Conventional wisdom claims that environmental regulations cost business dearly. However, as it turns out, what's good for the environment may also be good for the economy and job growth in a community. Join City of Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero as she reviews Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development by Joan Fitzgerald in Knox County Public Library's Brown Bag, Green Book program at noon on Wednesday, October 17 in the East Tennessee History Center, 601 South Gay Street. The program series is co-sponsored by the City of Knoxville.

In Emerald Cities, Fitzgerald shows how, in the absence of a comprehensive national policy, cities like Chicago, New York, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle have taken the lead in addressing the interrelated environmental problems of global warming, pollution, energy dependence, and social justice. "Given my commitment to sustainability, I find Joan Fitzgerald's perspective on what it means to be a green city very valuable," Mayor Rogero says. Cities are major sources of pollution, but because of their population density, reliance on public transportation, and other factors, Fitzgerald argues that they are uniquely suited to promote and benefit from green economic development.

"I have long believed that environmental stewardship and economic development must go hand in hand," Mayor Rogero says. "Emerald Cities outlines the opportunities and the obstacles we face in building a sustainable community and economy."

Mayor Rogero has served Knoxville as community development director, county commissioner, non-profit executive, urban and regional planner, community volunteer, and neighborhood champion. Prior to joining the City of Knoxville, Mayor Rogero was a consultant to Capital One Financial Corporation's Community Affairs office and to America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, founded by General Colin Powell. She was executive director of Knoxville's Promise -The Alliance for Youth, Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation, The University of Tennessee Community Partnership Center, and the Coal Employment Project. She was a grants consultant with Levi Strauss Foundation, and a community and economic development planner at Tennessee Valley Authority and the East Tennessee Community Design Center. Mayor Rogero postponed her college studies in the mid-70's to work with Cesar Chavez to help farm workers improve their living and working conditions.

Mayor Rogero has a B.A. in Political Science from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Tennessee. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, she lived in several other states before making Knoxville her home 31 years ago. She and her husband Gene Monaco live in South Knoxville where they enjoy music, beekeeping, kayaking, and the beauty of East Tennessee. They have five grown children and four grandchildren..

The public is invited to join the conversation and bring a lunch or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Copies of the books are available at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program.

For more information, please call Emily Ellis at 215-8723.