On Valentine’s Day, we urged Presidential candidates to support the future of America’s cities and to develop a serious urban platform.
Earlier this week, our Milwaukee-dwelling friend Dan forwarded us Senator Obama’s belated Valentine. It is not clear from the Senator’s website when this platform was unveiled, or to what fanfare, but it is critically important that those of us who care about America’s cities look closer at this proposal.
We at GLUE have stressed, and will continue to stress, the major role federal policy must play in the creation of more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous urban centers.
In addition to supporting much-needed core infrastructure investment, a fully funded Community Development Block Grant, and the transformation of historic manufacturing centers into clean technology centers for an adequately trained workforce, Senator Obama laudably proposes the creation of a White House Office on Urban Policy.
This kind of high-profile federal attention paired with a Congressionally ratified Great Lakes Compact would catalyze an inevitable resurgence in cities like Buffalo, Milwaukee, and Detroit.
Senator McCain is also running to represent our metropolitan nation. He should follow suit and develop a comprehensive urban platform sooner rather than later.
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