Rome, an Ancient City of the New York State - Essay Example

THE PLACE PAPER Rome is an ancient in the New York It is 72 square miles situated at the foothills of the Adirondacks. Because of its location, the city served as a very strategic point for the movement of goods, people and other services in the 18th and 19th century since it connects the Atlantic coastline of North America to the Great Lakes. The city has undergone a number of developments and achievements that have left landmarks in its history and the entire world (Callahan, 2008). Rome exhibited striking historic structural designs, infrastructure and culture. As an agricultural, commerce and industrial center; its downtown was the fundamental point for all these activities thus it was rapidly growing. Unfortunately, due to the turn down of manufacturing, city spread out drew development way from the down town (Finley, 1985). These drift replaced historical buildings and other infrastructures. This was in the bid to creation of new recreational facilities, promotion of aesthetical features along each corridor, establishing and improving public and private property, and ensuring that the city of Rome becomes a trend for local and foreign investors’ hence socio-economic and political developments (Finley, 1985). The knowledge of economy has greatly helped the city to effectively utilize its scarce resources that has ensured a correlation with its socio-economic and political development. It has employed the use of professional urban planners who have made it possible for the success of attaining the set objectives. They have been able to evaluate, analyze, form hypotheses and eventually implement strategies to enhance development thereby increasing the living standards of the city dwellers (Finley, 1985). Social amenities have been established to be able to accommodate every member; this has helped to avoid much pressure on the social amenities and prevented diseases. Considering the demographics and other factors, urban planners in the City of Rome have been to design and build houses. The city has a variety of good and reasonably priced housing options for both renters and owners. Employees of different sector live in close proximity to their working stations, most of them do not need to board vehicles and other means of transport because they cover walking distance to and from work. Rome is one of the best ranked cities with the lowest housing rates and reasonable prices. This is through the department of Housing and Urban Development that has been enforced with the task of ensuring Fair Housing Act and the other Federal laws that forbid favoritism and the coercion are enforced appropriately (Thomas, 2005). Roads in the city most of which were constructed around 500BC still exist to date; they were used to provide proficient means for the overland movements, communication and trade. The roads were of different types, paths that served the locals, the wide-ranging roads and the long distance highways that connected Rome to other cities. The roads were made out of stones and metals with better drainage systems; they were cutting across the mountains or over rivers with ravines on bridgework (Loewenstein, 1973). A good living example is Decumanus Street, which was stone paved and carefully designed and matches the standards of modern roads in the world. The city today has modern roads with street light all over that provides security, more have been constructed to join various places within and outside; the roads have provided the means of communication and transport of goods and services from rural to urban areas and vice versa (Loewenstein, 1973). All along the strident call of the city has been basically centered on poverty reduction, inclusion of those that were extricated from the factors and means of production, employment and for everyone to benefit from the economic development. This has been ensured in the city of Rome through strategic setting up and project accomplishment (Dempsey, 2010). Urban planners have been successful in the relocation and expansions, designing and locating business facilities such as industries, housing rehabilitation and other related investment opportunities. Framework for developments based on short term and long term planning have been made successful. Majority of the city dwellers are self employed while others are engaged in income generating activities; hence high standards of living and at the same time harmonizing the ecological and socio-economic needs (Finley, 1985). The city spent so expensively on fuels and energy that had negative impact on the environment and other natural resources (Dougherty, 2004). To combat this, the city has engaged on sustainability programs to ensure that the environment is safe for the present and future generation. There is sensitization on recycling and conservation of materials; as a result there is reduction in the payment of tax, less dependency on foreign petroleum sources as well as reduced chances of acquiring diseases (Dougherty, 2004). Programs such as Green Infrastructure Corporations have been initiated to implement green infrastructure consumption, such as tree planting and range study on the existing trees. As a result more trees have therefore been planted to enable the city have pure and properly maintained ecology for better future; this initiative made Rome win “Environmental Excellence Award” in 2012 for her tremendous effort on sustainable development on ecological programs. Setting up small scale business programs have led to the increased industrial growth and production; setting up of various industries within the city that produces textile, fertilizers, cement, and chemicals and many others have helped to spur economic growth (Dempsey, 2010). Different goods have been exported to various countries thereby earning the city foreign exchange; most of these goods have also been used locally to enhance growth. Individuals have been employed to work to work in these industries, they are able to earn themselves their daily bread for survival, their children are able to go to schools to gain more knowledge, values and skills making them independent, which is contrary to the past that was characterized by robbery because people needed to survive (Dougherty, 2004). The ancient buildings in Rome and natural resources have provided good sceneries within the city that attracts foreign and local tourists that earns the city foreign exchange. This has provided good interaction among the city dwellers and visitors that have also opened various opportunities that enhances socio-economic and political developments (Dempsey, 2010). Most people have been employed in the tourism industries, this gives them opportunity to also see the value entrusted on the natural resources and other beautiful scenarios. Moreover, they have remained good custodians as they offer to do what it takes to be able to protect and embrace national heritage (Dempsey, 2010). Basing on the knowledge of the past world civilization and science and technology of the modern society, the city of Rome has been able adopt and use machinery. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has fostered socio-economic developments’ improved levels of education and training, as well as addresses gender issues within the city. Gender discrimination has been dealt with appropriately through the introduction of new innovations, people across all sexes are now to work in various sector just through a press of a button as opposed to the early stages when it was survival for the fittest. With the enhanced education system at the university and other tertiary levels, graduates have been able to generate new ideas, new business models, and new ways of selling goods and services (Pearson, 2008). This is done with the vast knowledge that entrepreneurship is crucial for economic development. Wireless technology and ICT infrastructure development has been vital for entrepreneurship and small business development. Business men and women have been able to do their dealings through mobile payment systems; hence reduce the cost of financial transactions and more time to engage on other business oriented activities geared towards the development of the city. Rome has had some environmental impact in the US in history and contemporary world. The city is characterized by Rome Sand Plains that covers 15,000-acre inland Pine Barrens comprising of diverse mosaic of high sand dunes and low peat bogs, wetlands, mixed northern hardwood forests and meadows. The environmental importance of Rome in the US cannot be debated. For instance, the whole of the US is characterized by few inland Pine Barrens and Rome city acts as the focal area where these great environmental features are found. In addition, the city is a host to rare and unusual species such as red-shouldered fisher and hawk, and pitcher plant and sundew. In terms of environmental management, the city is well in the forefront with several civic groups including Nature Conservancy in liason with n, the city is a host to rare and unusual species such as red-shouldered fisher and hawk, and pitcher plant and sundew. In terms of environmental management, the city is well in the forefront with several civic groups including Nature Conservancy in liaison with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have successfully preserved these rare species and features, and the environmental in general. However, it is worth noting that over grazing in addition to poor farming practices had reduced much of the city to desert patches by 1930s when it first began to revert to forest cover. Much of the green environmental had been consumed by grazing cattle and human related activities but this has since change with proper environmental management system in place. For the past decade, the city has witnessed a multi-faceted strategy to integrate long-term, high-impact investments in public infrastructure to help reduce operating expenses while reducing its local impact on the natural resources and the entire environment. For instance, the city is a major player in the Mohawk Regional Sustainability Coalition. As a result Rome collaborates with other municipalities to change and influence the activities taking place in the Mohawk Valley. The city’s current goal is to achieve a 75% increase in recycle rates by 2014, achieving a recycle rate of at least 30%. The city is also applying the principle of green infrastructure to brownfield revitalization and redevelopment of its main streets and waterfront neighborhoods. This will eliminated blight and reduce pollution in its river, creeks and canal and beyond. The city is also characterized by comprehensive reforms in the housing stock and commercial property by launching several housing rehabilitation and redevelopment programs that focused on energy durability, efficiency and long term affordability. There are also energy conservation policies such as photovoltaic systems on municipal buildings. The efforts of Rome in environmental management have not gone unpunished; and to this affect the city was awarded with the prestigious Environmental Excellence Award in 2012. In a nutshell, the city of Rome has been able to prosper and will continue to do develop socio-economically, culturally and politically. However, this urbanization also has a number of challenges that must be put into consideration whenever strategies are put down and implementation takes place. Urban planners should be cautious of other associated challenges to enable the country have sustainable development to benefit the present and future generation. References Callahan, R. J. (2008). New territories, new perspectives: The religious impact of the Louisiana Purchase. Columbia, Mo: University of Missouri Press. Dempsey, J. S. (2010). Introduction to private security. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Dougherty, J. H. (2004). Constitutional history of the State of New York. Clark, NJ: Lawbook Exchange. Finley, M. I. (1985). The ancient economy. Berkeley: University of California Press. Loewenstein, K. (1973). The governance of Rome. The Hague: Nijhoff. Pearson, M. (2008). Perils of empire: The Roman republic and the American republic. New York: Algora Pub. Thomas, A. R. (2005). Gilboa: New Yorks quest for water and the destruction of a small town. Lanham, Md. [u.a.: University Press of America. Read More