Another Voice / Regional planning
William H. Hudnut III: Collaboration, not competition, is critical
Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Great Lakes Metros and the New Opportunity Summit at Buffalo State College. Having lived in Buffalo for three years, and having returned several times since I moved away, I have a keen interest in the city’s future.
Hence, I was disappointed to learn that 1) a proposal to establish a county-wide planning board had been vetoed and may not survive; and 2) past proposals to consider city/county collaboration and/or consolidation have made little impact on the Buffalo and Erie County region.
The two subjects are interrelated. In today’s world, problems cut across traditional municipal boundaries established back in the 1800s. Environmental pollution, land use and transportation planning, crime, grime and blight, congestion, sprawl without growth, deteriorating strip development, aging housing and infrastructure — all these problems and more cut across jurisdictional lines and require multijurisdictional solutions.
A planning commission with responsibility for the whole county would constitute an effective step forward in forging solutions to these problems — indeed, a necessary step, because a more holistic approach to planning will make the region more competitive.
Today, regions compete, not cities. Therefore, municipal entities within a region — that is, in the same commuter shed where people read the same papers, listen to the same news and root for the same teams, the Sabres and the Bills — must learn to work together to be competitive.
Although I served for 16 years as mayor of a consolidated city/county government in Indianapolis, I am not necessarily recommending that for this region at this stage of the game. Maybe later, because the benefits are enormous: Economies of scale are gained, leadership in economic development is more focused, a wider sense of “family” with its understanding that what’s good for one part of the region is good for the whole is created, overlapping services are consolidated, efficiencies and cost savings are generated and a stronger tax base is established.
But now, collaboration would be a good start toward a more regional approach to governance. Are there departments duplicating each other’s work, such as purchasing, that could be combined? How many different entities are filling potholes or plowing snow or picking up trash? Is it necessary to have so many police and fire departments, or so many sewer, water, lighting and highway districts? How many school districts are there and how many big bucks are the top people drawing?
Ben Franklin graphically depicted the problem of finding common ground for cooperation when he drew a snake in 13 parts and gave it the motto: “Join together or die.” Today, Franklin might say: “Collaborate or decline.”
William H. Hudnut III is a former assistant minister at Westminster Church in Buffalo and has served as president of the National League of Cities.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments
Learn more about our moderation system.