Summary: In the wake of the recent midterm elections, many have expressed concern about political gridlock at the federal level. But in his second Metro Matters interview, Bruce Katz, Vice President and Director of the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, tells Next American City Editor-at-Large Diana Lind that there is potential for innovation at the state and metro levels. Katz hopes to see the emergence of a “pragmatic caucus of governors”—an informal coalition of state and metro leaders who will recognize that a place-based, centrist course to governance can lead metro areas into a more secure future. Katz points to notable examples of even the most conservative states voting for spending on infrastructure projects; people will invest in things, he says, that they know will build the future. He also expresses hope that the incoming Congress will create a national infrastructure bank – but adds that there is too much emphasis on tax structure, and not enough on deliberate strategies that build off the strengths of a particular place. Finally, he calls for a “radical commitment” to the education of those who will be entering the workforce in coming years, especially minorities. Listen to the podcast, and don’t forget to subscribe to Metro Matters in iTunes so you won’t miss an episode.
