Funny enough, Chicago didn’t have a dramatic consolidation, but it is the result of a lot of annexation. During the failed 1912 SF consolidation, Chicago was also held up as an example of a successful consolidation. Toronto consolidated in the 1990s. So it can still happen.
Transit is challenging. As I talk about in the piece, I don’t think that every consolidation makes sense. You can’t say “it’s all integrated” or “there’s regional rail, so become one city!” and free-riding is a timeless problem. SF is is somewhat unique at this point in time in how uniquely it’s connected without being merged. Maybe LA comes close.
I think the issue with the taxing authority for a supra-authority is you run into issues of authority. I think school boards are somewhat like this, where they are funded by real taxes and people vote on their representation, and they take it really seriously, but it isn’t quite a municipality. County elections are like this too for things like sheriffs.
Funny enough, Chicago didn’t have a dramatic consolidation, but it is the result of a lot of annexation. During the failed 1912 SF consolidation, Chicago was also held up as an example of a successful consolidation. Toronto consolidated in the 1990s. So it can still happen.
Transit is challenging. As I talk about in the piece, I don’t think that every consolidation makes sense. You can’t say “it’s all integrated” or “there’s regional rail, so become one city!” and free-riding is a timeless problem. SF is is somewhat unique at this point in time in how uniquely it’s connected without being merged. Maybe LA comes close.
I think the issue with the taxing authority for a supra-authority is you run into issues of authority. I think school boards are somewhat like this, where they are funded by real taxes and people vote on their representation, and they take it really seriously, but it isn’t quite a municipality. County elections are like this too for things like sheriffs.