Moreover, research by urban experts demonstrates that efforts like the Empowerment Zone, that focus exclusively on the city without considering the interdependence of the entire region, are not likely to reverse major trends. We need to find policies and mechanisms and partnerships that bring the resources and capabilities of the entire region to bear on a set of problems that ultimately affect every single person living and working in the entire area. A number of other organizations and individuals are thinking about and talking about similar questions. That's a very positive sign, because our ability to develop new approaches to some very old problems will require the participation of the corporate, non-profit, civic and political communities. In the next section of this report, we make a number of specific recommendations.
None is short term or easy to achieve.
All will require education and discussion and the development of political support. We have looked at the experience of other regions, but ultimately we must devise a solution that works for the Baltimore area and that is the product of a process that involves the different parts of our community. One qualification is in order, however. When we talk about regionalism and thinking outside of the lines, that does not mean we are advocating the elimination or redrawing of the political boundaries of this region. In many respects, we already have one of the best approaches to local government with our county system, which is far better than many areas of the country that have literally hundreds of units of local government in their metropolitan areas.