The National Civic League ’s 2009 All-America City Awards conference starts today in Tampa, and a common theme for cities is revitalizing downtowns. Here is Erie, Penn.’s effort along those lines:

Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie’s Downtown Revitalization Masterplan

Just as in many other urban communities in the latter half of the 20th century, residents began moving outside the city limits and into the suburbs.  Part of the city’s present day vision is to bring those families and young professionals back downtown by offering new and attractive urban living options. Downtown Erie’s 70-block core has been broken up into phases with different projects designed to fit each area.  Some of the projects include streetscaping, façade renovations, and lighting and park improvements.  In several other areas, the goal is to provide different levels of housing including market rate housing, low to moderate income housing, and some luxury housing, as well as office space and opportunity for commercial and retail development.  The plan calls for approximately $56 million in real estate development, representing 40,000 square feet of commercial development, 143 residential units, parks and street improvements.  Presently the Erie Redevelopment Authority and various development partners have approximately $6 million of mixed-use development under construction and another $12 million in projects are planned for construction in the next 6 to 24 months.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.

This announcement, plus the addition of Sen. Al Franken will give the Democrats a fillibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate. Of course, Specter addresses this point as well:

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

Which makes you wonder, what’s the point Arlen? You’re leaving the Republican party because you have no hope of re-election there, only to join the Democrats with the announcement that you won’t be much help or get in line on major Dem initiatives like the Employee Fair Choice Act? Why not just go Independent like Lieberman did? In any event, expect major fallout throughout the day on conservative talk radio and Fox News.

You have a lovely state there in the northeast. I’ve traveled through it many times and, aside from the large swatches of territory completely destroyed by 20th-century industry (Hello Pittsburgh!), the natural beauty Pennsylvaniaites gaze upon daily is inspiring. Plus, the preservation of a hole Ben Franklin used as a toilet when he lived in Philadelphia shows you have great reverence for history and the nation in which we live.

Tonight, Philadelphia plays host to another shit-filled bottomless pit when the Democratic presidential primary debate between Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. Hillary Clinton of Illinois Arkansas New York Scranton comes to town. This will be the 21st such meeting of the candidates. What you guys hope to glean about these two that you did not pick up on in the previous 20 debates is a mystery to me, but I admire your thoroughness.

Next Tuesday, you will take the knowledge acquired this evening to the polls and select the person you want to run against Republican John McCain in the fall. Like many votes, this one will be completely meaningless. Just to fill you in on what’s happened so far: Barack Obama has already won the nomination and no one wants to tell Hillary Clinton it’s over. He’s won twice as many states, building an insurmountable lead in both the popular vote and the pledged delegates in the process. So, the charade continues and the fine people of Pennsylvania are subjected to wall-to-wall campaign advertising, news reports and talking head rants.

You, great voter of Pennsylvania, have a rare and historic opportunity. You can end this soul-eating Bataan Death March of a primary season by rejecting Hillary Clinton’s candidacy and granting Barack Obama a surprise victory in your state. This is your moment to shine PA! If you don’t step up and send Hillary back to the Senate, Indiana’s just going to do it in three weeks anyway. Why let those Hoosier assholes steal your glory? Do the right thing and end the primary season. The nation will be forever in your debt.

Thank you,
Joe Bardi