As part of the ongoing effort to address regional challenges and inequities, south suburban stakeholders are coming together around issues like transportation investment, education funding, property tax relief and regional and economic development. Big stakes. Big issues. Through cooperation and unity on key issues the Southland is working to get it done.
As part of the ongoing effort to address regional challenges and inequities,
south suburban stakeholders are coming together around issues like
transportation investment, education funding, property tax relief and regional and
economic development. Organizations are joining forces to advocate for sensible planning,
and developing a unified vision for the south suburban region. They are
also working to change the perceptions of outsiders and better promote local
communities. Though each stakeholder has his own agenda, the goal of enhancing
the quality of life for area residents and building the framework that supports
area businesses and community economic development brings them together.
Reports of the recent efforts of the Southland
Legislative Caucus' success have been seen in every newspaper in the
metropolitan region [see the Daily Southtown
article " Half the
battle won for rail in Southland
"].
Caucus members have articulated the need to work together and speak with one voice.
They are also working to ensure equitable levels of transportation investment
and address other issues that continue to challenge the Southland. Their efforts will
affect the future of some 71 communities and more than 2 million people.
The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), alongside the
Chicago Southland
Chamber, Chicago Southland Alliance, South Suburban
Mayors and Managers Association, enterprizCook County, Metro Southwest Alliance, Chicago
Southland Development, Inc. and others, has been working to ensure adequate
funding for schools (see "South suburban legislators take education reform effort on the
road" in The Star ), support legislation that relieves property
tax burdens and collaborate on economic development strategies. MPC coordinates
the Economic Development Roundtable (EDR ), a forum for stakeholders to
collaborate on efforts to revitalize existing communities and strengthen the
area's overall competitiveness. EDR members have joined forces on several fronts
including creating a database of community and economic development
organizations, assessing the telecommunications needs of the region,
communicating policy and program suggestions to the new Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity (DCEO formerly DCCA) and more. EDR members,
representing a number of south suburban organizations and area leaders, are
committed to expanding economic opportunities and to working together as a team
on critical issues (see "Roundtable enhances regional cooperation" in the
Star
).
MPC continues to be involved in identifying regional priorities
for transportation investment and — recognizing the need for unified action
— has been advocating for a coordinated agenda for the 2003 federal
reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-first Century
(TEA-21) (see our related article TEA for
3). Because of recent highly
publicized debates over projects, MPC will be co-sponsoring several upcoming
events in the Southland: a briefing on the reauthorization of TEA-21 by Business
Leaders for Transportation
and a
roundtable luncheon that looks at critical transit improvements in the region
and what's at stake for local communities, the south suburbs, the Chicagoland
region and the entire state.
Big stakes. Big issues. Through regional cooperation and unity on key
issues the Southland is working to get it done.
Related articles from south suburban newspapers: