Brookings: Topics - Cities

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is Not Alone in its Financial Struggles

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Transit agencies across the United States are facing service cutbacks and fare increases in order to close their budget gaps. The largest, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is no exception. Robert Puentes and Emilia Istrate offer recommendations for closing the MTA’s budget gap.

Increasing Employment, Skills and Earnings

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Testifying before the Council of the District of Columbia, Martha Ross called for renewed attention to programs connecting young people to job training and the labor market, urging attention to program quality rather than just numbers served.

Creating Livable Communities: Housing and Transit Policy in the 21st Century

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Before a special session of the Senate Banking Committee, Robert Puentes discussed the coordination of transportation and housing policy and its role in developing livable communities. Among others things, he stressed the need for the federal government to assist states and metropolitan areas in one of their hardest tasks: transcending the stovepiping of disparate programs that remains a serious cause of undesirable development outcomes.

Getting Current: Recent Demographic Trends in Metropolitan America

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Changing demographics—where people live, educational attainment, aging of boomers, diversity in population growth, poverty rates—raises key policy and program issues for the new government in Washington. In view of that, the Metropolitan Policy Program has compiled and detailed important trends that are shaping the nation’s engines of economic growth and opportunity.

Bursting “Migration Bubble” Favors Coastal Metros, Urban Cores

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New Census estimates show that the most footloose nation in the world is now staying put. William Frey explains that America’s migration levels, like stock market values, have plummeted. And the usual suspects—formerly booming Arizona and Florida and hemorrhaging older cities like New York and Los Angeles—reveal this new demographic reversal.

Supporting Integrated Planning and Decision Making by Joining Up Housing and Transportation

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Robert Puentes examined the linkages between housing and transportation, calling for increased awareness of these connections and a federal policy that simultaneously promotes the economic vitality and environmental quality of metropolitan areas.

Sacramento's Transit-Oriented Development Plan a Model for the Nation

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Chris Leinberger argues that Sacramento, the capital of one of the most hard-pressed states in the country, is an evolving model of development for metropolitan America.

Miracle Mets: How U.S. Metros Propel America's Economy and Might Drive Its Recovery

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. metropolitan areas are the under-recognized engines of America’s economy, and the nation must adjust its federal system—and American federalism—to support them so they can lead us back to prosperity, write Bruce Katz, Mark Muro, and Jennifer Bradley in a major framing essay for Democracy: A Journal of Ideas.

FEMA’s Gulf Coast Rebuilding Efforts: The Path Forward

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hurricane Katrina illustrated that a strong federal-state-local partnership is needed for post-disaster recovery. Amy Liu told a House Homeland Security panel that federal leaders should reward states and localities for achieving a clear set of outcomes that lead to a prosperous recovery, not just over-regulate them with distrust.

What Happens in Vegas … Stimulates the Economy

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama might not have intended to knock Las Vegas when he admonished travel on the taxpayer’s dime, but Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman sure took it that way when he branded the comment “outrageous.” Mark Muro and Robert Lang write that we shouldn’t push austerity so hard that it is ultimately self-defeating. Sometimes junkets provide the truest form of economic stimulus.

Strengthening American Competitiveness: Regaining Our Competitive Edge

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As U.S. policy-makers focus on how to strengthen the U.S. economy in the midst of the financial crisis, Brookings competitiveness experts stress the need for a longer-term view with policy priorities focused on how to rebuild American competitiveness through investments in people, infrastructure, ideas and green transformation.

Revitalizing Older Industrial Cities: Capitol Hill Summit

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Decades of deindustrialization and demographic change have left America’s older industrial metro areas—once thriving centers of business and commerce, growth and prosperity—still struggling against slow population growth, lagging productivity, urban disinvestment and sprawl. Jennifer Vey's presentation at the Revitalizing Older Cities Capitol Hill Summit offers a set of federal policies that could help spur innovation, boost human capital, improve infrastructure and nurture the growth of quality places in these historic communities.

Foreclosures and Stimulus: What’s At Stake for America’s Neighborhoods

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The final House-Senate compromise on the economic recovery package offers no boost for HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, established last year to help state and local governments mitigate the impact of foreclosures. Alan Berube and Alan Mallach argue that additional funds for the program (part of the House proposal omitted in the final bill) would provide much-needed assistance to local communities.

Stabilizing Communities: A Federal Response to the Secondary Impacts of the Foreclosure Crisis

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The wave of home mortgage foreclosures that began in 2006 continues to surge, greatly destabilizing neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the United States. However, the federal government has played a limited role to date in blunting its effects. This Blueprint policy brief argues for carefully-targeted federal policies to assist states and localities in mitigating the community-level impacts of foreclosure, and creating the conditions for ultimate housing market recovery.

Stimulus For a Truly Capital City

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alice M. Rivlin co-authored an op-ed with Walter Smith of DC Appleseed calling for a new federal partnership with the District of Columbia to transform the nation’s capital into a truly great capital city.

The New Orleans Index, January 2009

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In contrast to the nation, the greater New Orleans economy has grown, boosted by the large-scale rebuilding effort underway. There is a new uptick in population growth and the region's unemployment rate is a relatively low 4.9 percent. Yet, storm damage remains widespread, potential destruction from new storms looms large, and state and local leaders must simultaneously confront the opportunities and challenges presented by Washington's economic recovery efforts and the potential sunsetting of the federal Office of Gulf Coast Recovery.

The Suburban Challenge

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

American suburbs today more resemble cities than a treasured retreat from life’s tumult. Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley argue that unless we grabble with the problems and opportunities of the new suburbs, America can’t ensure its leading place in the global economy.

President Obama's Agenda for Cities

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Barack Obama has promised to make urban issues a central part of his presidential agenda. In this broadcast, Amy Liu talks to Kojo Nnamdi and others about strategies for reinvesting in our nation’s urban areas.

Infrastructure is in Dire Need of Work

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz and Rob Puentes argue that President-elect Obama must connect infrastructure spending to broad national goals such as creating new jobs, training a new work force and connecting people to work.

Invest in Infrastructure for Long-Term Prosperity

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 12, 2009, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

President-elect Obama is preparing plans for an immediate economic stimulus package. At the same time, his new administration must consider how to make investments that will stabilize and strengthen our economy over the long term. After opening remarks by Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Bruce Katz and Robert Puentes presented their recommendations on bolstering infrastructure and investing in other economic drivers that can enhance long-term prosperity.

The Scouting Report: Invest in Infrastructure for Long-Term Prosperity

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 07, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

To secure long-term prosperity, the United States should build on the assets of its metropolitan areas. Federal policy reforms to enhance innovation, human capital, infrastructure and quality places will ultimately help our economy to grow in more productive, inclusive and sustainable ways. On January 7, Robert Puentes answered questions in a web chat with Politico's Fred Barbash about the challenges and opportunities President-elect Barack Obama faces.

Economy, Housing Woes Slow Migration, Census Shows

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New census estimates provide the first real glimpse of how migration and population growth may be responding to the housing slowdown, job losses, and broader recession. William Frey concludes that this economic downturn is not isolated to specific regions with slumping industries. Both Michigan and Florida lost migrants, while other states saw dramatic one-year drops in persons moving in. "We seem to be in a land of transitory limbo," he writes.

Building the Best Capital City in the World

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Greater Washington joined with DC Appleseed, Our Nation’s Capital, George Washington University and Arent Fox LLP in a study of what it would take to make the District of Columbia the “best capital in the world.” The Brookings authors review how the city’s special status as a federal district limits its fiscal resources, and discuss the District’s decade of balanced budgets and good management, along with its impressive efforts to rejuvenate the city’s infrastructure.

Who Decides which Infrastructure Projects To Do?

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Amy Liu and her colleagues argue that President-elect Obama must connect infrastructure spending to broad national goals such as creating new jobs, training a new work force and connecting people to work.

Leveraging Infrastructure Investment Now and for the Future

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Today’s fiscally-constrained environment demands a new approach to infrastructure policy both for short-term stimulus and long-term prosperity. In this backgrounder, Robert Puentes outlines a strategic infrastructure investment path to upgrade our existing system, expand choices in moving people and goods and move us closer to energy independence.

The Local Economic Impact of “Eds & Meds”: How Policies to Expand Universities and Hospitals Affect Metropolitan Economies

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Metropolitan Economy Initiative examination of the impact of policies to expand health care and higher finds that such a strategy would raise the earnings of metropolitan residents by roughly the same amount as conventional business tax incentives.

Living Wage Laws: How Much Do (Can) They Matter?

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Harry Holzer examines the likely effects of “living wage” ordinances on employment outcomes, according to economic theory; as well as evidence on their actual effects.

Arizona Needs to get in the Federal Game

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Muro and Robert Lang in a recent Arizona Republic column discuss the major change of management in Washington, and urge “megapolitan” areas of the Intermountain West to better organize their energies and consider how to amplify their voice in national affairs as federal policy responses are renegotiated.

Recent Immigration to Philadelphia: Regional Change in a Re-Emerging Gateway

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Immigration to metropolitan Philadelphia has been rising recently after several stagnant decades. This paper examines recent trends in immigration to the region with attention to the varied immigrant groups, the opportunities they bring, and the challenges for policymakers, service providers, and communities across the area. The report argues for the development of a Regional Council on Immigration to best address the needs of the area’s newcomers.

Getting Infrastructure Bang for the Buck

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In this opinion piece published in the New Republic, Robert Puentes argues that President-elect Obama has a tremendous opportunity to connect infrastructure spending to broad national goals (such as economic competitiveness and environmental sustaianability). In this way the federal stimulus dollars can accelerate the right kind of projects in the right places, creating jobs and waking up related areas of the economy.

A Demographic Breakthrough for Democrats

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Democrats pushed out of their demographic rut during Tuesday’s election, according to new analysis by William Frey and Ruy Teixeira. The authors of ongoing political demographics reports on the “battleground states” write that the party’s appeal has extended to new growth regions and to demographic segments that eluded the party’s grasp in the last two presidential elections. America’s growing metropolitan identity, they found, is especially potent within the fast-growing battleground states.

Land Banking as Metropolitan Policy

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new Blueprint paper argues that the rising number of vacant and abandoned properties around the nation requires a more robust drive by the federal government to aid states and localities in land banking. The author, Frank Alexander of Emory University, recommends that federal policy should better capitalize local and regional land banking (the process or policy by which local governments acquire surplus properties and convert them to productive use), encourage code reform and regional collaboration.

The Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Federal Reserve System and its 12 member banks partnered with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program to produce a new, in-depth look at concentrated poverty in America. The two-year study profiles 16 high-poverty communities across the United States, investigating the historical and contemporary factors associated with their high levels of economic distress.

Ohio must Build on its Strengths by Customizing Development Strategies for Each Region

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Bruce Katz and Metro partner Lavea Brachman co-authored an op-ed appearing in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer stemming from the success of the “Ohio Summit” this past September. In it, the two explain the need for a change in the discourse about the national economy.

Changing the Game: The Federal Role in Supporting 21st Century Educational Innovation

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To resolve dramatic disparities in educational achievement and ensure future American workers are globally competitive, the federal government needs to change the game by catalyzing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in public education. A new office within the Department of Education should partner with the private sector, philanthropy, and state/local governments to scale up successful educational entrepreneurs and seed transformative educational innovations.

Quality Schools, Healthy Neighborhoods, and the Future of DC

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New analysis by Greater Washington Research at Brookings, the Urban Institute and 21st Century School Fund argues that Washington, DC can become a more family-friendly city by linking its investments and policies in public schools, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization together.

A Restoring Prosperity Case Study: Akron Ohio

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A May 2007 Brookings report, “Restoring Prosperity,” examined how 302 U.S. cities fared on eight indicators of economic health and vitality. While the report's central focus was on cities facing the steepest economic challenges, the analysis showed that some raised their economic status over time. In-depth case studies of three of those cities—Akron, Chattanooga, and Louisville—illustrate how struggling cities can begin to reshape and reinvigorate their economies.

A Restoring Prosperity Case Study: Louisville Kentucky

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A May 2007 Brookings report, “Restoring Prosperity,” examined how 302 U.S. cities fared on eight indicators of economic health and vitality. While the report's central focus was on cities facing the steepest economic challenges, the analysis showed that some raised their economic status over time. This in-depth case studies of Louisville, Kentucky offers important lessons for other cities that are striving to compete in a very new economic era.

A Restoring Prosperity Case Study: Chattanooga Tennessee

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A May 2007 Brookings report, “Restoring Prosperity,” examined how 302 U.S. cities fared on eight indicators of economic health and vitality. While the report's central focus was on cities facing the steepest economic challenges, the analysis showed that some raised their economic status over time. Chattanooga, Tennessee a few years ago faced what many smaller cities are struggling with today—a sudden decline after years of prosperity in the "old" economy. This case study offers a roadmap for these cities by chronicling Chattanooga's demise and rebirth.

Restoring Prosperity: The State Role in Revitalizing Ohio’s Core Communities

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 10, 2008, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM

The 2008 Ohio Summit – Restoring Our Prosperity: The State Role in Revitalizing Ohio’s Core Communities convened more than 1000 government, corporate, civic, neighborhood and academic leaders from around the state, including Governor Ted Strickland, Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, Senate President Bill Harris and Speaker of the House Jon Husted.

Revitalizing Ohio

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:08:47 GMT

Ohio has the assets that matter in growing a prosperous economy, Bruce Katz explains, and that the state's ability to compete globally relies on its 32 core communities.

The State of New Orleans: An Update

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Amy Liu explores the current state of the New Orleans region upon the third anniversary of hurricane Katrina. Noting the city has recovered most of its population and jobs, she argues that serious challenges remain: lack of public services such as hospitals and child care centers, public transit and a deficient system of levees still loom.

Candidate Issue Index: Transportation

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Puentes presents the presidential candidates' positions on transportation issues, including federal transportation financing, telecommuting and public transit. This chart is part of a series of issue indices to be published during the 2008 presidential election cycle.

The Census Projects Minority Surge

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New census projections target the U.S. population to reach “minority majority” status by the year 2042—the year when the white population dips to below half of the total. While this may seem a long way off, William Frey writes that the impending minority surge will impact the youth vote, workforce diversity and cradle-to-grave policies sooner than many anticipate.

Minneapolis: Our Bridge is Fixed; The Problem is Not

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The replacement for the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis that collapsed one year ago is nearing completion. But, argue Bruce Katz and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, the calls for reinvestment in transportation infrastructure have not been heeded. As outlined by the Metropolitan Policy Program, the federal government needs to systematically identify, map and prioritize the nation-shaping projects that require federal investment, breaking radically from our current practices. It shouldn’t take another bridge collapse to teach us.

New Urban Centers in the American West

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:42:26 GMT

A new Metropolitan Policy Program report states that parts of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado are becoming new urban centers with bright futures. But, they also face many challenges. Mark Muro, policy director for the Metropolitan Policy Program, says presidential contenders should take note of the issue.

Older Cities Hold On to More People, Census Shows

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

High gas prices and the housing market slowdown are reversing past population declines for older U.S. cities, new Census data show. William Frey writes that the South and interior West still contain most of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. But older cities like Boston, Chicago and St. Paul began adding residents again in the past year, as formerly hot destinations like Phoenix, Dallas and Las Vegas began to cool off.