On Tuesday, the Detroit Free Press published an Op-ed by GLUE friends John Austin and Bruce Katz of The Brookings Institution arguing that a change in federal policies could have a real and lasting benefit to Detroit and Michigan. But their assessment is by no means limited to one state.
All of the things Detroit and southeast Michigan are trying to do — largely unaided — to transform the regional economy could be significantly helped by a federal government that was a partner, not a delinquint.
Check out the examples they give, ranging from transportation policy to next generation energy investments to Great Lakes restoration — and others. In addition to having partners in other GL cities and states, we should have a partner in the federal government — which will only happen if we demand it of our next president.
Bruce Katz & co have been very busy on the op-ed front lately. In addition to the one you mentioned, they’ve had pieces published in the daily papers of Buffalo, Cleveland, Dallas, and Milwaukee.