Obama To Establish Urban Policy Office

Washington Post:

The intense back-stabbing amongst Democrats for top jobs in the Obama administration assumes there are a fixed number of jobs worth having. But it's looking likely that some extremely choice, even consequential, jobs are going to be created by the new administration.

For example, plans are underway to establish a White House Office of Urban Policy in order to better coordinate federal efforts to help America's cities, according to Obama transition co-chair Valerie Jarrett.

"He's going to have a White House chief of urban policy," Jarrett told the Trotter Group, an organization of black columnists.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Myshkin57]

He's no dummy. He knows that it's going to be key to energy policy to accelerate the re-invigoration of urban centers.

Public transit is one of the best and easiest ways to use less energy, but you need high population density for public transit to be convenient enough to get people to use it.

Also, it's been my experience that people in general feel more responsible to help others in large urban centers because they see people of all types everyday. So, it might also help with getting people involved volunteering.

[MJJM]

I hope he creates an Office of Rural Policy!!

[pupbayer]

LOL!!! Nah...he thinks small towns and farmers are bitter. I never got the idea he cared much for rural areas. Don't expect him to do anything for them. The cities is all he cares about.

[relikx]

You're wrong actually, expanding hi-speed internet access into more rural areas is a priority for him. So my question to you is do you better think your tax dollars are spent on something like this, or is it still a waste?

http://skypejournal.com/2008/09/rural-internet-access-is-obama-priority.html

[Obama08Supporter]

Your problem is that you are bitter and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that. However, when Obama said that and it was taken out of context, to your delight I am sure, he knew exactly what he was talking about. Your post is evident of that. All you see is that he is trying to help the urban communities but that is so large in your mind that you simply overlook the other plans he have for all of America.

Sad and bitter? Yes, you are.

[Icantbelieveher]

You don't sound bitter!

[allonfla]

You know why that statement was called a gaffe? BECAUSE IT WAS THE TRUTH!!!!! The Republicans have shown it time and time again - they know how to exploit the things that you cling to and you numnucks fall for it everytime. I can just picture Repubs laughing at these people once the doors are closed - laughing all the way to their new office.

[nellie]

Seriously, I was thinking the same thing. For areas like Appalachia that need so much assistance. He could start with broadband.

[Liberoservative]

We already have that....

The Department of Agriculture

[blueskybigstar]

In the last 28 years there has been so many bad things that have not been reported that Obama needs to establish a White House Office of Truth.

We need to clean out our closets, deal with the abuses of pardoning, incarcerate the perpetrators, and then we can move on to the future.

That would be change I can believe in.

[ccmd]

change.gov

go there! (there's a suggestion box too, really)

[sklfcats]

That is because he is such a great community organizer.

[hotstuff]

Writter , choose your words more carefully, try not to start trouble before the administration is up and running for pete sake! Backstabbing? Source please! Who,when and where! or don't report!

[Avembe]

This must be a Puma one especially if he has no source and i think he hasn't!!!

[MIVOTE]

Thank you! The cities really need help. If not financially certainly with leadership and best practices shared. This is going to be the best 4 years I've had in a long time.

[left-leaning-libertarian]

Another great--and long overdue--idea! I LOVE this guy!

[hotstuff]

Back Stabbing? Name your source and where,when,who it is happening! This is a brilliant idea, but I have heard of no back stabbing! This is what where talking about in bad reporting/trouble starting!

[Mugzi]

isn't that for true!!

[amluvinit2]

Denver did a beautiful job of urban renewal. I am a native, don't live there now, but when I visit, I am so pleasantly surprised. It is just wonderful to know that the President Elect, is all over this. I am so glad we have something to look forward to. Finally !! Obama, is going to do a wonderful job.

[Icantbelieveher]

So many people hear Urban and figure he's going to give handouts, but they don't realize how building up the cities helps everyone who lives anywhere near these cities!

I live in Thornton, CO and love going downtown now! It's a beautiful city!

[amluvinit2]

Oh my !! It's true, a President true to his word, not just giving us lip service. He has it all together. I have to say I am more and more suprised by this man everyday. You re-build from the bottom up, the stronger the structure is. This is what legislators, and the past administration failed to see. If we can re-build community, then we build character, good work, ethics, and pride. That is what shows our strength. Not flexing our muscles.

[clausnitzer]

Great idea. Denver's mayor on the short list?

[wendynyc]

Wow - Brilliant - after so many years of neglect and decline.

Thanks O!

[aliceinthewater]

This makes so much seance I'm shocked.

It reminds me that the bar has been set really low for the past eight years.

[gloryoski]

1993-feeling meter needle out of the red a little bit. I needed that.

[magicmary]

I've spent time in an excellent (but expensive) city, a great city and a city with lots of culture but completely crappy infrastructure and strip malls that multiply like rabbits. We really do need to give tremendous shots into the arms of our cities!! Trains, facelifts of major streets, more places to walk (and shop). More economic juice for people to fix up their own little pieces of their neighborhoods! More small businesses! Sorry, I have no pity for the big box stores (a blight on the national canvas) that are going under. Let them all be replaced by smaller neighborhood businesses again. BRING BACK MAIN STREET!!!

Thanks O!

[anachoret]

I hope that this is agenda as well.
Especially the local business angle. More jobs from more local owners. Help the people who live here, help one another. That builds a community. The box stores don't build communities, they buy them out, then sell them down the river.

[nowalnuts]

A president actually doing things that will help our country? I'm still in shock!

[anachoret]

EXCELLENT and long overdue.

I hope he appoints an urban resident, who grew up in an actual urban area.

[FaceYourFears]

Exactly

[BrianGlanz]

Isn't it a more powerful indicator of interest in urban areas to have chosen personally to move into an urban area, than to have grown up and remained in one? If you want a constructive prejudice between someone raised in a city and someone who moved to a city, there is also the generic psychology of converts being more zealous, so from that one might hope he does NOT appoint someone who grew up in an urban area.

In any case, I disagree that whether your parents raised you in an urban area should influence how you are evaluated as a leader in urban policy. A lot of this election is about putting merit above birthright, character above heritage, and all the like.

[anachoret]

You make very compelling points, Brian, and I don't mean to oppose them. Someone could hope for the job, without having grown up in urban environments, and deserve it.

However, I do think that urban youth are prone to identify with people from their own backgrounds, and I think that can be quite valuable in building support. Sorry if my hopes for the appointment aren't the same as yours, but I hope you understand that I believe there are many of both merit and character from these most heavily populated areas.