I just arrived at my hotel in Washington, D. C.
I’m here for the next three days attending a special Brookings Institution conference on the future of cities, meeting with my counterpart on the DC City Council who chairs the public safety committee, and spending time with the civilian director of the agency that oversees police professional accountability here in the District.
I’ll try to keep you posted as the week unfolds.
The Brookings’ conference on cities promises to be the highlight of the week because cities drive the world’s and our economy, culture, and values.
Most of the world’s population will soon live in cities. By 2030—just 22 years from now—60% of the world’s population, about five billion people, will live in metropolitan areas. The percentage will grow to 70% by 2050. As the Brookings’ researchers like to say, we live in a “metro world.”
In the United States, according to Brookings, our largest 100 metropolitan areas, take up just 12% of our total land mass, hold 65% of our population, and produce 75% of the gross national product. Cities drive our economy and our national prosperity. We live in a “metro nation.”
In Washington State, the greater Seattle metro area holds 51% of our state’s population, 58% of our state’s jobs, and drives 67% of the state’s economy. We live in a “metro state.”
By the way, Seattle is the country’s 15th largest metro area in terms of employment. Oklahoma City is 47th. Their population and total number of jobs is about one-third less than ours . . . their GDP production on a per capita basis is 75% less than ours. Tell me again why the Sonics want to move? Go figure!
Cities are economic engines, they are the drivers of economic growth and prosperity—that’s true globally, that’s true nationally, and that’s certainly true in Washington State.
Whether it’s the ancient cities of China, or the Greek city-states, or London, or Seattle, people have gathered together in cities for common purposes—safety and protection, cultural and social relationships, work and daily sustenance.
More thoughts later in the week on what I believe makes cities successful—a shared moral code rooted in justice and equality, a keen focus on sustainability, economic growth and wealth creation, strong and effective public schools, a vibrant arts and cultural scene, and a supporting infrastructure that handles mobility efficiently and effectively. In all this, we have work to do for sure.