MAYORS CHAMPION REGIONALISM

If the Bay Area is to avoid being a victim of its own success, it will increasingly need to pull together and solve problems as a region, not as individual municipalities. Wednesday’s general session of the Urban Land Institute’s Fall Meeting brought together mayors of the three largest cities in the region, San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, and Related California Chairman and CEO William A. Witte for a lively discussion entitled Regionalism in a Global Economy.

The conversation focused on issues of land use and touched on balancing the need for impact fees to fund essential upgrades and affordable housing against concerns of stalling investment, lack of state and federal leadership on infrastructure funding, and the importance of local sports venues when responsibly funded. Witte then asked Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman to join the discussion. Wunderman commended the mayors on their unprecedented collaboration, but also highlighted the need for true regional housing and transportation plans with appropriate incentives and funding sources to ensure they are implemented as designed, and not simply ignored. To engage in the Council’s regional planning and housing work, contact Senior Vice President Matt Regan.