A Speech on America's Cities By Joel Kotkin

Here's a speech on America's cities by Joel Kotkin.Here's an extract from a speech :

THE RISE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAKES MORE AND MORE OF WHAT CITIES HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE CONTESTABLE BY OTHER GEOGRAPHIES --- NOT JUST FROM SUBURBS BUT ALSO FROM THE FAR-FLUNG COUNTRYSIDE AND FROM OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

TO WITHSTAND THIS COMPETITIVE CHALLENGE, CITIES NEED TO BE STRONGER IN ALL THE ESSENTIAL AREAS. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT OCCURRED THIS FALL IN NEW ORLEANS WAS NOT SIMPLY A PHYSICAL DISASTER, BUT THE RESULT OF A DEEP-SEATED ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC MALAISE THAT INFECTS MOST URBAN AREAS.

THESE REALITIES ARE OBSCURED BY THE HYPE AND HOOPLA SURROUNDING MANY CITIES TODAY. DELUDED BY THE CURRENT SPECULATIVE REAL ESTATE MARKET, THEY THINK THEY ARE RESTORING THEIR HEALTH WITH A LITTLE PLASTIC SURGERY. JUST ADD A STARKITECH -DESIGNED ART CENTER, BASEBALL STADIA, A PERFORMING ARTS PALACE, OR SOME YUPPIE LOFTS AND COOL BARS, AND PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN DECLARE PROUDLY THAT CITIES ARE BACK.

THIS IS LARGELY DELUSIONAL. SOME OF YOU MAY NOT WANT TO LISTEN WITH WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SHARE WITH YOU. SOME WILL CLAIM THAT WHAT I AM SAYING IS 'ANTI-CITY'. THAT IS A COP OUT AND INACCURATE --- I LOVE CITIES AND HAVE STUDIED THEM FOR DECADES.

You'll want to read this important speech twice.Kotkin captures the reality of economic decline of many old cities.Anyone who lives in a Blue city will see truth in this speech.