The end of 2010 brings a
surprising change to our
regional politics with the
creation of "Auckland
super-city"
under a central-left government
backed by middle-aged
self-discovered ecologists.
Suddenly, the white-capped
residents of protectionist
neighbourhoods such as
Titirangi in west Auckland
have found themselves with far
more say that they bargained
for. 2011 in Auckland will begin
with a council made by a Mayor
and delusions of a
Toronto-of-the-Pacific type of
city.
The Auckland of today is already
hard to manage, comparing to
past regional councils, yet Len
Brown's expectations require a
real self-adjustment if we are
to achieve anything within the
coming years. Our Mayor needs to
target the city with vision,
something uncommon in a large
New Zealand city. Len Brown's
challenges will require a new
approach to local governing
bodies and, I would say,
something beyond Australia. We
need to look towards
places such as Seoul, Madrid,
San Francisco and Seville.
As an Aucklander, I have
expectations of our new local
body which require delivery of
solutions to problems which have
remained the same for a long
time. Not to give criticism
without solutions, I have
drafted a careful list of
suggestions to improve the
powerhouse of New Zealand.
1. Watch the city of Paris
and
Bertrand Delanoë's intention to
implement over 3000 electric
cars as
a "cars-to-go scheme" by
October/2011, to target the
increasing movement of
unnecessary motor vehicles
around key areas. On a smaller
scale, central points would help
to close the gaps between
central suburbs yet to be
covered by our Link bus network.
2.
Register long-range cyclists
and promote a care-free
coexistence between traffic
users. Instead of only targeting
car drivers, educate scooter
riders and cyclists to behave as
they are; not a car, not a
pedestrian, but a form of
transportation that arrived too
late to make the many demands
some of these groups claim.
Also, charge registration for
maintenance of transit lanes
around the CBD.
3. 3 words:
Barcelona,
Eindhoven
and
Amsterdam.
The winners of 2010 Eurocities
Awards.
-
Barcelona won
the Innovation award for Do
it in Barcelona, a
comprehensive city
initiative aimed at
attracting talent and
entrepreneurship activity to
Barcelona. Do
it in Barcelona goes
beyond traditional city
branding by offering a
portfolio of landing support
services for four target
groups: foreign
entrepreneurs, qualified
professionals, researchers
and postgraduate students.
-
Eindhoven won
the Cooperation award for Eindhoven
Brainport - Creating the
industries of the future.
Eindhoven joined with public
authorities, industry and
knowledge institutes to work
on boosting the region’s
economic agenda. Today Brainport
Eindhoven is
a knowledge intensive
industrial region that is
both highly ranked in
international charts and
recognised by the Dutch
government.
-
Amsterdam won
the Participation award for
the Free
State of Amsterdam, a
new form of open planning
that stimulated local
democracy towards exploring
the city’s future. The Free
State of Amsterdam combined
a programme of exhibitions,
narrative and debate.
Residents and visitors were
encouraged to join the
discussion and share their
thoughts.
4.
Make Auckland the green capital
of New Zealand. There are
numerous benefits from this goal
that include citizen
participation, ecological
education, social morale and
others. The super-city of
Auckland should maintain the
legacy of Waitakere and
aim to create the greenest plot
in New Zealand.
5. No more cardboard
buildings. Instead of
worrying about the extra French
door that a resident decided to
add to his deck, concentrate on
dismantling the large number of
cheap, unsafe and poorly
designed buildings surrounding
the CBD area. You know the type:
Those with packed with students.
let's face it, if a student can
afford to live on his own in a
CBD apartment, there is
something wrong. And it
may be the uncontrolled number
of poor quality structures
surrounding the Sky Tower. John
Banks is at fault. Mr Brown, you
can do better.
6. Regulation! Too many
liquor stores, dairies and cafés
around... I am talking about
those side by side to each
other, filling the local
commercial centres with the same
products, from Lotto to sugary
drinks, from alcohol to alcohol.
There is something uncaring
about any city which allows two
business of the same type within
200m of each other. 1km for
liquor stores.
7. Do not allow market
research firms to target
neighbourhoods and classify
residents of metropolitan areas
according to purchasing power.
We know this is happening and
the "bad parts" of any
neighbourhood can be eliminated
with equal care all around. It's
there. All can see it...
8. Issue Municipal bonds
and allow citizens to partially
own infrastructure, under
certain conditions.
9. Join the Green Capital
initiative at
Carbon War Room. Market
driven solutions and,
especially, private sector
investment funds for tackling
climate change and moving
towards a low carbon economy.
10.
Sign the City Mayor's Code of
Ethics
to promote, encourage and
facilitate good local
government. To strengthen
further and to perform duties
beyond all reproach.
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