Livability and Sustainable Communities – Taking Action For A Clean Energy Future
Reconnecting America Participates in White House briefing
The event brought together private developers, leaders of the faith community, transportation practitioners, local mayors and transit agency CEOs, social equity advocates and federal agency leaders.
"Evidenced by the energy in the room and the wide variety of local initiatives shared, it is clear this administration is committed to support livability efforts across the country," said Reconnecting America CEO John Robert Smith. Along with Smith, Reconnecting America was represented at the forum by Reconnecting America board members Will Fleissig and David King; Scott Bernstein, president, Center for Neighborhood Technology; and Mariia Zimmerman, Reconnecting America vice president for policy.
Administration speakers included Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
LaHood spoke about the need for immediate action, providing the federal perspective and why its important to act now, and to work with communities. He noted that his agency, HUD and the Environmental Protection Agency along with other members of “the Green Cabinet”, are committed to working together and meeting regularly. “This is not your father’s DOT,” LaHood said.
Donovan told the forum that clean energy is the key to unlock America’s potential in the 21st century, and the livability initiative is really about supporting local strategies. Government needs to catch up to local innovation, lead the charge and set the pace, he said. (His speech is online here.)
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker said it is incredibly encouraging to see federal government recognizing the need to support communities, and work together in more collaborative fashion. But, he added, “We can’t sit still in local government and wait for the right federal action.” Becker said the important role for the federal government is to set standards and provide guidance while allowing local innovation. He said the Salt Lake City region is aggressively pursuing a wide variety of sustainability initiatives supported by the business community, the church, citizens and elected officials.
A second panel of practitioners also spoke, including Doris Koo, CEO and President of Enterprise Community Partners and Pres Kabacoff, CEO of HRI Properties, a T4America partner. Both demonstrated that the private sector – for-profit and not-for-profit developers -- is helping to set the pace and advance livability projects.
Posted March 9, 2010
