And so I think what the Job Council has been invaluable in providing is a road map for the American people -- not comprehensive, this is just a piece of the puzzle, but pointing to examples of where, if we do some smart things now, we can have a lot better outcomes in the future.

WHITEHOUSE: Meeting of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness | The White House

"You can see it for yourself, " Weaver moaned to a reporter, staring Friday at all the vacant lots, overrun with weeds that are taller than he is, at all the abandoned shells of former homes, many of them still marked with the spray-painted "X" that became the grim symbol of a great American city nearly wiped off the map.

NPR: New Orleans: A Tale Of 2 Cities Since Katrina

In his new book, Re-imagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City, Gallagher offers a road map for a smaller, more vibrant Detroit.

FORBES: If Detroit Were A Tree, What Kind of Tree Would It Be?