Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The Biggest Changes in 2017 will be driven by Cities not by Washington

The following is a quote from Michael Bloomberg from the first2017 Time magazine with the baby on the cover
Also,in "The View" no page number listed for some reason within 10 or more pages.
begin quote:70% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions that cities are responsible for, even though they cover only 2% of the world's land mass.

U.S. where Washington (DC) fails to drive progress, cities will act
By Michael Bloomberg

The new Trump administration will dominate headlines in 2017, but the biggest changes in the way we live will be driven not by Washington but by cities.

Even with one party in control of both congress and the white house, special interests will continue to reign supreme. I wish our new president luck in fixing Washington's dysfunctional politics, but doing so starts with building trust among members of the other party, which-- given the tenor of the 2016 election--may prove impossible.

More likely is that an ongoing trend will accelerate: power will continue to shift away from Washington, where partisan warfare kills off good ideas and honest debate, and toward cities. In cities across the U.S., problem-solving mayors in both parties are experimenting with innovative policies, often in partnership with businesses and citizens. And when innovative ideas work in cities, they often spread to states.

skip one paragraph:
On infrastructure, cities from Seattle to Houston and Phoenix to Detroit have all been building expansions to their transit systems. In 2017, a private company in Texas will seek permission to build a high-speed railway from Dallas to Houston.

Cities are leading the way on obesity, one of the most serious public health issues facing the country. Sugary drinks are the largest driver of obesity, and in 2016, five cities and Cook County (which encompasses Chicago) adopted taxes that have been proven to reduce consumption. More undoubtedly will follow.

No issue better highlights the difference between Washington and cities than climate change. Those in Washingto see climate change as a partisan issue. Mayors, of both small towns and big cities, see it as a reason to clean the air, save money on energy, build modern infrastructure, protect themselves from extreme weather and attract new businesses. They recognize that reducing Greenhouse gas emissions can make their communities healthier places to live and work.
end partial quote of article.

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