"Cities enable the concentrated exchange of ideas and resources that generates the nation's innovation and entrepreneurship. Particularly in the knowledge economy. we cannot afford to waste any of the human capital, real estate and business assets of cities. ... Today, government programs aims at strengthening metropolitan areas are spread across the federal government ... with insufficient coordination or strategy. Obama and Biden will create a White House Office of Urban Policy to develop a strategy for metropolitan America and to ensure that all federal dollars targeted to urban areas are effectively spent on the higest-impact programs."

- From "Barack Obama & Joe biden: Supporting Urban Prosperity"

For the first time in a long while, in Barack Obama we have a president who claims to have a sincere concern for fixing the urban malaise. What we can hope for is that this administration does not take the easy road of quick fixes. Solutions must be pragmatic, recognize that hard sacrifices will have to be made, and that some urban ills will not be healed with a radical paradigm shift.

Whatever the solutions they will effect not only the economy and the fiscal state of a nation, but also the very definition and quality of the urban experience. Solutions need to be long-term, and long-term solutions often come at the detriment of current stakeholders. Some cherish programs will have to go. This is unfortunate, nevertheless, a sacrifice that must be made for the sake of our children and their children.

What will not work is more of the same. No longer can entrenched stakeholders call the shots to fit their agendas. Urban politics as currently played out must be curbed. Solutions must come from the bottom – those whose very livelihood is at stake – not imposed from the top. This means the revival of grassroots activism and the stepping aside of “build and they will come” minded community development corporations.

Solutions that work will come from a new set of metrics, metrics just now being explored. As a study conducted by the Greater Baltimore Development Corporation succinctly pointed out that the supposedly necessary measurements of a healthy urban region do not always apply. Greater Baltimore, which measures rather low on several of the “proven” metrics, is nevertheless rising out of the ashes of the urban malaise in unexpected ways. New ways of measuring must be explored. Unfortunately much of what we are hearing at this point from the incoming administration (at least from the President's Cabinet) is based upon the old metrics. And one wonders if the much-touted position of "Urban Czar" is more top down ideology, or worse yet, a feel-good position full of empty rhetoric? Indeed, the Office of Urban Policy as it is now conceived, paints a broad brush with little detail. Worse yet, those who gain by following the old, outdated metrics have already begun their lobbying. Hopefully, the change that everyone is lauding will launch a new way of seeing, and doing things, in our urban cores.

Frankly, the old way of dealing with urban ills no longer works. It is doubtful that it ever did. What is needed are solutions not yet even thought of.

We need to get creative, ignore those with vested interests in maintaining the status quo, ignore the so-called experts who often advance nothing but the latest fad-fix, while listening to those who know best, the ones who are living day in and day out, the urban experience. Not just the ones who can afford over-priced downtown digs, but also those living hand-to-mouth existence, even those beyond that existence. Our solutions will come from listening – really listening – to those who have the most to lose, but also, the most to gain. Listening and applying in sustainable concrete ways that have long lasting positive effect.

No, I am not going to make any suggestions, at least not before I listen. I will return to theme, however, in future editorials.

- Frank A. Mills