Urban Policy and the Presidential Election

With over half of the population living in our rapidly growing urban centers, urban planning ought to be at the forefront of political concern. Here are some sections of a recent article by Neal Pierce on the presidential race and urban policy. (Full article: McCain Versus Obama: Who's Best for Cities?)

"With Obama, we’re likely to get an activist federal government in areas from transit and infrastructure to housing. But it won’t be the Democrats’ historic center-city “urban policy.” Instead, Obama’s looking for ways to shift and coordinate federal programs to help boost the fortunes of entire metro regions."

"McCain? One has to be a super-detective to discern any city-metro policy at all...But do we have even a hint of a federal partnership with urban/metro America under a McCain administration? So far no. The silence could be intentional. The Sarah Palin vice presidential selection, the Republican National Convention’s celebration of small towns and invective against “cosmopolitanism” and community organizing, smacks of a calculated anti-urban message."

"Obama[] pledge[s] to create the first-ever White House Office on Urban Policy. With a director reporting to the president, its role would be to get the federal government’s historically “siloed” cabinet departments and agencies to work collaboratively with cities and metro regions."

"For over 50 years, at least since President Harry Truman-- “We haven’t had a president who would be as grounded, as versed in urban and metropolitan matters” as Obama...An Obama presidency would at least aspire to deliver 21st century intellectual power, strong personal commitment to our cities and regions, and intent to appoint the most skilled administrators the country has to offer."

A more detailed look at Obama's urban policies can be found on his campaign website here:

Obama's Urban Policy Proposals

McCain's Urban Policy Proposals? -- There are none. See for yourself.

McCain - Issues