Citiwire.net: Neal Peirce on The World Bank, Gail Christopher on Medicaid Expansion

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Date: December 31st 2009

“Welcome to Citiwire.net! Can the World Bank prove more responsive to the needs of fast growing–and democratizing–world cities? In this Century of the City, is the bank ready to give cities full and thoughtful attention and end its perceived pro-rural bias? The bank’s new cities policy suggests so. … Our Associates took a week off from new columns; we’re pleased to carry over Gail Christopher’s article.” -- Neal Peirce

The World Bank and Cities: Dawn of A New Era?

By Neal Peirce

For Release Sunday, January 3, 2010
© 2009 Washington Post Writers Group

WASHINGTON — The World Bank is becoming more pro-city. The strategy seems a major departure for an institution that long leaned toward rural areas, many of its governing officials and affiliated governments subscribing to the view that aid to the countryside would somehow stem the massive tide of people moving to cities in search of jobs and opportunity.

The new policy, officially announced by World Bank president Robert Zoellick at a November meeting in Singapore, boldly defines urbanization as the 21st century’s defining phenomenon. Manage the growth of developing world cities well, he said, and the challenges of climate change, jobs, poverty reduction and health can be dealt with proactively, and more effectively.

Health Care Passage: Just The First Step

By Gail Christopher

For Release Saturday, December 26, 2009
Citiwire.net

The best news about the health care legislation now on the brink of congressional approval is that the United States will be making an historic move toward providing care for all Americans at reasonable costs. Some 30 million more Americans will be covered–moving us, finally, toward the universal coverage standards long observed by all other industrialized democracies.

But–when President Obama signs the legislation, this will be a Christmas present very much in need of assembling. The added millions of insurance recipients will provide one of the most daunting management and public administration challenges we’ve ever faced. This is bigger than welfare reform, education reform, even homeland security.

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Our mission... to reflect a new American narrative. From a 20th century of cheap energy, endless automobility, burgeoning suburbs, threatened cities. To a challenge-packed 21st century: resurgence in our cities, but fast-rising energy costs, perilous carbon emissions, deepening have-have not divisions. The weekly release includes Neal Peirce’s column for the Washington Post Writers Group, as well as a guest column by one of the seasoned urban professionals in the Citistates Group.

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Welcome to Citiwire.net! It's about America's cities today -- opportunities, challenges, including Neal Peirce's weekly column for the Washington Post Writers Group and a parallel commentary by one of his valued Citistates Group colleagues.