Pratt Center: One City/One Future

One City/One Future

One City/One Future is a collaboration of advocates working for New York City and its neighborhoods who are concerned that the policies and practices that drive our economy are locking too many New Yorkers out of opportunity -- for good jobs, decent housing and livable communities. We are a partnership of civic organizations, labor unions, policy groups, environmentalists, community development corporations, and other advocates seeking to make growth work for all New Yorkers.

In response to growing inequality and serious threats to the quality of life of millions of city residents, we have come together to create a Blueprint for Economic Development. Generated through a coordinated process of policy review looking to best practices in New York and nationally, the Blueprint, to be completed in early 2008, is based on these principles for economic development:

Strengthen neighborhood character and diversity
Preserve the rich, diverse mix of people and cultures within the city by planning for development that strengthens local quality of life. Focus on the things that make neighborhoods work -- public spaces, small businesses, banks, schools, health care, child care, community and cultural centers.
Give all communities a stake and a chance
Make planning, development, and budget processes transparent and accountable to the public, while making sure that no neighborhood carries an unfair share of either growth's benefits (parks, open space, transportation options) or burdens (like power plants and bus depots).
Tie public actions to public benefits
Our city tax dollars, land, planning powers, contracts, and regulations should be used to promote public benefits like good jobs, parks, affordable housing, and good schools. Developers and businesses who benefit from public subsidies must do their fair share.
Create good jobs for a strong economy
Bridge the income gap by leveraging development projects to create jobs with growth potential, and offer workers fair wages and good benefits. Plan for businesses' workforce needs and help train workers for them.
Make and keep housing affordable
Preserve and create safe, decent, affordable housing for the millions of New Yorkers who need it. Don't allow rising prices and new development to drive out long-time residents. Create affordable housing in all neighborhoods, in locations well-served by public transportation and amenities.
Grow the city greener
Promote recycling, conservation, and green buildings, and act boldly to reduce car and truck traffic -- so we can improve the city's air and water, help New Yorkers stay healthy, and create quality job opportunities in the growing field of green business.

The Blueprint will build consensus around economic development policy priorities; serve as a resource for neighborhood and citywide advocacy campaigns; and put the urgent need for the reform of city and state economic policies on the agenda for New York City's 2009 elections.

What We're Working On

PlaNYC2030: Sustainability, Equity and Opportunity?
On March 12, 2007, ReDefining Development NYC invited the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability to a special forum at Greenwich Village's Judson Memorial Church.

Principles for a Progressive Blueprint Series: April to September 2006
Six educational sessions disseminated information and promoted brainstorming on jobs and the economy, affordable housing, environmental sustainability and justice, financial services, workforce training and government processes.

Pratt Center for Community Development

Planning, Building, & Educating for Change.

Our Initiatives

One City/One Future

What We're Working On

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