I READ Edward Glaeser's Dec. 7 op-ed, "Building a better Springfield," in the morning, then, lo and behold, that evening online I came across a piece that he wrote recently for City Journal, about Buffalo. Imagine my surprise when I realized how similar the two pieces were. The arguments, apparently reflective of a certain strain of conservative economic thinking these days, amount to saying that old, run-down urban areas (formerly centers of European immigrant labor, now largely minority and impoverished) should seek a sustainable level and not aspire to regain any semblance of their past. A centerpiece of each argument seems to be the futility of investing in modern transport solutions, such as light rail, which would connect these urban centers with a broader community and, perhaps, aid in real sustainable economic recovery.
Glaeser and his colleagues might suggest the same approach for Newark, except that the State of New Jersey acted first, connecting much of the state with interconnected transport.
Is this simply a way of continuing the concentration of wealth in the hands of the elite (now residing elsewhere), or is there some other motive in this argument?
FREDERICK COLLETT
Yorktown, N.Y.
EDWARD GLAESER is right to identify the unique opportunity that Springfield has for a rebirth, yet he mistakenly pits education efforts against commuter rail improvements. What he misses is that the recovery is already underway, and that it requires across-the-board action. Through the combined efforts of state and local leadership, the City of Springfield is moving forward with a revitalization program developed by the community with assistance from the Urban Land Institute, reflecting the complexity of running a diverse city.
Springfield is not attempting to turn back time. Far from an attempt to regain "former glory," as the professor suggests, we have relied consistently upon current market research and a pragmatic approach to rebuild the city.
We are looking ahead to build on the city's good bones to attract new industry clusters, homebuyers, and visitors with our renowned park system, affordable-housing stock, and growing investment in schools and quality-of-life concerns.
DAVID B. PANAGORE
Chief development officer
Springfield
