The distinction is important. Because urban leaders seeking federal and state aid know they lack the political clout to go it alone. The Conference of Mayors has formed a strategic alliance with the National Association of County Officials. When they show up here for the Republican National Convention, they will be linked like business partners. Their regions produce 83 percent of all U.S. exports.
Politicians read trends.
They know that most of the employment growth in those metropolitan areas is in their suburbs and that the population growth in American cities is only a quarter of the growth in their suburbs. But it might be political suicide to read those trends too closely. Those political boundaries are losing relevance. Post your comments on this story here.