Metropolitan government

[pecksniff]

I think every one of America's metropolitan areas should have a single consolidated metro government, encompassing its suburbs and exurbs, so there would be a government that could plan for metro needs such as local transportation; and the 25 or so largest-by-population should be states of the Union. Many of the resulting leftover-states would be predominantly rural. E.g., if the NY metro area were consolidated, what is now "upstate New York" could be the State of Hudson. Illinois without Chicagoland would be a rural state.

It makes sense, because a metro area is more of a real economic and cultural unit than most existing states (their boundaries mostly drawn up in Washington before the state in question was fully settled and before cities emerged).

Also, the suburbs could be taxed to rebuild the inner cities; by the same token, suburban residents would have voting representation in the cities. And there could be a general consolidation of public services, taking advantage of economies of scale. It does not make much sense that Miami-Dade County, which is really one continuous urban area when viewed from the air, contains more than a dozen separate municipalities. See Cities Without Suburbs, by David Rusk.

Cities without Suburbs, first published in 1993, has influenced analysis of America's cities by city planners, scholars, and citizens alike. David Rusk, the former mayor of Albuquerque, argues that America must end the isolation of the central city from the suburbs if it is to solve its urban problems.

Rusk’s analysis, extending back to 1950, covers all metropolitan areas in the United States but focuses on the 137 largest metro areas and their principal central cities. He finds that cities that were trapped within old boundaries during the age of sprawl have suffered severe racial segregation and the emergence of an urban underclass; but cities with annexation powers―termed "elastic" by Rusk―have shared in area-wide development.

The fourth edition updates Rusk’s argument using the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey. It provides new material on the difference between population trends and household trends, the impact of Hispanic immigration, and the potential for city-county consolidation. The fourth edition also brings added emphasis to "elasticity mimics"―a variety of intergovernmental policies that can provide some of the benefits of regional consolidation efforts in situations where annexation and consolidation are impossible.

 

[pecksniff]

It does not make much sense that Miami-Dade County, which is really one continuous urban area when viewed from the air, contains more than a dozen separate municipalities.

A continuous urban area, by the way, that also includes the coastal areas of Broward and Palm Beach counties.

 

[CornusKousa]

Yes, we understand you're an authoritarian who wants to consolidate as much power as possible.

Unfortunately for you, most Americans don't.

 

[pecksniff]

Yes, we understand you're an authoritarian who wants to consolidate as much power as possible.

Unfortunately for you, most Americans don't.

Those kinds of arguments usually fall along "states' rights" lines. Political autonomy for the suburbs as against the cities has never been an element of any significant politics in this country.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

Sounds like a County government to me, which the costal states have all but done away with except for a few functions, like sheriff.

 

[pecksniff]

Sounds like a County government to me, which the costal states have all but done away with except for a few functions, like sheriff.

Many metro areas encompass more than one county -- indeed, many are in more than one state, hence the often-used phrase "Tri-State Area." Paging Dr. Doofenschmirtz!

 

[CornusKousa]

Those kinds of arguments usually fall along "states' rights" lines.

Yea, that's just 1 level.

Political autonomy for the suburbs as against the cities has never been an element of any significant politics in this country.

Except that's how it's been since the get go. MOST of your government is local government, it was designed that way. #M'arica AF

 

[pecksniff]

Except that's how it's been since the get go. MOST of your government is local government, it was designed that way. #M'arica AF

And metropolitan government would still be local government.

 

[CornusKousa]

And metropolitan government would still be local government.

Not with the way you're wanting to structure it to control the suburbs and all surrounding areas.

And if a state wanted to change this and restructure themselves to do something like this??

They could.

But they don't.

 

[pecksniff]

Not with the way you're wanting to structure it to control the suburbs and all surrounding areas.

Well, at that point, we are only debating about the optimal scale of organization, not about the constitutional -- nor even about the politically traditional -- allocation of powers and functions between levels.

And if a state wanted to change this and restructure themselves to do something like this??

They could.

But they don't.

Sometimes they do. Here in Florida, the Duval-County-Jacksonville area was long ago consolidated as a single "City and County," and no downside to that arrangement has yet become apparent. Now, we just need to do the same for Tampa Bay, Orlando and Miami.

 

[CornusKousa]

Well, at that point, we are only debating about the optimal scale of organization, not about the constitutional -- nor even about the politically traditional -- allocation of powers and functions between levels.

Never said otherwise.

Sometimes they do. Here in Florida, the Duval-County-Jacksonville area was long ago consolidated as a single "City and County," and no downside to that arrangement has yet become apparent. Now, we just need to do the same for Tampa Bay, Orlando and Miami.

Sure.

As long as it's a local initiative and everyone is on board, whatever.

 

[pecksniff]

As long as it's a local initiative and everyone is on board, whatever.

It needn't be. A state has the authority to restructure its internal divisions -- towns and counties have no constitutional protection.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Its actually a very good idea but it wouldn't really work in many many areas. From a practical stand point many cities are too large and encompass far, far to diverse areas and populations for this to work.

Take Los Angeles which is called a city and a county BUT if we're being realistic Riverside, The Inland Empire, Orange county are suburbs of LA in all but name. But LA itself just within what locals would call LA Proper ranges from every wealthy areas to poor. To the point that they kinda let a lot of things like the homeless and the school system slip so hard. ITs not that they are incapable idiots. Its that homelessness in a poor or even moderate income area doesn't affect people who have butlers, maids and pool boys. People who need public transportation to get to work and school are affected by things that people who collect cars and have tutors for their children are not.

I do believe that in this country we have scattered power too far and it keeps us from accomplishing a lot of stuff the rest of the planet finds pretty easy. Its because we are geographically HUGE compared to nearly every nation and a lot of other culture issues that are never going to go away.

 

[CornusKousa]

It needn't be. A state has the authority to restructure its internal divisions -- towns and counties have no constitutional protection.

Again, spoken like a true top down authoritarian.

This isn't Soviet States of America. Too bad for you and the (D)'eez.

 

[jaF0]

I think the OP has sniffed too many peckers.

 

[pecksniff]

Again, spoken like a true top down authoritarian.

This isn't Soviet States of America. Too bad for you and the (D)'eez.

I'm describing legal facts. Any state has that authority. Local governments are only creatures of state legislation. The Constitution says no state can be deprived of territory without its consent, certainly none can be outright dissolved or extinguished by federal legislation; but no analogous provisions apply at any lower levels.