A Retrospective View of Equity Planning Cleveland 1969-1979

A rising share of the city's population was economically dependent and its income was falling in relative terms. Not surprisingly, the fiscal and economic disparities between central city and region were wider in Cleveland than in almost any other place in the US Why would the particular group of city planners act in a way that was highly visible and frequently politically risky? The negotiations centered around one issue – what the city would receive in return for transferring Cleveland Transit System to a regional authority. Initially, the city's political leaders simply demanded a majority of the appointments to the Regional Transit Authority Board. The successful advocacy of a desirable program or legislative change will rely entirely on the quality of staff work and the ability to present verbal or written recommendations clearly and quickly.