Coalition Counters Report Recommendations
by James Mentzer
Communications Director
hen Jeff and Wendy Falk purchased a home a few years ago, they were drawn to Schaefferstown for its charm and beauty, but more so for its schools. With one child in school and another on the way, the couple wanted their children to have a quality education in a safe environment.
“When we started looking at potential homes, it was in the ELCO (EasternLebanonCounty) School District,” Jeff said. “We wanted the right home in the right school district. Those were the two most important factors in our decision to find a home. That helped us narrow our search quite considerably.”
The Falks’ aren’t alone in their housing requirements. A new report by the Pennsylvania Prosperity Coalition found that access to quality education is one of the top reasons people move from urban areas into the suburbs. The Prosperity Coalition comprises businesses and industries related to housing that are dedicated to improving the state.
The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® (PAR) recently joined the coalition, which released its findings during a March press conference at the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg. The coalition’s findings counter a report released by the Brookings Institution that lists sprawl as the primary reason for the state’s economic malaise.
PAR President Melissa Siegsaid PAR has grave concerns about the Brookings Report because of the potential consequences to the housing industry if their findings are used to formulate legislative policies.
“A major finding in the study was the claim that suburbanization is a major reason for Pennsylvania’s mediocre economic performance during the past few decades. We just didn’t see the research anywhere in the report to back up that claim,” Sieg said.
Forward to Prosperity was written on behalf of the Prosperity Coalition by research analyst, Michael Young of DerryTownship. Brookings placed too much blame on urban sprawl, Young said.
The Coalition made the following recommendations:
* Fight Sprawl with High-Density, Mixed-Use Zoning
* Reverse the Trend of Low-Quality City Schools
* Establish Effective Regional Planning
* Plan Infrastructure to Support Future Growth
* Restore Balance Between Open Space and Urban Needs
* Enact Needed Regulatory Reforms
* Reduce Pennsylvania’s Onerous Business Taxes
* Improve Coordination Among State and Local Agencies
* Encourage Affordable Workforce Housing
These proposals would actually save the Commonwealth money by stimulating the economy and creating jobs, Young said.
Other coalition members, including the Pennsylvania Builders Association, Associated Pennsylvania Constructors, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association, are also convinced the Brookings Report got it wrong.
“You wouldn’t set out on a trip using a map offering bad directions, and we shouldn’t base government policy making on questionable research that sets us off in the wrong direction either,” said James L. Conner, President of the Pennsylvania Builders Association. “The Pennsylvania Prosperity Coalition felt compelled to sponsor this report to give our policy makers clear direction on the steps most important for improving Pennsylvania’s economic vitality.”
“I think the titles of both reports tell the whole story,” said Jim Sells, President of the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association. “Theirs is called Back to Prosperity, and it’s trying to turn back the clock, forcing people back to our towns and cities in an attempt to rebuild those urban economies. We just don’t think that will work. Our report, on the other hand, is titled Forward to Prosperity, and with good reason. Instead of trying to reclaim past glory days, we’re advocating policies harnessing market forces to give our state economic vitality surpassing anything we’ve ever experienced in the past. Our focus is on the future,” Sells said.