Phoenix: A Great Place To Live?

The fastest growing city in the US gets no love from city officials.

1 minute read

April 22, 2005, 10:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer


Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, but the city elders are still unhappy with the lack of a cohesive Valley plan. What they fail to realize is that the city seems to be doing just fine withougt a plan at all.

"There are 21 metro areas in the country with a population of two million to 5.5 million. Over the latest 10 years for which data are available, here's how the Phoenix area ranked among them: first in population growth, in personal income growth, and in gross metropolitan product growth, as measured by Global Insight; second in employment growth; and sixth in growth in average wages. Currently, the Phoenix area has the lowest unemployment rate of the bunch.

But rather than brag, community leaders in our "Valley of the Sun" sport furrowed brows, convinced that an economic sunset is fast approaching."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

Thursday, April 21, 2005 in Opinion Journal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee