Nashvilles Next Mayor | My Thoughts Traditionally, mayors have defined their cities and their leadership roles within the parameters of politics and traditional public services. In my opinion, that’s too narrow a view. Today’s mobility of people and capital has created fierce competition among cities. To thrive economically, we must create a place where talented entrepreneurs—and the businesses they grow—want to be. This is the only way we will ever create enough jobs. Great cities are associated with a vision that powers progress. My vision for Nashville is simple – and likely a bit controversial: Let’s become the South’s first really “Smart City” by embracing technology, improving education and building quality of life for our citizens - all of our citizens. An elite group of cities are becoming the world’s most influential economic powerhouses – these smart cities are centers of culture, education, jobs and innovation. They embrace diversity, they leverage technology and they seek to attract the knowledge worker to their community. According to Frost and Sullivan, 60% of the world’s population is expected to live in urban environments by 2025. It is expected that around 25 global cities and about 100 sustainable cities will develop, with 50% of these smart cities being in North America and Europe. Nashville should be (and in my view – must be) one of these cities if we wish to be relevant in the future. Talented technology (knowledge) workers want to live in places with a “thick” labor market (one with many attractive employment options). Thick labor markets develop in places where talented individuals feel immediately comfortable, find other creative people in many fields, and have the opportunity to make an immediate contribution – places that welcome and value people of every kind. In short, tolerance attracts talent; and talent attracts technology-driven growth. Nashville has all the right assets and opportunity to become one of the world’s tremendous engines of innovation. We are THE MOST progressive city in the South - an oasis in a southern desert - Let’s do this!
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:22:46 +0000
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