ACE Rich Fitzgerald has a vision thing.
"One of the things we'd like to do is set up a world trade center, perhaps out by the (Pittsburgh) airport," he said in response to a question about what the county could do to make the region more competitive globally. (Trib, Tony LaRussa)
First, we'd need to re-brand that noise -- but cool.
Cool cool cool. We need everybody from everyplace.
"The center could include some sort of commission or organization that is charged with reaching out and welcoming people from around the world to Pittsburgh." (ibid)
Are we talking the Pittsburgh G20 Partnership in perpetuity, or what? And Foundation money? As far as the embattled public sector, it can still actively solicit professional connections and partnerships. But we noticed how those adverts for executive water management and consulting services in the Economist failed to materialize. Those results are replicable for reasons across the region. If you ever get that, "Why are we still thinking inside the chimney?" feeling, that would be the other edge of the "shop locally" sword cutting you.
Maybe a slew of sharp Chinese financial consultants would be just the ticket? Probably too radical.
*-UPDATE:
True that. But transit has been such a hornet's nest lately and a yearly tooth extraction... if it were me, I'd be tempted invest energy into getting some high-speed rail out through Cleveland. Just to keep my spirits up.
I think I've mentioned this before, but a Wuerl'd Trade Center at the airport would contribute to our two-node aerotropolis (more) vision which is, of course, the new mode in urban planning. (Aerotropolis is a world model, Richard Florida is more a Western-Anglo model)
ReplyDeletePittsburgh just happens to be kind of the perfect geo-layout for an proto-aerotropolis - except for the absence of mass transit, which is another story...
If I may, you've got to drop "Aerotropolis" in a tweet to the ACE one of these days.
Cheers, V.
do u really think that Rich Fitzgerald uses twitter?
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:14 - You think it's fake??? I'm sure somebody in his office at the very least "does" social media for him with his imprimatur -- same difference.
ReplyDeleteVannevar - Aerotropolises. It is known.
Anon 7:14 - Do you think this was really President Hendrik?
ReplyDeleteAnother stupid idea that sounds good but accomplishes nothing. How about a high speed train (or any train) for that matter from the airport to Oakland? Now that is a novel idea. No one is saying it yet, but Fitzgerald seriously might be the dummest County Exec yet. Just watch and learn. Hey, how is that Port Authority problem coming? Say anything cool in the paper lately but fail to actually do anything substantive?
ReplyDelete