All of Connor O'Brien's Comments + Replies
It’s Time for Greater San Francisco
Hi Evan,
Very interesting piece and I think San Francisco isn't alone in the need for some form of greater regional governance. My mind immediately jumps to all the regional planning bodies throughout the U.S., like CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning) in Illinois, which covers an area vastly greater than the City of Chicago but whose powers are purely advisory. From what I understand, they put out excellent regional plans full of great TOD and YIMBY proposals. Yet it's ultimately the Aldermen of Chicago who exert a kind of feudal aut... (read more)
31yFunny enough, Chicago didn't have a dramatic consolidation, but it is the result
of a lot of annexation. During the failed 1912 SF consolidation, Chicago was
also held up as an example of a successful consolidation. Toronto consolidated
in the 1990s. So it can still happen.
Transit is challenging. As I talk about in the piece, I don't think that every
consolidation makes sense. You can't say "it's all integrated" or "there's
regional rail, so become one city!" and free-riding is a timeless problem. SF is
is somewhat unique at this point in time in how uniquely it's connected without
being merged. Maybe LA comes close.
I think the issue with the taxing authority for a supra-authority is you run
into issues of authority. I think school boards are somewhat like this, where
they are funded by real taxes and people vote on their representation, and they
take it really seriously, but it isn't quite a municipality. County elections
are like this too for things like sheriffs.
Thank you!!