2 Securing the Future of Greater Boston Barry Bluestone Dean, School of Social Science, Urban Affairs, and Public Policy Union Club September 19, 2007

3 Making a Difference …. in Boston The Triple Revolution Economic & Demographic Trends The Cost of Living New Social Challenges Finding Innovative Solutions Building a Better Private/Public Sector Partnership

4 The Boston Renaissance – The Triple Revolution Demographic Revolution Industrial Revolution Spatial Revolution

5 Demographic Revolution: From Eurocentric to Multicultural

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17 Industrial Revolution: From “Mill-Based” to “Mind-Based”

18 Spatial Revolution: From “Hub” to Metropolis

19 The Economic & Demographic Challenge Economic Activity Employment Growth Population Growth

20 Economic Activity Index: Massachusetts vs. U.S. ( ) January 1993 – October 2001 Leading the Nation October 2001 – June 2007 Lagging the Nation

21 Massachusetts Employment Picture

22 The Economic Challenge in a Nutshell

23

24 U.S. Bureau of the Census

25

26

27 The Cost of Living Challenge

28 Greater Boston Family Budget 4 Person Family with 2 Children Housing Costs: 7 th Highest MSA Child Care: 7 th Highest MSA Health Care: 7 th Highest MSA Personal Care: 6 th Highest MSA Fed/State Tax: 2 nd Highest MSA Total Cost: 1 st Highest MSA Economic Policy Institute, Family Budget Calculator, 2005 Among 304 U.S. Metropolitan Areas

29 Boston Monthly Housing$1,266 Monthly Food$ 587 Monthly Child Care $1,298 Monthly Transportation$ 321 Monthly Health Care $ 592 Monthly Other Necessity$ 500 Monthly Taxes$ 824 Monthly Total$5,388 Annual Total $64,656 Raleigh-Durham- Chapel Hill Monthly Housing$ 779 Monthly Food$ 587 Monthly Child Care $ 866 Monthly Transportation$ 358 Monthly Health Care $ 368 Monthly Other Necessity$ 369 Monthly Taxes$ 350 Monthly Total$3,677 Annual Total $44,124 The Cost of Living Challenge Source: Economic Policy Institute, “Family Budget Calculator, 2005”

30 Single Family Home Prices ( : +139% : - 10%

31 Housing Affordability in Greater Boston Renter Households paying >30% of Income 39.2%50.1% Renter Households paying >50% of Income 18.4%25.0% Owner-Occupied Households paying >30% of Income 26.7%39.3% Owner-Occupied Households paying >50% of Income 9.0%13.9%

32 Mortgage Delinquencies: Massachusetts vs. U.S.

33 The Social Challenge

34 Failing our Students Some Good News: In 2007, the number of Massachusetts schools that met federal achievement standards increased for the first time in three years – including the Holmes and Russell Elementary Schools in Dorchester and the Mozart and Philbrick Elementary Schools in Roslindale Some Very Bad News: But the number of schools in the bottom tier jumped by 30 percent The number of schools failing to meet federal standards for five years in a row jumped from 60 in 2006 to 78 this year. 20 of these failing schools are in the City of Boston. Growing Gap in School Achievement by Race

35

36

37

38

39 Rising Violent Crime

40 Meeting Greater Boston’s 21 st Century Challenges

41 Cost of Living Housing: Chapter 40R & 40S New Starter Home Program for Young Working Families Expanding Rental Housing Vouchers for Low- Income Families Aligning Health Care with Best Practice & Appropriate Delivery

42 Building a Better Business Climate Work with municipalities to streamline zoning approvals/building permits/infrastructure development (State Regulatory Ombudsman; Chapter 40R/40S; Economic Development Self-Assessment Tool) Work to conserve our manufacturing base – 9,000 firms/300,000+ jobs Municipal Leadership Academy

43 Implement Smart Growth Policies Denser Housing The Urban Ring Coordinate transportation, job development, and housing policy Encourage green industries both for better city and major new spur to economic prosperity

44 Revolutionizing our School System Expand Early Childhood Education Work with Charter Schools & Boston Public Schools to create new approaches to learning (e.g. MATCH charter school; City of the Hill Charter School; Pilot Schools) Build a new Graduate School of Education for Inner City School Teachers Journalists in Schools Project

45 Making Our Communities Safer Increased Community Policing Keep Kids in School Summer Jobs for Teenagers Light up the Streets/More “Eyes” on the Street Make it safe to call 911

46 Finally, A New Focus on Boston’s Kids