The Viability of Obama's Urban Vision

Writing for Citiwire, William H. Hudnut III wonders whether the Obama Administration's stated interest in cities and urban areas will translate into action.

"President Obama 'gets it,' even though between understanding and implementation, between the cup and the lip, slips can occur and good ideas can die. But in remarks made to a delegation of the U.S. Conference of Mayors last week, the President talked about the importance of rebuilding and revitalizing our cities and metropolitan areas. This was not a point he made in his State of the Union address, having other pressing matters he had to deal with. But to the mayors he did outline his administration's urban vision of creating 'economically competitive, environmentally sustainable, opportunity rich communities that serve as the backbone for our long term growth and prosperity.'"