Nation's metro regions key to American prosperity

FOR most of our history as a nation, we've organized ourselves into a loose hierarchy, with the federal government at the top, followed by the states and then the metropolitan regions.

That structure no longer comports with reality. Urban areas are the foundation, pillars and roof of our national economy — the nation's top 100 metro areas generate 75 percent of the gross domestic product. Here in the Puget Sound region, we have the fourth-highest per capita GDP of any urban region in the world, ahead of London, Paris and Dublin.

I traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to give the keynote speech at a forum sponsored by the Brookings Institution, which presented its new plan of organizing the federal and local governments, the "Blueprint for American Prosperity."

The premise of the blueprint, that we are a nation composed of vibrant, innovative urban areas, is unassailable. The blueprint calls for rethinking the map. Instead of 50 states — a concept born in the 18th century — we should consider ourselves a network of metros that provides the vast majority of jobs, ideas and innovations.

It is also clear that these same metros are confronting our country's most-vexing challenges — challenges that must be met by new ways of working together across all levels of government.

A strong metropolitan economy requires a fair tax structure, but also good schools, vibrant neighborhoods, safe parks and a lively cultural scene. That's the role of cities. But metro areas can thrive when the federal government takes a deliberate, strategic approach.

The United States needs to understand: What's good for cities is clearly good for the nation.

Some say that what metro regions really want out of Washington, D.C., is a blank check, but that's not true. It's not about more money, but about making the best use of our federal dollars to create a shared strategy for building future economic success.

It's about making deliberate, conscious choices to chart our future. We want a genuine partnership and the flexibility to make the right decisions, a partnership that allows us to make headway on our challenges, and Seattle certainly has its share.

We need federal and state leaders to address the pressing needs we face in transportation, climate change, economic growth and education.

Federal transportation policy must reflect the obvious climate benefit of linking mass transit and regional development.

We need to encourage density, so the biggest commute decision in the morning is which pair of shoes to wear on the walk to work or transit.

Past federal housing and transportation policies transformed American cities, and not always for the better. We need to break the outdated pattern of highway and sprawl and respond to the needs of the 120 million new Americans expected to live here by 2050.

To that end, I applaud the Brookings' proposal that Congress enact a new, comprehensive "Sustainability Investment Program" that would encourage regions to implement bold, integrated solutions in transit, affordable housing and land-use policy.

But of all the challenges facing our metro regions, perhaps none is as important as the need to give our kids the education they deserve.

Sadly, we have so far failed those whose future we have the power to shape.

Although the Seattle region attracts top business and science talent, recent statistics show that Seattle Public Schools have almost a 40 percent dropout rate and only 17 percent of Seattle high-school students are taking college-prep classes.

We are wasting too much potential in our metro-area schools, and we will not bridge the income and housing gap without a coordinated city, state and federal effort to ensure the great promise of public education.

If we do this, if we work together with our state and federal leaders for the common good, we shall ensure our urban regions remain a hotbed of creative entrepreneurship and make long strides toward our goals of economic opportunity and environmental protection.

In November, the American people will turn the next page of history. Whoever wins the presidential and congressional contests will come into office with our goodwill and partnership. The nation's metro regions stand ready to usher in a new era of American prosperity. We have the blueprint. Let us now show the innovation, commitment and energy to make it a reality for all our citizens.