Leadership, politics and urban planning
HEN we finally see our political leaders riding the public transit, or walking on sidewalks and pedestrian pathways, then our country has progressed into the first world status. When we finally see our mayors wait in line to ride the train, like Mayor Bloomberg of New York or ride the bike like Mayor Peñalosa of Bogota, as a routine and not for show, then we can say that our cities are inclusive or built for all social classes. By then, our cities like Metro Manila will be more democratic, filled with people who have respect and genuine concern. By then, we will have a city that is built for people where one can walk and commute with dignity.
I had the opportunity to talk with the former mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley. He said leaders should be the exemplar and not the exempted. That thought struck me, and stayed with me ever since. Politicians doing small actions such as the routine of citizens can have a profound effect. I read a quote by Mayor Peñalosa saying, “public transportation represents democracy.” A society where public transportation is poor is a reflection of a fragmented society.
It is said that about 500,000 cars travel through EDSA every day. But I believe about a million cars travel the streets of Manila. Nationwide, that’s idea was low- density housing should not have a place in or close to central business districts. Vertical communities are the proper development for CBDs, the centers of jobs, trade, commerce, and major activities. The average employee is priced out of the housing stock. The lowdensity, gated communities limit the scarce urban land supply and restrict access and mobility to and from the CBDs. This causes millions of people to travel in and out of the city. In developed nations, leaders live in apartments and condominiums in the urban areas, such as the late Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and British leaders in London. Their large homes and villas are located in the suburbs, outside the city. Here in Metro Manila I wonder where most of our politicians live?
Supposedly, politicians and government institutions represent the idea of our cities, the idea of our country. In a democratic society, the building should represent transparency, accountability, good governance, leadership, and innovation. It should inspire the citizens by being unique, identifiable, and memorable, creating a sense of place, pride of city, and pride of country. The politician on the other hand should be the image of a model citizen, a servantleader. Habtoor of Dubai came to Manila and invited me to join an international team of professionals. The goal was and is to help HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum transform Dubai from the third world into the first