California's Collaborative Regional Initiatives (CRIs) often encounter the visible or invisible hand of the federal government in their work:

- The Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development, Gateway Cities Partnership and others interested in urban investment are affected by federal housing, brownfields, and transportation policies, among others.

- The Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, Valley Vision and others interested in improving transportation choices are affected by transportation and air quality laws and regulations and funding.

- The Fresno Business Council, Action Pajaro Valley and others interested in farmland preservation through more compact urban growth are affected by federal agriculture and endangered species policies.

- The Institute of the North Coast and the Sierra Business Council are affected by federal forest and other lands management policies.

- Federal defense downsizing and base closure actions have affected the Santa Barbara Economic Community Project, Orange County Business Council and many others.

- Perhaps more than any other CRI, San Diego Dialogue is affected because its region straddles the border with Mexico, and national policies on immigration, and on infrastructure and economic development are major "drivers" of how the region will develop.

Until recently, however, there has been little opportunity for CRIs to meet the federal agencies "at the regional table." This issue of CalRegions explores some promising new strategies designed to align federal policy and practice to the unique needs and capacities of regions, an ambitious agenda, but one that will be necessary if the idea of "regional home rule" is to be fully applied to the goal of making our regions more sustainable.

The full issue of the August/September issue of Calregions is available at the link below.

Related Link: August/September, 2001 Calregions Newsletter

For more information contact:

Nick Bollman
California Center For Regional Leadership
455 Market Street, Suite 1100
San Francisco
CA 94105
USA

Phone: (415) 882-7300
Fax: (415) 882-7272
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.calregions.org/