Reviewed Ideas
Back when Terry Goddard was Mayor one of the best ideas to come out of the "Phoenix Futures Forum" was something called the "Desert Cities Conference." Phoenix being the largest Desert City in the world's most powerful country was in a unique place to be a leader in all area's of being a desert City. From sustainability, to shade, to solar panels, water use, et cetera. And while PHX has done a great job in many of those areas, its fallen short as well. We of course can learn from other desert cities from Tucson to Riyadh. Especially now that PHX has the gorgeous new Convention Center, the LRT to move folks about and more Downtown hotels, this idea needs to be brought back. A Desert Cities program could in many way mirror the Sister Cities program. Fostering travel and economic relations with other desert cities. Every so often (whether it be yearly, bi yearly, or whatever) a large Desert Cities Conference would be held in PHX bringing together cities from deserts and semi deserts the world over to share best practices. Perhaps if this organization and event grew, eventually PHX could have its own "World Trade Center" like many cities (including our nearby neighbor, Denver) that specifically focused on international trade & commerce w/ desert cities. If PHX wants to become a global city, and I believe we do, it's steps like this that need to be taken. According to the United Nations, since 1900 the population in desert cities in the developing world has increased eight fold and its unlikely to slow down anytime soon. With more and more people choosing to live in arid and semi arid climates across the globe, Phoenix has a natural chance to become a world leader in how to make that possible. ASU already has the "Decision Center for a Desert City" and that institution could be relied on or perhaps eventually merged into this idea: The winter cities already have a group like this:
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