MSA:Corkboard

Reclaiming our Territory
The Conference of Western Wayne is uniting church and government leaders in an unprecedented effort to bridge the gap between the city and suburbs. In honor of the 40^th anniversary of the Detroit riots, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Livonia Mayor Jack Engebretson will exchange keys to their cities. The mayors have established a platform of “Reclaiming our Territory” to which community leaders will lend their support. Contact Marsha Bianconi if you will be attending.

Monday, July 23, 2007. 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Virginia Parks Plaza (on Rosa Parks Blvd. between Euclid and Blaine)

Detroit, MI

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cityscape Detroit: Brownfield Redevelopment
Need to brush up on your knowledge of brownfield redevelopment? Cityscape Detroit is hosting a panel discussion touching on everything from redevelopment tax credits from financing to technical issues. "Process, Policy and Incentives" promises to be informative—and refreshments are included! Visit www.cityscapedetroit.org for details.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007. 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
55 West Canfield Lofts
Detroit, MI
------------------------------------------------------------------
Taylor Crime Prevention Course
The City of Taylor is hosting a course about preventing crime in cities through environmental design. Headlined by Arthur Hushen of the National Crime Prevention Institute, this course is a great opportunity for city leaders, law enforcement officers, planners, architects and educators. Topics of focus include natural and symbolic barriers, lighting, writing CPTED ordinances, parks site plans and public art, among many more. Contact Megan Etue at metue@ci.taylor.mi.us or (734) 374-1376 for more information and to register.

Various sessions August 21-23, 2007
Taylor, MI
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast: Act 312
Save the date for our next Mayors and Managers Policy Breakfast! A location and menu have yet to be determined, but one thing that's for sure is we will be discussing one of the most vital yet contentious issues facing city leaders in southeast Michigan. Act 312, binding arbitration, and issue-based negotiation are just a few of the topics we'll discuss, so mark your calendar. We'll keep you posted with details.

Friday, September 28, 2007. 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit our website for more events!


Volume 3 Number 2: July 2007

On this Month's Corkboard... Director's Message: Demanding clean and green Project Updates: Interns for the offering In the News: Form-based zoning in Fremont Upcoming Events: Save the date for Act 312
Metro Detroiters celebrate Independence Day in shady Huntington Woods
Director's Message
We've Got the Power Like anyone in Michigan who worries about the state of our economy, I’ve been thinking constantly about Michigan’s next renaissance. More and more, my mind is turning to energy. I read this morning that a new bipartisan effort to bring clean energy to the country is underway in Congress, and the major push is coming from representatives who anticipate that it will catalyze billions in new investment. Finish reading. . . back to top

Project Updates
Testifying for Transit Executive Director Conan Smith and Public Policy Director Luke Forrest testified before the House Transportation Committee’s Public Transit Subcommittee late last month about the significant economic development benefits of mass transit—in particular, its potential to create jobs, reduce the cost of living and build more attractive communities. And of course, they didn't forget to mention that state and federal investments in public transit can catalyze MASSIVE private investments along transit corridors. Learn more about the benefits of transit and transit-oriented development at the Golden Spike webpage where you'll find our new white paper, Using Transit-Oriented Development to Create Vibrancy in Neighborhoods. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intern Offering We are revamping our UniverCities Connection program to allow our student interns to assist with projects in our member cities. All Suburbs Alliance charter members will soon receive a formal invitation to participate, but in the meantime, tell us what kind of support your city needs! Email suggestions or project ideas to Brittany Galisdorfer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Healthy Breakfast Thanks to all who participated in the delicious discussion on healthcare legacy costs at our Mayors and Managers Policy Breakfast last month. As we speak, your feedback and ideas are helping shape our policy recommendations for the next issue of In the Ring! Suburbs Alliance members and state policymakers can expect to receive this issue later this summer. For all you non-members out there, check out the last In the Ring (topic: energy) to see what you're missing! back to top

In the News
Fremont, Michigan Mayor Jim Rynberg has been awarded the Distinguished Citizen Planner Award by Michigan State University's Citizen Planner Program. The Honorable served as the driving force behind the creation of a Joint Planning Commission with full planning authority for Fremont and two of its surrounding townships (Dayton and Sheridan) and is also helping his community adopt form-based zoning, an innovative zoning code that regulates the function of land use and allows diverse architectural development that can serve multiple and changing functions. Innovation in action? We think so. Congratulations, Mayor! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A whopping 83 PERCENT of the nation lives in metropolitan areas! That said, these regions will be critical to the future health and competitiveness of our national economy. For a real page-turner, check out A Blueprint for National Prosperity in which Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution proposes a national agenda that will give cities and metros the rules and the tools to leverage their economic strengths, grow in environmentally sustainable ways and build a strong, diverse and resilient middle class. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speaking of new economies. . .the Apollo Alliance's recently released report, Community Jobs in the Green Economy: A Vision for a Green Economy and Equitable Development, offers a great framework for cities to capitalize on clean energy development in a way that benefits both high- and low-income communities. Read it here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At the risk of making him blush, we can't help but brag: Suburbs Alliance program coordinator and resident artist Cooper Holoweski unveiled his first solo show in Michigan on June 23! “Boom and Bust” is a collection of Cooper's print work as well as large scale drawings, collages, digital imagery and video installation. Catch the show at the Museum of New Art (MoNA) in Pontiac until July 24. More info...here. back to top

Upcoming Events
Reclaiming our Territory The Conference of Western Wayne is uniting church and government leaders in an unprecedented effort to bridge the gap between the city and suburbs. In honor of the 40^th anniversary of the Detroit riots, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Livonia Mayor Jack Engebretson will exchange keys to their cities. The mayors have established a platform of “Reclaiming our Territory” to which community leaders will lend their support. Contact Marsha Bianconi if you will be attending. Monday, July 23, 2007. 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Virginia Parks Plaza (on Rosa Parks Blvd. between Euclid and Blaine) Detroit, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cityscape Detroit: Brownfield Redevelopment Need to brush up on your knowledge of brownfield redevelopment? Cityscape Detroit is hosting a panel discussion touching on everything from redevelopment tax credits from financing to technical issues. "Process, Policy and Incentives" promises to be informative—and refreshments are included! Visit www.cityscapedetroit.org for details. Tuesday, July 24, 2007. 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 55 West Canfield Lofts Detroit, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------ Taylor Crime Prevention Course The City of Taylor is hosting a course about preventing crime in cities through environmental design. Headlined by Arthur Hushen of the National Crime Prevention Institute, this course is a great opportunity for city leaders, law enforcement officers, planners, architects and educators. Topics of focus include natural and symbolic barriers, lighting, writing CPTED ordinances, parks site plans and public art, among many more. Contact Megan Etue at metue@ci.taylor.mi.us or (734) 374-1376 for more information and to register. Various sessions August 21-23, 2007 Taylor, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast: Act 312 Save the date for our next Mayors and Managers Policy Breakfast! A location and menu have yet to be determined, but one thing that's for sure is we will be discussing one of the most vital yet contentious issues facing city leaders in southeast Michigan. Act 312, binding arbitration, and issue-based negotiation are just a few of the topics we'll discuss, so mark your calendar. We'll keep you posted with details. Friday, September 28, 2007. 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website for more events! back to top Sign Up for the Corkboard © 2007 Michigan Suburbs Alliance, All Rights Reserved