Obama Wins. City Rebuilding is Central to His Platform. What Now?

[stephendare]

One of the central tenets of the Obama Platform was that the United States should reinvest in its Infrastructure and the rebuilding of the cities.

The American People swept Obama and the Democratic Party into control of the government last night by massive margins.

This will reverse 14 years of policy which cut off any federal funding for projects that only the Feds could afford.   The cities were cut off of investment and the aging infrastructure began to crumble.

Local policy will change for the better, but are we prepared for it?

We have been speaking about infrastructure improvements and the changes necessary to move our city forward for going on three years now.

This will be the era that those massive infrastructure projects happen.

It may even be enough to overcome the budget woes and lack of initiatives strangling our local leadership.

A Mass Transit System that works seems to be one easy thing that we can all agree on.

What else do we need to do?

[Joe]

Well ... the last couple of times that the federal government injected massive funding into urban centers, it was a total disaster. Urban highways. Public housing projects. Urban Renewal. Section 8. Big ugly federal offices with giant surface parking lots.

Fortunately, this isn't the mid-20th century anymore, so a lot of planning practices have changed for the better. But the risk of short-sighted "investments" with disasterous negative consequences is still very real. There are still plenty of special interests - even on the left - who would love to repeat the urban renewal mistakes of the 20th century.

I'd be very happy with mass-transit initiatives ... but their funding should be tied to major changes in local land use and zoning policy. Mass-transit will only be effective in the sun belt if something is done to reduce the market-distorting restrictions of modern zoning codes.

[uptowngirl]

Well ... the last couple of times that the federal government injected massive funding into urban centers, it was a total disaster. Urban highways. Public housing projects. Urban Renewal. Section 8. Big ugly federal offices with giant surface parking lots.

Fortunately, this isn't the mid-20th century anymore, so a lot of planning practices have changed for the better. But the risk of short-sighted "investments" with disasterous negative consequences is still very real. There are still plenty of special interests - even on the left - who would love to repeat the urban renewal mistakes of the 20th century.

I'd be very happy with mass-transit initiatives ... but their funding should be tied to major changes in local land use and zoning policy. Mass-transit will only be effective in the sun belt if something is done to reduce the market-distorting restrictions of modern zoning codes.

Awesome points, this is the way it will be a big hit!

[Coolyfett]

One of the central tenets of the Obama Platform was that the United States should reinvest in its Infrastructure and the rebuilding of the cities.

The American People swept Obama and the Democratic Party into control of the government last night by massive margins.

This will reverse 14 years of policy which cut off any federal funding for projects that only the Feds could afford.   The cities were cut off of investment and the aging infrastructure began to crumble.

Local policy will change for the better, but are we prepared for it?

We have been speaking about infrastructure improvements and the changes necessary to move our city forward for going on three years now.

This will be the era that those massive infrastructure projects happen.

It may even be enough to overcome the budget woes and lack of initiatives strangling our local leadership.

A Mass Transit System that works seems to be one easy thing that we can all agree on.

What else do we need to do?

Prince Peyton to finish his term.

[RiversideGator]

I think we should probably also think about the barrier islands./

I thought Obama was planning on reducing sea levels.   

[uptowngirl]

lost interest....started out good though

[uptowngirl]

if youve lost interest in planning infrastructure improvements, should you consider that you are on a site about planning infrastructure improvements?

It isn't the planning piece I lost interest in, if it stayed on topic it would be interesting.

Anyway I guess you are the one who is pushing people to shut up or leave the site, if they don't agree with you that is...