism

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the Regional Policy Conference at the University of Minnesota, Bruce Katz discussed the importance of competitiveness, sustainable growth and metropolitan governance in the current difficult economic and fiscal environment in the state of Minnesota and across the country. These forces compel the U.S. to rethink how we grow and demand a new approach to metropolitan governance that is multi-jurisdictional, multi-dimensional, accountable and transparent.

What's at Stake for Pittsburgh? The G-20 Should Focus on What's Good for Cities

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Pittsburgh's "new economy" may be the key reason for the city's star turn as host of the September 2009 G-20 summit. But Bruce Katz argues that the seemingly abstract, big-picture decisions made at the gathering have big implications for Pittsburgh’s “next economy” and for metropolitan areas across the nation.

Great Lakes Monitor: Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in the 21 Largest Metropolitan Areas of the Great Lakes Region

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A supplement to the MetroMonitor, this first edition of the Great Lakes Monitor examines the 21 largest metros in the Great Lakes region on key indicators of economic performance. It illustrates that, although Great Lakes metros have for decades shared in the struggle to retool their economies, the recession has had highly varied impacts across the region. The findings help define where and how policy makers and regional stakeholders need to focus their energies to help ensure that recovery comes—if slowly—to all parts of this complex area.

MetroMonitor: An Uneven Economic Recovery

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:55:33 GMT

Alan Berube, research director of Brookings’ Metropolitan Policy program, says the second MetroMonitor shows an uneven recovery, that economic gains in some regions of the country have been offset by an increase of financial instability in others.

Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in America’s 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The second in a series of interactive quarterly reports, the MetroMonitor ranks the nation’s 100 largest metro areas—which generate three quarters of U.S. output—on key indicators of economic performance. This edition of the monitor reveals that, amid signs at the national level that job and income losses are slowing, metropolitan economies continued to perform at highly variable rates through June 2009. While several metro areas may have reached a turning point, there are many others that still have not touched bottom, as well as a few that have almost fully recovered.

Beyond the Smart Grid: Challenges in the Electricity Markets

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:45:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 11, 2009, 8:45 AM to 1:00 PM

On September 11, the Brookings Institution’s Energy Security Initiative and Metropolitan Policy Program hosted a discussion on the challenges of modernizing the electricity grid.

Metropolitan Las Vegas: Challenges, Opportunities, and a Vision

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In speeches delivered at the Las Vegas roll-out of the Brookings Mountain West Initiative Mark Muro and nonresident senior fellow Robert Lang argue that Las Vegas presents an exaggerated version of America’s economic quandary. Muro declares that Las Vegas presents, in extreme form, some of the fundamental questions facing the whole country as it faces a major economic “reset” while Lang contends it can still emerge as America’s next true world city.

The State of New Orleans: An Update 2009

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this New York Times “op-chart” Amy Liu analyzes the current state of the New Orleans region four years after Hurricane Katrina. Though rebuilding has blunted some of the recession’s effects, she notes that the city and region still face substantial housing, employment, and environmental challenges.

The Structure of the U.S. Economic Statistical System: Implications for Public Policy

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the biennial International Statistics Institute conference in Durban, South Africa, Andrew Reamer said that the federal economic statistical system has been too narrowly focused on meeting the data needs of macroeconomic policymakers, to the detriment of other data users, particularly those at the regional level.

Stimulus at Six Months: Boom or Bust?

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

August 13, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Six months after Congress passed a two-year, $787 billion stimulus plan to revive America’s economy, conflicting numbers fuel arguments of both proponents and critics. A panel of Brookings experts weighed the evidence and discussed whether the money was strategically deployed to invigorate the nation’s economy, to create jobs and to advance school reform.

Bay Area’s Economic Recovery Workplan: Guiding State Stimulus Spending

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Bay Area economic development nonprofit selected among hundreds of proposals to craft a single ARRA implementation strategy that creates jobs in the short-term and lays the foundation for economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term.

Immigrant Incorporation and Local Responses

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The last two decades have witnessed unprecedented growth of the foreign-born population in new destination areas across the United States. At a session of the American Sociological Association annual meeting in San Francisco, Audrey Singer tackled the issue of immigrant incorporation in new U.S. destinations: its form and pace, variations by place, and varying responses by localities.

Bay Area’s High Speed Rail Plans: Advancing 21st Century Regional Transportation

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To accelerate the arrival of regional high speed rail, a collaboration of Bay Area leaders proposes to use ARRA funds on the track and station upgrades that are both necessary for high speed rail but also enhance the safety, capacity, and performance of existing train operations. Brookings experts examine the proposals.

California’s Green Jobs Corps: Building Green Workforce Region-wide

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

California is piloting a regionally-based, public-private partnership-driven, green jobs training program for at-risk youth that leverages ARRA funds with local resources to bring together new collaborations of employers, community colleges, and workforce organizations.

Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts Modernize with New Broadband Infrastructure: Advancing Regional Connectivity

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To modernize the communications infrastructure in Southeastern Massachusetts, a regional public-private partnership is pursuing ARRA funds to install hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable and create a shared, multi-purpose regional data center.

The New Orleans Index Anniversary Edition: Four Years after Katrina

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Though New Orleans has been somewhat shielded from the recession due to its industry composition and ongoing rebuilding activities, four years after Katrina the region still faces major challenges due to blight, unaffordable housing, and vulnerable flood protection. New federal leadership must commit and sustain its partnership with state and local leaders by delivering on key milestones in innovation, infrastructure, human capital, and sustainable communities to help greater New Orleans move past "disaster recovery" and boldly build a more prosperous future.

A Chicago-Area Retrofit Strategy: Coordinating Energy Efficiency Region-Wide

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A regional nonprofit plans on using ARRA funds to boost its current retrofit and weatherization activities in the short-term while promoting greater regional cooperation and expanded services in the long-term.

Vibrant Neighborhoods, Successful Schools: What the Federal Government Can Do to Foster Both

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Margery Turner and Alan Berube explore how federal policy-makers—particularly at the Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development—can promote local innovations that address the myriad connections between schools and housing, and provide better residential and educational environments for lower-income parents and students.

Chicago’s Multi-Family Energy Retrofit Program: Expanding Retrofits With Private Financing

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The city of Chicago is using ARRA funds to introduce a new program for retrofit delivery that relies on private sector financing and energy service companies to target property owners of lower-income multi-family homes.

Implementing ARRA: Innovations in Design in Metro America

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this framing paper, Mark Muro, Sarah Rahman and Amy Liu highlight the work of some of the most creative recovery act implementers in metropolitan America, noting that their efforts to innovate come against the grain of federal “business-as-usual.”

Chicago’s Southern Suburbs Focus on ARRA: Coordinating Inter-Suburban Recovery

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A group of 40 struggling Chicago-area suburbs are utilizing a pre-existing multi-jurisdictional neighborhood stabilization strategy as a framework for linking multiple ARRA funding flows to support community development, energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades.

Metropolitan Areas Need Immigration Reform

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:24:06 GMT

As part of a new “Brookings Immigration Series,” Audrey Singer describes the new geography of immigration in the United States. She discusses how many more states and municipalities have a stake in the passage of federal immigration reform.

The Federal Statistical System in the 21st Century: The Role of the Census Bureau

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At a hearing of the Joint Economic Committee, Andrew Reamer indicated that, to become a 21s century statistical agency, the Census Bureau needed data programs that fully reflect today’s knowledge- and services-based economy; enable private and public organizations to make more informed, effective resource allocation decisions; and readily incorporate advances in information technology.

The New Geography of United States Immigration

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New trends in immigration are changing communities across the United States. In describing the new geography of U.S. immigration, the restructuring of the U.S. economy, and the accompanying decentralization of cities and growth of suburbs as major employment centers, immigrant settlements have shifted to a new class of metropolitan areas, writes Audrey Singer. As a result, recent trends in immigration have placed a higher stake in the passage of federal immigration reform for states and municipalities.

Greater Flagstaff’s Integrated ARRA Initiatives: Linking Green Recovery Goals

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Flagstaff and Coconino County, AZ are working together on ways to reduce the communities’ high utility costs by using ARRA money to jump-start a drive to retrofit targeted households’ homes while drawing on newly trained local workers.

The Other Highway Funding Crisis

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes and Adie Tomer argue that the largest federal highway program—Equity Bonus—should be apportioned to states based on proportionate contributions to the nation's general fund rather than the highway trust fund since more and more transportation dollars are coming from those general sources.

Kansas City’s Green Impact Zone: Targeting ARRA for Neighborhood Uplift

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This comprehensive plan to address a struggling 150-block urban zone in Kansas City utilizes multiple ARRA funds and other resources to train and employ the jobless to perform various energy-efficient and green infrastructure projects in the area.

Language Needs and Abilities in the Nation's Capital

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At a forum marking the five-year anniversary of the Language Access Act in the District of Columbia, Audrey Singer spoke about language needs and abilities in the nation's capital, including limited English proficient speakers and linguistically isolated households.

Promises and Pitfalls in Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On July 14th, Robert Puentes addressed Senate and House staff on the Hill on the use of public private partnerships (PPPs) for surface transportation financing. In his remarks, Robert stressed that PPPs are only one of several means of addressing funding shortfalls, and reflected on the need for federal direction, describing the growing number of institutions abroad designed to fulfill functions including quality control, policy formulation, coordination, and promotion of PPPs.

From Despair to Hope: Two HUD Secretaries on Urban Revitalization and Opportunity

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

July 14, 2009, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

On July 14, the Metropolitan Policy Program hosted Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros for a discussion on the next steps for urban revitalization and opportunity. Secretary Donovan announced new funding for the current HOPE VI program and outlined the future of Choice Neighborhoods.

Memphis Blueprint for a City of Choice: Advancing Joint City-County Recovery

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The city of Memphis and Shelby County, TN along with local business leaders have developed a blueprint to transform the core city into a choice place for living and working by investing ARRA dollars and other funding sources into human capital, government efficiency and economic growth.

Toward a New Frontier Improving the U.S.-Canadian Border

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In an age of international terrorism and illegal immigration, a well-functioning U.S.-Canada border is vital for homeland security and also economic competitiveness. In a new report for the Metropolitan Policy Program, Chris Sands analyzes the current policy process for the U.S.-Canada border and offers recommendations for improving border policy to enhance both trade and security.

New York State’s New Green Jobs Program: Linking Financing and Job Training Statewide

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new state program would draw on potential stimulus funds to establish a statewide revolving loan fund to accelerate mass-scale building energy efficiency audits and retrofits, and collaboratively expand opportunities for green workforce development and job placement.

Urban Revitalization and Opportunity

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:58:55 GMT

Public housing has long been criticized as a breeding ground for concentrated poverty, under-achieving schools and for its lack of access to services. Bruce Katz says that President Obama's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, an expansion of HOPE VI, will revitalize poor communities while enhancing opportunities for residents and the business community.

Metro Philadelphia’s Energy Efficiency Strategy: Promoting Regionalism to Advance Recovery

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new regional entity is coordinating five counties in a joint application for competitive Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants that calls for new retrofit loan financing, a technology deployment fund, technical assistance to local governments around energy efficiency plans, and energy performance measurement of public buildings.

Energy Efficiency: Better Lightbulbs and Beyond

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Moving beyond President Obama administration’s new lightbulb standards, Mark Muro and Jonathan Rothwell of the Metropolitan Policy Program note the need for broader policy interventions to shrink the carbon footprint of the built environment.

Puget Sound’s ARRA Coordination: Facilitating Regional Stimulus Applications

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Seeking to bring together potential regional partners and coordinate requests for ARRA funding, the Puget Sound Regional Council has launched an online clearinghouse, message board and blog, as well as bi-weekly meetings, to inform area leaders about ARRA programs and process and opportunities for collaboration.

Big City Populations Survive the Housing Crunch

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New census numbers provide the first real glimpse of how America’s big cities appear now as the major survivors of the nation’s recent housing doldrums. William Frey concludes that it remains to be seen how unemployment will impact growth in these cities and their suburbs and how they will respond when the housing market eventually recovers.

Puget Sound New Energy Solutions: Scaling Up for Regional Sustainability

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Using ARRA funds in the short-term to seed a long-term initiative, a consortium of cities, counties, and local utilities in the Puget Sound area have banded together to advance innovative sustainability solutions in that region.

A New Generation of Federal Housing Policy

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Before the Center for Housing Policy’s Learning Conference on State and Local Housing Policy in Chicago, IL, Bruce Katz outlined a new architecture for national housing policy for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Next on Climate: Improve Waxman-Markey Innovation Provisions in Senate

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following a narrow House vote on Friday to pass climate change legislation, President Obama called on the Senate this weekend to follow suit. Mark Muro urges an even greater investment in energy innovation to catalyze a radically cleaner future.

California Metros Hit Hard by Recession

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most California cities are experiencing the worst economic downturn since the Depression; most Texas cities are not. Based on a new Brookings analysis on the nation's largest metropolitan areas, Alan Berube explains that “a lot depends on what a metro area's firms and workers do, and what its housing market did in the lead-up to the crash.”

Seattle’s Green Building Capital Initiative: Partnering for Citywide Retrofits

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment will put ARRA funds to work providing home energy efficiency audits and retrofit financing, in partnership with regional utilities and area nonprofits.

Bootstrapping High-Tech: Evidence from Three Emerging High Technology Metropolitan Areas

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This report shows how three metropolitan areas—Portland (OR), Kansas City, and Boise—became centers of high technology industry without the presence of a major university and offers important information for policymakers and practitioners interested in technology-based economic development outside of well-established high tech centers.

Roundtable Discussion: Road-use Pricing

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 25, 2009, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Severe congestion and underfunded public transportation systems in the Washington, D.C. region and nationwide call for a more sustainable way of pricing transportation. To help inform the policy debate on transportation financing and traffic management, Greater Washington Research at Brookings hosted a roundtable bringing together experts from the policy, planning, advocacy, and development community.

Washington D.C. Suburbs Join Together for NSP2: Combining Regional Scale and Local Flexibility

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Six suburban jurisdictions around Washington DC came together under the leadership of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to submit a joint NSP2 application that combines a region-scale loan fund with local-level flexibility in delivering homebuyer assistance and redeveloping select foreclosed properties for affordable rental housing.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Carefully Prioritizes Stimulus: Strategically Selecting ARRA Transit Projects

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To select the most high-impact, ready-to-go projects for stimulus funding, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority conducted a new, agency-wide structured process that will also serve as the framework for future capital needs decisions.

Congress Plans a Transportation Overhaul

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Federal gas taxes are drying up and the nation’s highway bill is set to expire this fall. In that context, Robert Puentes analyzes the House proposal to revamp U.S. transportation policy and the administration’s call for an 18 month delay to ensure “better investment decisions."

Report, Plan, and Public Access Requirements Specified by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and Related OMB Guidance

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Andrew Reamer notes that because of the size and complexity of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), stakeholders find it difficult to fully grasp the large number of report, plan, public access, and other requirements specific to recipients of particular ARRA awards, to agencies managing ARRA award programs, and to federal agencies with policy and oversight responsibilities for ARRA. This paper catalogs the wide array of requirements specified by ARRA for the benefit of the community of stakeholders in transparency and accountability.

Youngstown Region Collaborates on NSP2: Taking a Multi-jurisdictional Approach to Recovery Priorities

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nine cites have submitted one joint application for the second round of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program that draws on at least 20 different regional institutions to take a multi-pronged approach to addressing the area’s problems with foreclosed, abandoned, and vacant properties.

Joining Up Transportation, Housing, and Environmental Policy

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes argues that a new federal interagency partnership, debuted before the Senate this week, could provide the federal leadership necessary for a unified vision of transportation, housing, and environmental policy designed to tackle our interrelated economic, energy, and climate challenges.

Metropolitan Areas Reveal Unevenness of the Recession

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:52:06 GMT

When it comes to the U.S. economy, not all areas of the country are created equal. A new Metropolitan Policy Program report on the health of America’s metropolitan economies reveals that different parts of the country are experiencing the recession in different ways. Alan Berube says the study shows that broad-based recovery efforts are not the only answer to the complexities of the recession.

Why Race Will Matter in Presidential Elections

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At an American Enterprise Institute and Brookings event William H. Frey discussed the importance of race-specific voting blocs and their increasing significance in upcoming presidential elections.

Middle-Wage Jobs in Metropolitan America

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the economic downturn, middle-wage jobs—good paying occupations for less educated workers—remain a prominent feature of the labor market in metropolitan areas nationwide. Though the rankings have surely changed during the current slump, the authors of this Metropolitan Economy Initiative report analyze the sectors and metro areas providing the most middle-wage jobs as a tool for better understanding of metropolitan job markets.

Restoring Prosperity to Ohio

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At a “Restoring Prosperity” gathering at Cleveland State University, Bruce Katz called upon Ohio’s leaders to take bold measures to stabilize the state’s economy by focusing on core communities—home to the assets that are key to recovery.

Addressing Ohio's Foreclosure Crisis: Taking the Next Steps

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Facing the worst foreclosure crisis since the Great Depression, the state of Ohio has responded by focusing on helping individuals keep their homes. Ohio must direct more attention and more resources to the devastating effects that foreclosures are having on entire communities, from the urban neighborhoods of Cleveland or Cincinnati to suburban and rural communities across the state.

Will Government Motors do better than General Motors?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Daniel J. Ikenson and Howard Wial finish their debate on the Los Angeles Times 'Dust Up' series by asking: how can the federal government simultaneously regulate General Motors, protect the taxpayers' interests as the company's dominant shareholders, and help the carmaker turn out products that people want to buy?

General Motors Needs to Downsize, but Not Too Much

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Given how far the demand for cars has fallen this year, would the failure of General Motors have put more stress on the industry, or just accelerated the "right sizing" that was already underway? In other words, was the company really too big to fail? In a three day Los Angeles Times 'Dust Up' series, Brookings scholar Howard Wial and Daniel J. Ikenson, associate director of the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies, discuss the current state of General Motors.

An Ordinary General Motors Bankruptcy Would Have Been Too Risky for the American Economy

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Should the federal government have spent billions to prevent liquidation only to have GM eventually file for bankruptcy? In a three day Los Angeles Times 'Dust Up' series, Brookings scholar Howard Wial and Daniel J. Ikenson, associate director of the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies, discuss the current state of General Motors.

The Scouting Report: Clean Energy Innovation

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 03, 2009, 12:30 PM to 01:30 PM

In the June 3 edition of the Scouting Report live web chat, Brookings policy expert Mark Muro and Politico senior editor Fred Barbash discussed how "The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009" is more than just a cap-and-trade bill. The bill has significant components dedicated to energy innovation and clean energy technology development and deployment.

The United States and Canada: Toward a Better Border

Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New rules set to start on June 1 will require passports at the U.S.-Canada border. Many fear that the new travel initiative will cause economic damage on both sides of the border. With these concerns in mind, Brookings and the Canadian International Council sponsored a forum that featured Homeland Secretary Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Waxman-Markey: What About Innovation?

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The climate change bill now winding its way through the House of Representatives has significant components dedicated to energy innovation and clean energy technology development and deployment. However, Mark Muro argues, funding the Department of Energy’s budget request for innovation would more immediately establish American alternative energy leadership.

21st Century U.S. Immigration Includes Alabama

Sun, 17 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Audrey Singer points out that Alabama has historically had very low levels of immigration, but within the past decade it has experienced a significant growth and change in immigrant populations.

Budget 2010: New Investments in Transforming America’s Schools and Workforce

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The detailed FY 2010 federal budget reveals many elements of the administration’s strategy to achieve needed reforms in schooling and worker skills. Alan Berube analyzes the significant steps in the departments of Education and Labor budgets toward a national economic strategy that invests strategically in human capital to improve our collective prosperity.