fix buffalo today

• Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is the nation's only mayor who has the power to charter schools. His point person in setting up and running the chartering operation is David Harris who is with us this week. David and Mayor Peterson have been recognized for their efforts with an Innovations in American Government Award.

• Irasema Salcido is founder of the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C. The schools use each subject - even music -- to teach public policy. We'll find out from Ms. Salcido and music teacher Emily Isaacson about life inside a charter school.

Citizen blogger David Torke recently commented on the $28 million construction of the new public high school in the Masten neighborhood, the Buffalo Academy of the Visual and Performing Arts, noting, "The transformative quality of the decision to locate BAVPA here in this little corner of Masten should not be underestimated. It is the long awaited bridge between the two Buffalos…. the connection between Buffalo's East side and the already well developed arts, educational and retail neighborhoods of the West side." p.12 Blueprint Buffalo - Action Plan

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• The population of many cities in Europe, the U.S. and Australia are in decline. There are too few births to replace those who die and, for a variety of reasons, they are not attracting immigrants. In some cities, the economic foundations have crumbled due to major industrial dislocations.

• They are called shrinking cities and joining this week are three experts to discuss what's happening and why. Thorsten Wiechmann has studied decline in Dresden, Germany, Cristina Martinez-Fernandez's research is focused on shrinking cities in Australia, and Emmanuele Sabot compares cities in the United Kingdom and France.

Toronto Star reporters blog about their writing and dialog with readers on a regular basis, right here. One of coolest parts of the Toronto Star on-line is the guided tour section - right here. Like to get to the Kensington Market at some point in the near future - so just checked out A culinary tour of the Kensington Market.

• Jim Gilmore is the man who, with his partner Joe Pine, introduced the idea of The Experience Economy. Now, Jim believes the next big idea for business is authenticity. And he believes the same may be true for cities. Jim and Joe run the business consultancy, Strategic Horizons and he is a Batten Fellow at The Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia.

• From his vantage point as a writer and Distinguished Professor of English at Indiana University, Scott Russell Sanders has challenged the "brand and bland" direction of our communities and urges us to re-discover what makes each one special. Scott's latest book is A Private History of Awe, which is a coming-of-age memoir, love story, and spiritual testament.