E-Perspective: Government
- The Challenge for Local Government Leaders and Public Decision-makers
- Sustainable Development: How Does It Benefit the Public Sector?
- Participation by Local Government Leaders and Public Decision-makers
"While many government agencies are working together to comprehensively deal with our region's problems at a regional level, government alone cannot deliver regional sustainability. That's why the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities is so important. The Alliance provides a forum where government agencies can work with business, environmental and community organizations to develop the kind of overall strategy we need for the Bay Area to be prosperous, sustainable and just in the 21st century." - Will Travis, Executive Director, Bay Conservation and Development Commission
The Challenge for Local Government Leaders and Public Decision-makers
The nine-county Bay Area is one of the most dynamic and forward moving regions in the nation. The area's diverse economy has profited small business, mid-size companies, and major industry alike, generating jobs and providing opportunities to those who live and work in the area. Additionally, throughout its growth and development, the Bay Area has successfully maintained a beautiful and healthy natural environment. Ironically, the Bay Area's economic, social, and environmental triumphs have also created challenges and obstacles to its future success. Rapid population growth over the past decades has put increasing pressure on the economic stability, environmental quality, and social equity of the area. Today's public decision-makers and elected officials face serious challenges that are affecting current Bay Area residents and will have an impact on Bay Area populations for generations to come. Among the challenges are:
- An insufficient amount of housing for a growing population.
- A lack of affordable housing.
- The growing disparity between the lowest income residents and the rest of the population.
- Preservation of natural habitat, open space, and wetlands.
- Under-utilized and deteriorating neighborhoods in the urban core.
- A workforce that lives increasingly far away from employment centers.
- Inadequate transit services and transportation system.
- Lost money, time and resources due to disruptive, pollution-generating traffic congestion and lengthy commutes.
- A tax structure that fails to provide local governments with adequate, consistent and stable revenues.
Sustainability: How Does It Benefit The Public Sector?
Using the sustainable development approach, economic, environmental, and social equity stakeholders work together with governmental leaders and regulatory agencies to build a wholly prosperous and healthy region. And, surprisingly to some, the goals of these interests are far more similar than they might initially appear. Consider the following proposals advanced by the Bay Area Alliance that benefit government interests:
- Enlisting and establishing more public-private partnerships in the planning and implementation of community needs. Creates a more collaborative atmosphere in which mutual goals can be accomplished more efficiently.
- Increasing multi-jurisdictional coordination and approaches. Enhances opportunities to solve single and multi-jurisdictional issues without compromising local control.
- Investing in mixed-density/mixed-income residential development near transit services and along transportation corridors. Provides housing for a growing workforce, reduces time-consuming commutes, and uses land more efficiently.
- Revitalizing underused or deteriorated urban areas near employment centers. Focuses compact development in existing urbanized areas, creates potential to develop new housing close to jobs, and expands opportunities to tap and train underused talent in the existing population.
- Amending municipal general plans and zoning laws to permit fast tracking of affordable housing, especially near transit. Supports development of additional housing for a growing workforce.
- Amending general plans to both prioritize and preserve critical open space and natural habitats while promoting higher density development in appropriate areas. Addresses key environmental objectives, and focuses needed housing and other land uses in compact patterns that use land and infrastructure investments more efficiently.
- Investing in a well planned, coordinated public transit system. Provides efficient, convenient transportation options that link residents to jobs, schools, services and other destinations, while reducing traffic congestion, air pollution and water pollution.
- Reforming legislation and practices at the state, regional and local level to provide local governments with adequate and stable revenues.