A Second City Beautiful Movement

To whom it may concern,

As you look out across America's urban landscape, some of the most functional as well as beautiful areas are those designed and built during the City Beautiful Movement. Many of these projects were flood control and sewer upgrades and expansions through the Works Program Administration. In this previous government driven economic recovery, a focus on urban design and beautification are enjoyed to this day. The outline of infrastructure projects in your administration seems to concentrate primarily on upgrading the energy grid and rebuilding highways. Will urban infrastructure (sewers, under grounding utilities, streetscapes, parks, and stormwater management) be addressed in any of these new recovery projects? With an increasing urban population, these local initiatives become vital not just to economic development, but the quality of life for the majority of the population. The federal government must begin to shift its programs and funding to local grassroots city beautification projects that combine community service, beautification, and economic recovery. Will this administration ensure quality as well as efficiency and transparency in the implementation of the Reinvestment Act?

GUNNAR HAND, AICP