TheSpec – A tale of Ontario cities

Great article about uploading the cost of provincial services from municipalities: TheSpec – A tale of Ontario cities.

Posted in Cities. 1 Comment »

Dynamic Mayors

Check out this article about Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker . Key quote:

Faced with cash-strapped budgets and struggling schools, he secured a $100-million (U.S.) donation from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to reform the education system. He has deployed his considerable charm and extensive Rolodex to lure large businesses to the city. Mr. Booker is also at the vanguard of a group of politicians, among them Calgary’s mayor, Naheed Nenshi, who have embraced social media with zeal.

Source: Globe and Mail, June 4, 2011

The Mayor’s social media sites:

Gathering Places in the Suburbs

Key quote:

Like many other suburban politicians, Ms. Rasode and her fellow councillors are grappling with a dilemma of urban place-making, brought home by the Stanley Cup playoffs: What spaces do we have for people to gather in public? Where is the heart of our city? And can we manufacture a heart if we have to?

Relevant topic for the Greater Toronto Area. Full article here.

Source: Globe and Mail, 4 June 2011

How Cities Fight Back

Grand Rapids creativity:

In Grand Rapids, Mich., they’re calling him a hero, the kid who saved the city from ignominy after Newsweek’s website carried a report that named Rob Bliss’s hometown one of America’s “dying cities.”

Source:  Toronto Star, 3 June 2011

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