We welcome your comments on this Op-Ed piece published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on May 15, 2009. Authored by land use and planning advisers Cary Lowe and Patricia Butler, “Making San Diego a world-class city” urges us to create a grand vision for “America’s Finest City” and then to move toward implementation through community consensus. What do you think?
It has been a century since noted urban planner John Nolen laid out his grand vision for the future of the small town of fewer than 40,000 residents that comprised San Diego. He foresaw a city oriented toward the bay, with prominent public spaces, landscaped boulevards and plentiful parks. Those features, combined with strong public resolve and the right policies, he declared, could make this a great city.
Today, we are a city of more than 1.3 million, the core of a region of more than 3 million, with many of the features that Nolen proposed, but something is missing. San Diego starts from an enviable position. Its setting and climate are virtually unsurpassed. It has a good set of social and cultural institutions and a strong economic foundation. And it has a highly diverse population, providing tremendous cultural variety. For the vast majority of residents, the quality of life is pretty good.
Unfortunately, what makes it good is what keeps it from being great. Looking out over the bay, hanging out in Balboa Park, enjoying the distractions of the Gaslamp District or walking about renewed neighborhoods such as Hillcrest, it is difficult to feel a sense of urgency to focus time, energy and money on making it be all that it can be. After all, without any extra effort, it's already very nice.
But suppose we want to make it great, to elevate San Diego to the ranks of those cities that truly dazzle and buzz with energy. Think Vienna or Hong Kong, Chicago or Boston.
Is San Diego a world-class city? If not, what would it require to become one and is it important?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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San Diego is a good city. Actually, it's been great for me and my family. We love the weather and outdoor activities. We've had rewarding opportunities for education and employment.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think "world-class," the first city that comes to mind is Geneva.
Geneva and San Diego are similar in many ways. They are comparable in population: Geneva has 0.8M people, while San Diego has 1.3M. Both cities have an international border and embrace their multiculturalism. Geneva is honored to host the United Nations and International Red Cross, just as San Diego is proud to be the hub for the US Navy and Marines.
So what makes Geneva a world-class city? It's remarkably clean, has great public transportation, and there is little poverty. Geneva has a walkable waterfront home to notable sites, free to all. Despite notariety for its banking wealth, the elements which make Geneva world-class are those which promote equality.
For San Diego to become a world-class city, it needs to provide a great quality of life to everyone, not just fortunate people like me and my family. And yes, this is important.
I agree. Education, employment, health care and housing should be opportunities that all citizens enjoy equally. People in San Diego are not interacting with each other. One of our greatest assets, our rich diversity, does not seem to be perceived as valuable by many residents. Openly infusing this culture with the breadth of its diversity would be a welcomed improvement.
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