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Welcome to Citiwire.net — October 23, 2009

Welcome to Citiwire.net! Our Associate Mark Muro offers will surprise you with the parallel he shows between the economic plight of Las Vegas and–yes–the entire U.S.A. (i.e. all of us Americans!). I think you’ll find it compelling reading. … About my column: On a trip to Barcelona last week I encountered what must be one of the world’s most ingenious urban redevelopment schemes. It presents a model we Americans can behold with envy–although emulating it, in our culture, would be tough. Note the mix in the revived Barcelona district of universities and media and arts, subsidized housing, ingenious facilities like district heating and pneumatic tube waste collection, defined economic clusters, and attracting operations of leading international corporations. The shocker for us: this is a success enabled by–yes–a heavy hand of government!