CityLab explored income inequality, safety, mobility, infrastructure and other dynamics of modern metropolises to create more livable and sustainable cities.
Mayor John Giles was featured in an online chat for the Alpine Institute about infrastructure and innovation. In this post some excerpted comments from other mayors are included about the greatest challenges facing cities in the next five years.
More about what John Giles said about innovation can be seen in a transcript of the online chat . . .
Ahead of the event The Huffington Post UK spoke to some of the influential leaders attending the event and asked one simple question: What is the one big thing that cities need to focus on or change in the next five years? Here's how they responded:
Mayor Bernard Clerfayt - Schaerbeek, Belgium
. . . All cities live under the stress of demographic growth. Successful cities transform this pressure by innovation, enhancing new ideas, developing job creation. New modes of social interactions are invented. Cities must allow more and more diverse populations to find moral comfort (by the respect for their differences), collective sharing of the public space, communication and exchanges.
The cities are growing and must innovate to deal with these new challenges. . . Innovation is key to successful cities. They are moreover the ideal melting pot of innovation by the quality and the quantity of the interactions which they offer. This being possible by the pressure which is exercised by the new urban (youth, migrants, artists and the new world adventurers).
Kathleen Sheehan - Albany, New York
Cities are the hope for our future. After decades of sprawling into suburbs, Americans of all ages are clamoring for the creative, vibrant, walkable, sustainable lifestyle only our cities can offer. . . More than a quarter of our residents live below the poverty level and far too many work in jobs that don’t pay a living wage and face hurdles such as lack of access to transportation, job training and child care that make it difficult for them to succeed in the workplace.
More than a quarter of our residents live below the poverty level and far too many work in jobs that don’t pay a living wage and face hurdles such as lack of access to transportation, job training and child care that make it difficult for them to succeed in the workplace.
Council Leader Philip Bale - Cardiff, Wales, UK
. . . We live in an urban age, and yes, we city leader’s should go for growth. But in doing so we should plan for tomorrow as well as today, making sure that the benefits of sustainable growth reach all our citizens, not just a select few. For me, striking this balance is our greatest challenge.
Mayor Michael Hancock - Denver, Colorado
Cities are incredible engines of growth and prosperity, but not all inhabitants share in this upside. A world class city is one in which everyone matters and everyone is lifted up by this rising tide. Government plays a role in ensuring that affordable housing and transportation options exist for all, that the most vulnerable have a safety net to lift them back to sustainability, and that strong public schools enable the next generation. Without these and other foundations, cities risk losing the diversity of thought and creativity that spark innovation and growth.
Mayor John Giles - Mesa, Arizona
Over the next five years, one of the greatest challenges facing Mesa Arizona and cities across the United States is the effective management of our country’s vital infrastructure. Many of our nation’s roads, bridges and utilities are in disrepair, and congestion is a fact of daily life. Changing this reality will take hard work and committed partnership with local, state and federal agencies. Though difficult, this work is essential both for the safety of our citizens, and the continued prosperity of our cities. Business looks for easy access to freeways, airports and other public infrastructure when they make decisions on where to locate. Families choose cities where its convenient to get to work and school.
In Mesa, we make it a priority to keep our facilities modern and up to date. We use innovative financing to accelerate infrastructure projects such as freeways and light rail lines, saving millions of dollars in the process. There is still more work to be done, but I know that through renewed effort, focus, and dedicated financial resources, cities can ensure that our nation’s infrastructure is prepared for decades to come
Mayor Sam Liccardo - San Jose, California
San Jose’s great challenge—and increasingly that of other large 21st century cities—lies in broadening opportunity. . . We have among the most educated populace on the planet, but over 60% of our students are not meeting entrance requirements for college. . . Cities have historically provided the infrastructure--free schools, open libraries, access to jobs, public universities, and public transit—to enable the economic mobility for generations. It’s time to revive that commitment. . .
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