While he cannot do much to rewrite the Constitution, which favors rural America, or reverse a century of history, which gave rise to the suburbs, Obama, the most urban president, can do more to embrace the city as an innovation incubator.
According to Edward Luce, two-thirds of Americans live in the top 100 U.S. cities, which produce 90 percent of U.S. patents. "The better they do, the better the US will do," he writes.
Although the media may link America's nascent urban revival to President Obama, unlike his predecessors, he rarely seeks advice from local representatives like governors or mayors in office.
According to Ben Hecht, president of Living Cities, at a conference in Brazil, 15 of 16 countries were debating how to invest in upgrading their cities. The U.S. was the "odd one out."
Luce cites major recent infrastructure failures, such as the building that collapsed in Philadelphia or the bridge in Washington, lamenting Obama's inability to push through a public-private infrastructure bank.
However, the president can choose to recognize that cities are where most of American innovation happens, and begin to "own" their revival, writes Luce.
FULL STORY: Obama needs to embrace the promise of the city
Ten Innovations for the Cities of the Near Future
The World Economic Forum offers a reminder of just how drastically things could change, and soon, in cities.
Manhattan Institute Presses Policy Innovations for 'The Next Urban Renaissance'
A new book from the Manhattan Institute, available for free download, argues that cities will have to full embrace experimentation and evaluation to be true laboratories of innovation.
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National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
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Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service