On Demand
Our Urban President
Friday, November 14, 2008
Barack Obama won big November 4th with the support of urban centers across the nation. Now that he's been elected president, what can cities expect from his urban policy? Esther Fuchs, professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), looks at what to expect.
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Andrea Bernstein and Esther Fuchs just surmised that the impetus for new transportation options may vanish with lower gasoline prices.
I have a simple counterargument for anyone who becomes complacent because of cheaper gas: it took a once-in-a-century financial crisis to stop the sharp rise of prices that occurred just a few months ago. Unless you want the economy to remain stagnant, threatening your job, your retirement, etc., you had better wish for the conditions that will make oil prices rise again. And when they do, let's hope we are ready with energy-efficient alternatives to what we have now.
Urban policy? Hmm. I'll believe it when I see it. In some cities (NYC is in this catagory) some of the challenge now lies in the first ring of suburbs. As afluent people move back into the city the poor people are being forced out into the first ring of suburbs where the infrastructure is even worse, requiring a car for everything you do. I hope that this administration does not get an urban policy that fails to notice this.
Copenhagen should serve as the model city for how to rethink American cities from a livability and environmental perspective.
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