Urban Planning for Austerity

The recovery from the recession is taking longer than expected. States are cutting budgets which are affecting cities. Cities are also losing more revenue due to the decreasing local funds, used for such essentials as fire, police and education, being based on property taxes and a sometimes a declining population. Also, in the emerging climate in Washington where many espousing to belong to the Tea Party, cities are not likely to get any additional funds to bridge these gaps. Is it time for cities to retrench by cutting expenses and services, hoping for an upturn in the economy and government, or is it time to innovate and create another future for themselves? Urban planning has been built around the expansion of cities, not their contraction. What should be the suggested strategies to confront these issues? These issues will be developed in future blog entries.