Hi, my name is Mel Marcus. I created bettercitiesforum.com as a means of empowering residents and businesses to improve their neighborhoods.

Currently in the USA:

• Homes everywhere are being foreclosed
• local shopping areas shuttered
• crime and drug use are on the rise especially in downtown areas
• too many urban and suburban neighborhoods are in physical decline

If you are unfortunate enough to live or work in/near a run-down neighborhood your lives are already unbearable.

Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. Imagine how different  life would be if you were to join with others to fix these problems. My message is that you can!

During the past thirty five years I have been concerned with urban issues as a university lecturer /researcher and as a planning consultant in different countries. I am qualified with  PhD, M.Sc and BA degrees in planning related disciplines.

In the past,  fixing neighborhood problems was the sole province of government (central and local) often employing professionals like myself. Now everyone can participate due to the amazing advances in the internet, communications and social networking.

Don’t believe me? Then watch the news and see how people everywhere are instantly communicating and collaborating to impact their environment and change their lives. Why be left behind in this exciting new era?

All you need do is take a  minute to post your problems/questions on the Forum page of this site and you will be be able to communicate with others and share in their efforts. Many have already been down the same road as you.

Or you can follow my blogs and learn how others have dealt with controversial issues such as urban blight, eminent domain, and more.

Wherever you live or work you can participate in the Better Cities Forum now and help make your neighborhood a better place for you and your family.