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Things changed last year. We moved to a different economy and a different president. As the years unfold, 2008 may be remembered as a pivotal one, like 1929, 1941 or 1968, where times changed, and the country grappled with those changes either successfully or unsuccessfully.
Our region's leaders can - and have previously - helped guide America through such challenging times. This year's Regional Assembly will be a part of making that happen. On Friday, April 17 at the Waldorf=Astoria, RPA will host the 19th annual Regional Assembly, titled "America 2050: Building the Next Economy," a full day of workshops, conversation and collaboration with the goal of building consensus and understanding solutions to repair our tattered economy.
Certainly a big part of the picture will be planning how the country can invest in infrastructure. The Obama administration has proposed a stimulus package of grand proportions to help us recover - including broadband, schools and transportation - but we must always remember that we want not only to dig ourselves out of this short-term trench but also plan for sustainable long-term growth that is equitable and produces a high quality of life for Americans.
A potential framework for that investment is America 2050, a national planning initiative that Regional Plan Association is helping to lead and that includes substantial emphasis on infrastructure investment. Examining the assumptions that underpin this national planning framework, as well as others, will be part of the focus at the Regional Assembly.
Whatever the criteria used to evaluate new public spending, it's clear that transportation, energy, water, open space and housing are all at risk and we face a protracted downturn if this money isn't managed correctly. We can watch our infrastructure fall away from underneath us, or we can use it to rebuild ourselves better than before.
Ensuring that these investments pay off will require that we change how we approach problems and make priorities. We will need to abandon rigid categories and become flexible in our strategies. Roads to rail. Oil to solar and wind. Waste to reuse. Energy production to energy efficiency. Federal policies can help send the right market signals, swiftly reform policies that work against energy independence, and put America on a path to sustained prosperity.
Regional Plan Association has been here before. The "Regional Plan for New York and its Environs," released in 1929, helped guide the region through infrastructure investment that helped counter-balance the job losses of the Great Depression and pave the way for what our city and region are today.
This April 17 at the Regional Assembly, we will take an in-depth look at what went wrong this time and what we can do to plan for a more sustainable future, financially and environmentally. The solutions will require thoughtful planning for the long term, values that have been at RPA's core for more than 80 years. Mark your calendar for April 17 and join us as we come together to start the next conversation that will sustain our nation, our region and our city.
for more information, please call 212.253.2727 x 372, or email rivanova@rpa.org
Details:
America 2050: Building the Next Economy
April 17th, 2009, 8am to 3pm.
Waldorf=Astoria, 301 Park Avenue, New York City
$160 members/$185 non-members
Luncheon Keynote:
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-Founder, Moody's Economy.com
Invited Speakers:
The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York
The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania
@RegionalPlan