Elected officials from across the country are convening in Denver today for a National League of Cities’ economic forum. The focus of the three-day event will be on making cities stronger in a global era. It is the first such conference, and NLC executive director Don Borut said the group picked Denver, in part, because of the success of two innovative mayors, John Hickenlooper of Denver and Lakewood’s Mayor Steve Burkholder.
Both Denver and Lakewood have plenty to crow about. The blossoming Belmar shopping and dining district is a glowing success for Lakewood, and Denver, among other things, has pulled off one of the most successful military base conversions in the country with the popular mixed development neighborhoods at Lowry – and the similar reuse of city land at Stapleton. And the mayors’ success in rallying officials of all 30 local jurisdictions to support the FasTracks tax is a prime example of regional cooperation that other metro areas hope to emulate. FasTracks will build a $4.7 billion transit network over the next dozen years.
Still, amid the successes there are challenges. Colorado’s economy remains stubbornly tepid, with thousands out of work. The cost of health insurance for municipal employees remains a problem.
Borut says cities are still transitioning from their legacy as manufacturing centers to the service and information economy. Many cities’ revenue systems are based on manufacturing; the same for workforce skills. Yet, cities must adapt to an age when highly skilled people in China, India and other low-wage countries are competing for contracts and jobs. “What can local governments do to be proactive?” Borut asks. That will be one of the topics for the league’s discussions.
Gone are the days when the Denver area competes only with other American cities, Borut says. American cities will not be competing with each other, he said, “but with Shanghai.”
As globalization trends spin forward, Denver and surrounding cities proved they have strength in numbers to improve the region’s economic infrastructure. The regional cooperation that emerged around FasTracks can be put to use in economic development initiatives. We wish the league and city officials a good meeting in Denver.
