The Federal Stimulus is having some unexpected side effects as state's determine how to use the transportation portion of the package. Even though the Obama administration stresses the importance of sustainable growth, it failed to put sufficient regulations on the money going out to states to enforce this ideology. The New York Times article, "Stimulus Ideals Conflict on the Texas Prairie" exemplifies this issue. Given the nature of the federal stimulus and the rapidity at which it was dealt out to states, how can we as advocates for sustainable growth encourage states to use the transportation money for smart growth projects instead of subsidizing sprawl?
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 7b of 7
Listen to the 7th of 7 segments as Center City Panelists answer questions from the audience. The panelists include: John Detrick, Clark County Commissioner; Mark Wiener the CEO, Community-Mercy Health Partners; Mayor Warren Copeland - Springfield Mayor and Wittenberg Professor and Director of the Wittenberg Center for Civic & Urban Engagement; Rick Nedelman a Surgeon & Partner at the upcoming Ohio Valley Medical Center; Mike McDorman the President of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tina Koumoutsos, the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield- Part 7a of 7
Listen to the 7th of 7 segments as Center City Panelists answer questions from the audience. The panelists include: John Detrick, Clark County Commissioner; Mark Wiener the CEO, Community-Mercy Health Partners; Mayor Warren Copeland - Springfield Mayor and Wittenberg Professor and Director of the Wittenberg Center for Civic & Urban Engagement; Rick Nedelman a Surgeon & Partner at the upcoming Ohio Valley Medical Center; Mike McDorman the President of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Tina Koumoutsos, the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 6 of 7
Listen to the 6th of 7 segments as John Detrick, Clark County Commissioner, Mark Wiener, CEO of Community-Mercy Health Partners, Mayor Copeland and Mike McDorman discuss the challenges Springfield faces in implementing revitalization projects. Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 5 of 7
Listen to the 5th of 7 segments as Rick Nedelman a surgeon at the upcoming Ohio Valley Medical Center and Mayor Copeland discuss the construction of the hospital in downtown Springfield. Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 4 of 7
Listen to the 4th of 7 segments as Tina Koumoutsos, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield depicts that possibilities that come with Smart Growth. Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 3 of 7
Listen to the 3rd of 7 segments as Mike McDorman, President of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, discusses the how the chamber is advancing the four driving assets (Innovation, Human Capital, Infrastructure, Quality of Place) outline in the Restoring Prosperity report. Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 2 of 7
Listen to the 2nd of 7 segments as Mayor Copland discusses the concept of Right Sizing and what is means for Springfield. Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization. Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Restoring Prosperity to Springfield Part 1 of 7: Springfield officials discuss the state of the city
Springfield, Ohio's Center City Association hosted several policy thinkers and city officials at their annual event on March 25th in order to discuss the challenges and opportunities Springfield has in revitalization.
Lavea Brachman, Co-Director of Greater Ohio moderated the event.
Watch to the 1st of 7 segments as Wittenberg University President, Mark Erickson discusses the university's role in development as an anchor institution.
Rebuttal to Is there a downside to mass-transit? Part 2 of 2
Mass-transit is a hot topic in Ohio these days. Yesterday I posted a testimony given by the President of the Ohio Contractors Association against the construction of mass transit. Today I give you one of the rebuttals. Ken Prendergast, Executive Director of All Aboard Ohio, issued a response in the Columbus Dispatch arguing that
"It is apparent that the Ohio Contractors Association, which represents the highway-contracting industry and lobbies for increasing gasoline taxes, has been feeding at the highway-funding trough for so long that it believes that our gasoline taxes are an ever-expanding entitlement program for its own benefit. Travel between major cities in Ohio continues to be important for our economic vitality and growth. I agree that the highway system is the primary means of transporting individuals and goods within and through Ohio and needs to be in a state of good repair."
Read his full op-ed here. Obviously both arguments are made by people who have obvious motives. What are your thoughts? Will Mass-transit burden Ohioans and lead to more deaths or is it the opening to reinvigorate economic development?