Closing the Wealth Gap: Reflections from Interise

From March 9-11, 2020, Karp Strategies’ Rebecca Karp and Cheryl Lim attended the Interise 2020: Close the Gap conference, held in Boston, Massachusetts. The Interise 2020 conference brought together visionaries, practitioners, small businesses, and anyone who was interested in actively changing the model of economic development in America in order to close the wealth gap and end systematic inequality.

The conference featured “SolveIt” speakers, “Solvers”, like Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President & CEO of McKissack & McKissack, Jen Faigel, Executive Director of Commonwealth Kitchen, Jeremie Greer, Co-Founder of Liberation in a Generation, Karp Strategies’ very own CEO Rebecca Karp, and other dynamic speakers from around the country.

In his SolveIt Talk about the Liberation Economy, Jeremie Greer opened the conference with particularly poignant points about the oppression economy that still exists today; an economy that deprives people of color from wealth and opportunity, and depresses low income communities of color of the ability to thrive. In a panel discussion titled SolveIt: Inclusive Economy, Bob Rivers, Chairman and CEO of Eastern Bank, Wendy Guilies, President & CEO, Kauffman Foundation, Tracey Wiley, Director of the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Darrell Byers, CEO, Interise, Gary Cunningham, President & CEO, Prosperity Now, and Dr. Nika White, Best Selling Author, discussed the importance of reframing the narrative where those who have access, power and privilege leverage their tools to create systematic change.

Jen Faigel, Executive Director of CommonWealth Kitchen, spoke candidly about the barriers small business owners in the food industry face, like access to an affordable licensed kitchen, access to capital, and access to a market to sell their products. In a panel discussion about Patient Capital Models for Diverse, Small-Scale Manufacturers, participants discussed the inherent bias language present in procurement processes, which prevents M/WBEs from entering on a level playing field.

Karp Strategies CEO Rebecca Karp presented a deeply personal talk that showcased two sides of her thinking: as an economic development practitioner, she spoke to opposition of growth, systemic racism, and lack of access to good data and engagement that she sees in the system that prevents many M/WBEs from reaching full participation, and offered tangible ideas toward addressing these challenges. As a small business owner herself, she spoke to how several of these challenges have shown up for her directly as she has grown her firm to success in New York City, often fighting against the tide, and with the support of key sponsors and champions.

A theme we heard across the conference is that for many communities, there are two distinct paths to success in America. You either have to gain access, or you are given access. Success should not depend on income, education level, where you were born, or the color of your skin. Yet too often, it is. The systems we, as a society, have created, are structured to prevent access, opportunity, and resources from those who need it the most. Disadvantaged communities in the United States have historically been left out of the picture, and while they continue their fight to gain access to success, we must reflect upon and strive to reframe these narratives.

As planners and policy professionals, we left the conference with these questions searing in our minds:

• How can we utilize data to critically inform our processes?

• How can we improve procurement processes to ensure that no inherent biases exist within them?

• How can we reframe our understanding of pathways to success?

• How can we restructure top-down processes to ensure increased inclusivity?

And as community economic development and real estate professionals at Karp Strategies, how do we use our power and voices as consultants to move this conversation forward? We look forward to continuing to explore these questions with our colleagues and through our practice.

Annual IDA Conference | Exploring Equitable Investment in Urban Downtowns

A city’s downtown is its vital artery, providing access for the flow of people from one destination to another and serving diverse retail, cultural, and civic needs for residents, workers, and visitors. When you picture any given municipality from Portland, ME to Portland, OR, you’re likely picturing their downtown. Downtowns are the municipality’s welcome sign, the ubiquitous view with which they are inevitably associated – and they belong to everyone. Investment in a downtown has a lasting impact on the development of policies impacting the broader municipality and the formation of external perceptions and broader cultural narratives about that municipality.

From October 28-30, Karp Strategies’ Director Ali Sutherland-Brown attended the annual International Downtown Association (IDA) conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Ali joined over 900 place management professionals, thought leaders, and urban planners to participate in a variety of talks and tours focused on the theme of “Proudly Urban.” “The conference was a great reminder of why we do what we do and how to do it well,” affirmed Ali.

The IDA works with place management organizations and a global network of strategic partners to provide practitioners with the tools, information, and strategies they need to keep their city’s downtown relevant and competitive. While at the conference, Ali attended master talks on the relationship between mental health policies and commercial corridors grappling with how to help people experiencing homelessness, the politics, and practicality of walkability, and the competitive advantage to diversifying innovation districts.

John Snook’s discussion of the importance of homeless outreach and access to mental health services and substance use disorder treatment was a critical reminder that downtowns are not just sites of commercial transactions but also of social change. Snook is the Executive Director of the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national nonprofit whose work focuses on policy development to increase access to and decrease stigma around mental health treatment. When viewed through the lens of public health, we see the danger in criminalizing the behavior of the mentally ill, especially as it relates to downtowns, and can work more effectively towards compassionate care for those in need of treatment, thus making downtowns safer and more welcoming to all.

Ali also took an illuminating walking tour of the East Baltimore Redevelopment Initiative (EBRI). The tour offered an intimate view of the city’s work to stabilize and revitalize an 88-acre site in East Baltimore through a combination of economic, community, and human development strategies. The EBRI site now includes increased green space, inclusive and affordable housing options for residents, responsible relocation packages, investment in education programs and institutions for youth and adults, and job creation and training programs.

Andrea Batista Schlesinger, director of the Inclusive Cities practice at HR&A, reminded conference participants that “Economic development is a political act.” How can we take a holistic view of inclusive development, like that of the East Baltimore Redevelopment Project, and in so doing, focus on the totality of resources and services that residents and workers need to successfully thrive in place? Our team is constantly working to find new methods of identifying who are the given residents and workers of a particular neighborhood and what specific needs and opportunities impact their potential economic advancement. How can our work ensure that wealth develops and circulates locally? How can we elevate the unique dynamism of each neighborhood in which we work and avoid privileging a singular view of prosperity?

As we continue our work measuring the economic and workforce impact for municipalities and corporate clients operating within various urban markets, including a Downtown Revitalization Initiative for Baldwin, NY and last year’s community planning analysis for the Staten Island Skyway , our team will no doubt continue to refine our approach and strategies to ensure that the needs of hyperlocal and historic communities are included at all phases of stakeholder engagement, analysis, and policy development. Karp Strategies is thrilled to have attended our second IDA Annual Conference in a row and we look forward to strengthening relationships made through this important organization.

KStrat Digs into the Impacts of Congestion Pricing with Transportation and Real Estate Experts

Last week, congestion pricing and the potential impacts on real estate and transportation were discussed by an all-female panel, moderated by Rebecca Karp, Managing Principal & CEO of Karp Strategies and featuring Ya-Ting Liu, Director of Government Affairs and Policy at Via, Nicole Gelinas, Chartered Financial Analyst at Manhattan Institute, and Kate Slevin, Senior Vice President of State Programs & Advocacy at Regional Plan Association. The event, hosted by CoreNet’s Public Policy Committee, presented varied insights on the matter, from discussions about the program’s ability to meet MTA’s budget needs to proposed policy details that could make the program fairer and more effective.

Congestion Zone Area

The Policy

Congestion pricing was included in the New York State budget this year, making it the first-ever program of its kind in the United States. Specifically, the budget authorized the MTA, in collaboration with the city, to establish congestion pricing tolling in Manhattan south of 60th Street with the intention of using fees paid to fund public transit capital improvements. The budget spelled out some details, while others are still being worked out. For example, it establishes a financial target of $15 billion in funding for the 2020-2024 MTA capital program and institutes a six-person board who will make additional policy recommendations, while creating exemptions for cars using the West Side Highway, emergency vehicles, and residents of the congestion pricing zone making less than $60,000 a year. Determining who sits on that six-person board and the full range of exemptions remains to be seen.

In response, an animated dialogue about the policy has emerged with the public weighing in on whether the program might improve pollution, make room on the road for more buses or bike lanes, catalyze new transit options in currently car-reliant places, and change property values.

The Panel

As dialogue about congestion pricing bubbles, CoreNet members and affiliates gathered on November 5th to hear from the panelists. The discussion began with rapid-fire presentations from each speaker who provided insight into the policy from their unique expertise.

Kate kicked it off by stating that “congestion pricing can rationalize the system.” She explained that the current system— made up of tolled and not-tolled roads, various agencies, and majority commuters using a declining transit system— is unsustainable. RPA has advocated for a series of actionable recommendations which include bike and transit improvements prior to implementing congestion pricing and no further exemptions beyond what is included in the legislation.

Nicole cautioned against expectations that congestion pricing alone can solve the MTA budget issues or traffic on Manhattan’s street. What’s more is that unlike examples in other cities where congestion pricing was paired with improved transit service, there is reason to believe that the MTA may take the opposite route and cut service due to intense financial constraints.

Ya-Ting shared how views have evolved since 2007 when congestion pricing was hotly resisted by public opinion. Today, many people see the policy as a necessary road forward. Still, there is not a consensus on implementation and the divisions that exist will play out in lobbying efforts for exemptions and lower costs. She emphasized that “land use and transit policy are inextricably linked and inherently tied to politics.” Similar to Nicole and Kate, Ya-Ting attributed the change of fate for congestion pricing to a highly coordinated and determined coalition, along with the strong support by Governor Cuomo. She also reminded us that cities like Boston, Chicago, and Seattle are looking to New York as a model as they begin to engage in possible congestion pricing policies themselves.

Following the presentation, the panel turned into a wide-ranging discussion of questions submitted by CoreNet members. Many are interested in understanding how the city will decide who is exempt from the toll. Kate recommended the process include a public review process. However, she stated that as the anticipated start date of the program gets closer, some advocates worry about the potential that decision-making will be truly transparent. Nicole added that the six-person board in charge of deciding policy details will only have one city representative, which raises the question of what an equitable share of representation looks like.

The conversation turned to the unseen benefits of implementing congestion pricing, other than traffic reduction and new revenue streams. Ya-Ting and Kate spoke about environmental and health benefits of better air quality, citing the city of Stockholm which saw significant decreases in childhood asthma rates following the implementation of congestion pricing. Later, an audience member asked how congestion pricing could affect anchor institutions located in the congestion zone or others considering moving there. “Could hospitals see fewer patients driving in for appointments because of the toll?”, he questioned. Kate noted that many people are already paying tolls to come into Manhattan and Ya-Ting described small business owners in the congestion zone who are eager for more predictable travel times for staff and welcomed the policy from a business perspective.

What’s Next?

What is clear from our speakers and audience participants is that is the conversation about congestion pricing in New York is far from over. There is still much to be decided and many stakeholders, from transit riders to corporate real estate to business owners and more to voice their perspectives.

Karp Strategies is fascinated by the question of how congestion pricing will impact New York City and how the future of commuting continues to change. Interested in continuing the conversation with us? Follow us on LinkedIn and sign up to the KStrat newsletter

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Sources:

Cuza, Bobby. (2019, May 31). London’s Experience with Congestion Pricing: It’s Working! Retrieved from: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/05/31/london-on-congestion-pricing-its-awesome/

Selvin, Kate & Matthiessen, Alex. (2019, April 5). Every Least Detail about Congestion Pricing…Explained! Retrieved from: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/04/05/weekend-read-every-last-detail-about-congestion-pricing-explained/