The bottom line is that we have entered an age when local communities need to invest in themselves. Federal and state dollars are becoming more and more scarce for American cities. Political and civic leaders in local communities need to make a compelling case for this investment.

Jobs follow people. People don't follow jobs.

We need a better strategy for poor people...because what we're doing isn't working.

I'd rather we were rebuilding Philadelphia, as opposed to Kabul...There are American cities with serious infrastructure problems and we're not addressing them.

People look for their leadership to lead.

If your city's being populated by highly educated twentysomething s with choices, you're probably going to succeed.

When you have a lot of construction going on, it sends a message of vitality that builds up consumer confidence. It gets people to spend money when they see that energy, that things are happening.