Abraham Lacy’s Post

D.C. is doing the hard re-imagining work -- and is better positioned for this transition than most cities. "The future of downtown Washington ... involves some 15,000 new residents, lured in part by a reshaping of public property and commercial space so they can offer things residents want, like neighborhood parks, grocery stores and walkable boulevards connecting to the rest of the city." https://lnkd.in/gH-C_Jzs POLITICO And without vital downtowns, regions aren't ... super-regions. https://lnkd.in/g4dYnT2E Alan Berube Tracy Hadden Loh POLITICO

We are celebrating 50 years of North Kesteven District Council over the next few months. Some years ago, a retiring colleague gave me a copy of the 1968 Redcliffe-Maud Report on Local Government Reform. The report triggered the reorganisation of Local Government in 1974, albeit in a different form to that proposed in the reports conclusions. For 50 years, local government has been making a positive difference across our communities, through day in day out delivery of essential public services, community leadership, innovation, and investment in infrastructure, economic development, local housing solutions and place. At North Kesteven, we are proud of our track record...on economic development, investment in housing, development of culture and the arts, and in our commitment to customer service and performance every day in every community. A massive thank you to the whole team for making a difference now in 2024, and every day for 50 years...and we do have one colleague who has been working for the organisation throughout its 50 year history, a remarkable achievement. And what about the next 50 years? We need to reframe the debate and encourage a step change in policy development...for example...we need a new economic model, regenerative and redistributive, designed to promote flourishing communities, address climate change and reduce inequality. We need a preventive model of public service delivery, in concept a system based approach to addressing the social determinants of health. We need to break out of the 'doom loop', and boost investment in public services and infrastructure appropriate to local need and ambition. And we need a new constitutional settlement, rebuilding global and European governance, and building on the Council of Europe Charter of Local Self Government - in character more internationalist, more local, more place based, less national. And whatever the future holds in terms of the function, purpose and form of local government, we need to reverse the 'bigger is better trend' and the centralism of the last 50 years and embrace the local, the place, and the complexity of the networks, relationships and diversity that gives shape to our communities. #localgovernment #leadership #lincolnshire #sustainabledevelopment #northkesteven District Councils' Network

On Monday this week, the ever growing char.gy team attended the Parliamentary Reception at the Houses of Parliament in partnership with Leeds City Council and Manchester City Council with a focus on economic growth across the northern region of England. The reception was organised by Frank Mckenna, Chief Exec and Chairman of Downtown in Business. We joined over 100 business leaders packed into the terrace room to listen to a wealth of inspiring speakers including Bev Craig, Leader of Mancher City Council and James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council alongside Jonathan Reynolds MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Hilary Benn, Labour MP for Leeds Central and the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lucy Powell MP (Manchester Central) Shadow Leader of the House of Commons,  James Pitt MD at Muse, Joanne Roney, Chief executive of Manchester City Council, Tom Riordan CBE, Chief executive of Leeds City Council. The breakout sessions were vibrant with discussions, offering us a special chance to directly interact with leaders and executives from city and borough councils. We attentively listened to their social economic objectives and challenges while being invited to offer our hypothesis for integrating char.gy's innovative public EV charging solutions throughout their region to bring a wealth of long term secure and inclusive local economic and environmental benefits. Our common goal is to create lasting partnerships with these local authorities, quickly elevating the region council's position in the UK's public electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Simultaneously, we aim to support local economic growth by having local people build and operate the char.gy public EV charging network that directly facilitates the community to have a fair and swift transition to EVs. Wesley Holt Highfield Gearard Hopkins Shayne Rees Yann Marston Snigdha Tiruvuru Lee Cobb Amy Rogers Holly Skinner Richard Tyler Kirk Jenns Mohammed Sabbir Patrick Page Olivia Crossman #chargy #electricstreets #electricstreetsofbritain #innovation #sollutions #partnerships #collaboration #community #people #transition #economicgrowth #decarbonisation #fair #electricvehicle #electricvehicles #ev #evs #localgovernment #localauthorities #localauthority #parliament #netzero #cleanairmatters #climatecrisis

In my latest column for Chicago Tribune, I lay out a roadmap for how Mayor Johnson can take advantage of the tremendous latent potential of Chicago's business and civic community to deliver on the promise of "the city that works."

Now that I'm commuting from Elmira to Corning, I've been trying to utilize CTRAN to reduce my footprint (plus, I just love public transit). As transit specialist, I got an introduction to just how much the system left to be desired, both for those who are reliant on public transit and potential riders. And, now that I'm actually relying on the bus to get to and from work, even more challenges and gaps have become apparent. I have high aspirations for what public transit can look like in our region, and they're not unrealistic ones! I've taken to reading to make the commute more bearable and my current book is White Space, Black Hood by Sheryll Cashin, which I HIGHLY recommend to all. I'm only just getting started, but I'm already FIRED UP. To (hopefully) no one's surprise, the US has a serious problem with historic disinvestment and underinvestment, particularly when it comes to communities of color. The first chapter on Baltimore perfectly encapsulates the continuous violence of white supremacy. People love to use the classic line of "it's in the past", but one does not simply walk out of HISTORIC discrimination. Not that that has since stopped, either! Former governor Hogan was elected in 2015(!!!) and was very blatantly discriminatory throughout his term – canceling the Red Line, cutting Baltimore's schools budget while approving a YOUTH JAIL in the city, and so on and so forth, while supporting projects that benefited the affluent... The fact that people are able to still be elected to office and make decisions that are to the detriment of communities of color and low income communities is appalling to me. I'm looking forward to learning more from this book, and loading up my arsenal of factual rebuttals for when people are talking crazy!! When I say I want equitable cities, I mean EQUITABLE. As planners and government officials, we NEED to actively work to counteract damage from past AND existing policies and repair relationships with communities of color. #whitespaceblackhood #sheryllcashin #equity #publictransportation #publictransit #investincommunities #whitesupremacy #segregation #transitisforeveryone #racialinequality

Looking forward to more details. Tax abatements for BUYERS has made a big difference in our recent past conversions to residential living. What has been a waste was raising our city transfer tax to 5% to fund an affordable housing committee? How is that going? Not well it appears. How about getting that money to non profits to help our unhoused persons? For those of you not burdened by this in PA a transfer tax is charged with every residential real estate transaction. Municipalities can also charge. --If you buy a residential property in the City of Pittsburgh a 5% TRANSFER TAX is assessed on your purchase price! How is that making home buying more affordable for yinz to live and love our amazing city?

🌟 Exciting Updates from the April 15, 2024 City of Independence, Missouri City Council Meeting! 🌟 At the recent Independence City Council meeting, several crucial actions were taken that directly align with our City Council's Action Plan, setting the stage for significant progress and development in our community. 🏗️ Fire Station Projects: The council approved an agreement with WSKF Architects to provide design services for the New and Replacement Fire Stations Projects. This initiative, funded by the Fire Sales Tax approved by voters in 2021, will address Fire Stations 5, 8, and the new station 11, enhancing emergency response capabilities. 🚧 Pavement Maintenance: A construction contract with Superior Bowen was greenlit for the 2024 Pavement Preventative Maintenance Operations Project. This endeavor will see the overlay of 18 lane miles of roads and the crack sealing/filling of an additional 80 lane miles, ensuring safer and smoother travel throughout our city. 📢 Community Engagement: An agreement with Olsson for community engagement and outreach was approved, crucial for refining the General Obligation bond plan based on citizen input. This underscores our commitment to transparent governance and community involvement. 📜 Charter Amendment: The council called for an August 6th, 2024 election to amend the Charter of the City of Independence, marking the first full City Charter review by residents since the early 1980s. This significant step reflects our dedication to modernizing and improving our governance structure. 👮 Justice Center Project: A contract with Hoefer Welker was endorsed to provide design services for the Justice Center project for the Independence MO Police Department, aiming to upgrade facilities and consolidate operations for improved public safety. 🤝 Owner's Representation: An agreement was approved with Project Advocates to serve as the owner's representative for the City on the Justice Center and Fire Station projects, ensuring efficient project management and oversight. 🎉 New Councilmembers: The city witnessed the swearing-in ceremonies for Councilmembers John Perkins, Brice Stewart, Heather Wiley, and Jennie Vaught, each elected to serve four-year terms, bringing crucial perspectives and ideas to our city leadership. These initiatives mark significant strides towards a safer, more efficient, and better-connected Independence. We're excited about the positive impact these projects will have on our community's future! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to move forward together. #IndependenceProgress #CommunityEngagement #CityDevelopment

🌟 Appreciating the Power of Well-Researched Knowledge: Reflections on "A Quiet Revolution" 🌟 Last week, I found myself in a thought-provoking conversation with Councilman Will Lahnen of the Jacksonville City Council. We delved into the topic of why Jacksonville decided to transition to a consolidated government, merging city and county functions. In my studies of various cities, I've always found the concept of consolidating government services to be ambitious and intriguing. Council member Lahnen recommended a book titled "A Quiet Revolution," which provides an in-depth look at the consolidation process that brought 840 square miles of Duval County under a unified government. As I pondered this, I reminded myself of Jacksonville's location in the Deep South, where social and racial tensions have historically influenced the provision of services. Despite these challenges, the fundamental role of government remains to provide leadership and service to the community. Jacksonville's history, unfortunately, includes a violent legacy of racism and discrimination, particularly affecting the poor residents of Duval County. The book sheds light on these issues, explaining why such a monumental consolidation effort was undertaken. It wasn't an easy process; opposition was fierce as many sought to maintain the status quo. My admiration grows for those who managed to transform two inefficient government bodies into a functioning metropolis with a vision for the future. "A Quiet Revolution" clarifies the entire process, from its inception to the present, offering a comprehensive history of Jacksonville's administrative evolution. In my three decades of studying various cities, I've learned that no single system of government is without flaws. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. The key takeaway is that the primary purpose of any government is to provide services and enhance the livability of its area. My experiences, both academic and practical, have deepened my understanding of how we coexist. There's no absolute right or wrong in the universe; the onus is on us to get involved in our local communities to effect meaningful change. https://lnkd.in/eN6tKJTe #CommunityEngagement #SelfAwareness #LoveMindset #Governance #WellResearched #LifeLessons #AQuietRevolution #Jacksonville

I just walked past the site of yesterday’s fire in Catford, a stark reminder of the troubling state of affairs in our industry. As Peter Apps eloquently articulates in his preview of the Grenfell Inquiry Report, there is “a common thread of a hollowed out state,” characterized by a pervasive sense of being “worn down, worn out, and lacking the resources to do much beyond managing the daily tasks.” A glance at the building's facade reveals broken windows, covered with temporary sheeting. This imagery underscores a narrative of underinvestment and neglect, where disrepair makes the likelihood of fire almost inevitable. This issue extends beyond the London Borough of Lewisham; it is mirrored in cities across the UK. The root causes are societal and social democratic issues that current and future governments must address. These challenges are the foundation of our present crisis. We see the impact of these issues in every aspect of life—healthcare, social care, education, transportation, security, and utilities. What we need is a fundamental shift in approach, one that prioritises the wellbeing of all UK residents, creating a society we can be proud of and feel safe in.

The 2nd Annual Housing Symposium, cohosted by The Olson Company and the Rose Institute, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders to delve into the critical issue of housing affordability. The discussions at Claremont McKenna College acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in creating accessible housing solutions. We remain dedicated to being a part of the solution and fostering positive change in the housing landscape. Visit our blog to learn more about our commitment to building a brighter housing future in California! https://bit.ly/4bqLIkC #HousingSymposium #HousingAccessibility #CAHousingCrisis