Our core cities do count

The goal of Cities Count! is to develop policy strategies that define benchmarks for economic success in our core urban cities. The idea, and it is a sound one, is that rebuilding the economic strength of our core cities will benefit the state’s overall economy.

Rhode Island’s core cities include Central Falls, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket. Cranston, East Providence, North Providence, Warwick and West Warwick are considered urban ring cities.

The Cities Count! initiative is based on the belief that our state’s economic future is closely linked to the health of its urban centers. In fact, there is compelling evidence to suggest that our urban centers play a pivotal role in our overall economic condition – and as a result, we need to invest in them. For example, 60 percent of Rhode Islanders live in those 10 communities and two-thirds of Rhode Island jobs are located in those communities.

In its report, Cities Count! correctly points out that many investment decisions are now influenced by quality-of-life issues. That being the case, it is clear that we have a vested interest in seeing our core cities not only survive, but thrive.

For decades, we have witnessed a disturbing exodus from our core cities – on the part of both people and businesses. Part of that can be blamed on a dramatic change in our economic makeup – no longer do we rely on big manufacturers that employ thousands of people living in the neighborhood.

The results of this change have been staggering. There are too many public schools performing well below national standards and Main Streets that struggle to maintain a successful tenant mix.

Our core cities need to be places where people want to live and work. They need to act as a catalyst for economic development.

Cities Count! offers an array of recommendations. They are not going to be easily accomplished. They will take leadership and an unwavering commitment of time, and in many cases, money.

Cities Count! recommends that we better integrate state initiatives with city and town initiatives, and that we change the way public education is funded.

The organization also recommends that the state establish a multi-million-dollar urban renaissance fund that would provide resources for a series of activities including assessment of all abandoned industrial sites and brownfields insurance for developers. Programs to retain the middle class among city residents and foster the retention and expansion of small businesses is another focal point of the overall initiative.

The Cities Count! initiatives are bold. They will take time. They will take money. They will not happen overnight.

The easy way out is to thank Cities Count! for its efforts and find a place for this daring report deep in a file drawer.

But this is no time to take the easy way out. It is time to recognize the importance of our core cities and the role they can play in improving our overall economic condition.