Now that the U.S. presidential election is behind us, it’s time to refocus on the urgent task of revitalizing our cities by implementing intelligent infrastructure and embracing modernization.

Surveying ten major American cities post-election reveals a troubling trend: leadership remains essentially rudderless, stuck in a quagmire of inaction. This inertia must end now if these cities hope to secure a viable future.

President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a bold initiative—building ten brand-new cities, dubbed “Freedom Cities,” on government land. These cities would feature cutting-edge infrastructure, innovative architecture, and robust frameworks for economic development. They’re envisioned as places where people can thrive and work.

For existing cities, this initiative is a wake-up call. If current leaders persist with glacier-paced decision-making, these new Freedom Cities—with their state-of-the-art appeal—will leapfrog them. The allure of modern infrastructure, low taxes, and safer neighborhoods will inevitably attract residents fed up with crime, crumbling infrastructure, and stagnant progress.

Imagine cities designed with high-speed rail, ultra-fast broadband, passenger drones, affordable housing, and excellent schools. In contrast, legacy cities like Chicago and New York risk becoming urban ghost towns as residents and businesses flee elsewhere.

Earlier this year, I detailed the dire need for major cities to chart a new course out of their downward spirals. Unfortunately, the situation remains grim in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Austin, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle. None measure up to Chengdu, China’s fourth-largest city.

With a population of 21 million and a GDP of $320 billion, Chengdu exemplifies futuristic urban planning. It boasts a state-of-the-art subway system spanning 558 kilometers—larger, cleaner, and safer than New York’s. Home to architectural marvels like the New Century Global Center and the Science Fiction Museum, Chengdu seamlessly blends modern and ancient design. Its guiding principle, “a city within a park,” emphasizes rapid development unencumbered by overregulation.

Watching videos of Chengdu’s sprawling, harmonious infrastructure highlights the stark contrast with American cities. Imagine if the U.S. adopted such visionary planning for Freedom Cities. Our legacy cities, by comparison, would continue to decay, spiraling into irrelevance. Are any beyond saving? That’s a question local governments and civic leaders must confront with urgency.

Despite years of discussion, most American cities are not in a rush to implement smart city concepts. These concepts, integral to Chengdu’s success, also emphasize safety—smart cities are not crime-ridden. The emergence of Freedom Cities may create a much-needed sense of urgency for innovation and reform in legacy cities.

Restoring law and order is essential. Declining tourism and regional economic activity have dealt severe blows to downtown economies. However, the overused solution of raising taxes to offset revenue shortfalls is shortsighted. Chicago, for instance, faces billions in budget deficits, and its leadership’s response—proposing another property tax hike—is emblematic of 19th-century thinking applied to 21st-century problems.

Revitalizing legacy cities requires visionary strategies, not patchwork fixes. Building new cities offers an unprecedented opportunity to bypass outdated infrastructure and develop resilient, redundant, and reliable systems from scratch. Freedom Cities could benefit from lessons drawn from Chengdu’s rapid success, ensuring they are equipped to meet future challenges head-on.

For America’s legacy cities, the clock is ticking. Without decisive action to innovate and reform, they risk becoming relics—ghost towns left behind as Freedom Cities rise. The gold rush era is over. The question is whether our cities can sustain and grow their relevance or become the next Deadman’s Gulch.