Aaron M. Renn

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Archives for November 2009

Back From Barcelona

November 24, 2009 By Aaron M. Renn

I just got back from spending a week in Barcelona. It's a great city, the weather was perfect, and the crowds weren't too bad. A very enjoyable trip all around. As usual, I have a few observations that struck me while there. Urban Culture I used to have a team I supervised in Madrid, so I had been to that city many times, but never made it to Barcelona apart from one brief in and out trip. I was eager to compare and contrast the two. One thing that struck me was an analogy to the Midwest. Spain was once a mighty empire, but became a sort … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Barcelona, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Mega-Skepticism

November 17, 2009 By Aaron M. Renn

[ This post inaugurates a three part series on "megaregions" and the applicability of this concept to the Midwest. It is a repeat of something I wrote on the subject a bit over a year ago. That should lay the ground work. Part two of the series will be a review of the book "Megaregions", edited by Catherine L. Ross. The third part will be some thinking on ways the Midwest might be able to apply megaregional thinking to its problems. As you will see, I come to this subject as a skeptic. This post originally ran on July 11, 2008] There … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cincinnati, Demographics and Economic Development, Governance and Public Services, Indianapolis, Louisville, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Principles of Privatization – Part 4: Guidelines for Action

November 15, 2009 By Aaron M. Renn

I'll conclude my series on privatization with a series of guidelines for action or best practices you should look at to determine if privatization is right. I take a pragmatic view on this. The private sector and government are always going to work together. We just need to make sure we do it right. I had a list of considerations I had developed it, and supplemented it some insights from Indianapolis blogger Paul Ogden. Ogden is a strident populist Republican who used to favor privatization but is now mostly skeptical. Even if you don't go for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Governance and Public Services

Pro Sports As Naming Rights Deal

November 8, 2009 By Aaron M. Renn

"The real question is what these expensive, publicly bankrolled behemoths add to their local economies. The consensus across every, single serious study ever done of the economic impact of sports stadia is 'absolutely nothing." As the old song goes, 'say it again.'" - Richard Florida  Over at Columbus Underground they are discussing a report commissioned by the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team claiming the team and its arena had a $2 billion economic impact in the region. I've no doubt that a lot of money was spent around the team, but if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columbus (Ohio), Demographics and Economic Development, Indianapolis

Principles of Privatization – Part 3: Uses of Funds

November 7, 2009 By Aaron M. Renn

Continuing my look at privatization transactions, this installment focuses on appropriate uses of funds. Some types of privatization involve paying a third party to deliver an outsourced service. If, by outsourcing, you are able to save money and get better service, great. If you are able to realize recurring savings from this, then you can put that money to use in many potential ways: special projects, new services, tax cuts, or making up for cost increases elsewhere. I'm going to focus on non-recurring revenue, the type realized from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Governance and Public Services

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About Aaron M. Renn


 
Aaron M. Renn is an opinion-leading urban analyst, consultant, speaker, and writer on a mission to help America’s cities and people thrive and find real success in the 21st century. (Photo Credit: Daniel Axler)
 
Email: aaron@aaronrenn.com
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