Later today, CEOs for Cities kicks off its national meeting in Phoenix. And, as we heard on Friday from ASU’s Duke Reiter, who’s helping to organize the conference, having this group come to this city is significant.

"The CEOs for Cities was founded in the Midwest, they’ve typically stayed east of the Mississippi River," Reiter said. "But they’re watching the evolution of Phoenix, a place typically known for sprawling, suburban residential communities, and they’re seeing what’s happening in downtown. And they want to understand it better."

Our next guest is one of those who’s been watching Phoenix. Lee Fisher is senior advisor to CEOs For Cities.