America's malls could be terrorist targets… That's according to the head of U.S. Homeland Security… And this is supposed to be news as we approach 14 years after 9-11? Of course, Secretary Jeh Johnson was trying to make a point to a recalcitrant Congress that his agency needs to be funded to protect the country properly. Throwing a little scare into Americans might get their representatives to act. In particular, the warning signaled--watch out at giant Mall of America. Could that be because Minneapolis is home to a cluster of Somali immigrants? Some young Somalis have been vulnerable to jihadi callings and could be ripe for homegrown mayhem. I am sure the local Somali community is feeling reassured about being used to gin up fear when everyone seems to be getting riled over beheadings half way across the world.

Obviously, malls would be particularly good targets for attacks, but then so would subways, Disneyland (or is that for measles?), the Golden Gate Bridge, and thousands of other places where people congregate, including major office buildings and mixed-use complexes, especially in major urban centers around the country. Well yes, even government buildings too—do we remember Oklahoma City? Now will the threat factor be that much higher at regional shopping centers, because a recent internet video from an overseas terrorist redoubt somewhere in Africa exhorts local jihadi wanabees into action in the U.S., UK and Canada? And how will that impact mall business?

The half-life of these threats is extremely low absent some action. Usually they disappear into the next news cycle of snow storms, celebrity sex changes, and disease outbreaks… Shouldn't we be more concerned about someone down the block with a gun and grudge shooting up a mall rather than a terrorist strike occurring in a food court?

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Jonathan D. Miller

A marketing communication strategist who turned to real estate analysis, Jonathan D. Miller is a foremost interpreter of 21st citistate futures – cities and suburbs alike – seen through the lens of lifestyles and market realities. For more than 20 years (1992-2013), Miller authored Emerging Trends in Real Estate, the leading commercial real estate industry outlook report, published annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). He has lectures frequently on trends in real estate, including the future of America's major 24-hour urban centers and sprawling suburbs. He also has been author of ULI’s annual forecasts on infrastructure and its What’s Next? series of forecasts. On a weekly basis, he writes the Trendczar blog for GlobeStreet.com, the real estate news website. Outside his published forecasting work, Miller is a prominent communications/institutional investor-marketing strategist and partner in Miller Ryan LLC, helping corporate clients develop and execute branding and communications programs. He led the re-branding of GMAC Commercial Mortgage to Capmark Financial Group Inc. and he was part of the management team that helped build Equitable Real Estate Investment Management, Inc. (subsequently Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, Inc.) into the leading real estate advisor to pension funds and other real institutional investors. He joined the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. in 1981, moving to Equitable Real Estate in 1984 as head of Corporate/Marketing Communications. In the 1980's he managed relations for several of the country's most prominent real estate developments including New York's Trump Tower and the Equitable Center. Earlier in his career, Miller was a reporter for Gannett Newspapers. He is a member of the Citistates Group and a board member of NYC Outward Bound Schools and the Center for Employment Opportunities.