2021 Menino Survey: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap
America’s Mayors Recognize Sizable Racial Wealth Gaps in Their Cities, According to Survey of US Mayors Mayors Overwhelmingly Believe that Access to Capital Disproportionately Burdens Small Business Owners of Color At Least Half of Mayors Believe that Housing Programs Should Emphasize Homeownership Over Renting A strong majority (67%) of mayors are worried about the racial […]
Looking back on ARPA and America’s Cities: A Menino Survey Reflection
By Katherine Levine Einstein, David Glick, and Maxwell Palmer On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan was signed into law. It stands as one of the largest federal spending stimulus bills ever passed, with $350 billion in total funds directed to help transform American states, cities, and towns[1]. A look in the rearview mirror […]
2021 Menino Survey: Mayors and America’s Homelessness Crisis
America’s Mayors Say They Feel Accountable But Unequipped to Address Homeless Crisis, Citing Lack of Funding and Public Opposition to New Housing as Biggest Barriers Almost One-Third of Cities Have No Staff Dedicated to Homelessness; Nearly a Quarter Cite Reliance on Police While a strong majority of America’s mayors feel that voters hold them largely […]
Just Released! First Set of Findings from the 2021 Menino Survey of Mayors
Among Long-Term Impacts of Pandemic, America’s Mayors Are Most Concerned with Residents’ Mental Health and Learning Loss, According to Survey of US Mayors Mayors Are Far Less Concerned with Crime and Fallout Due to Shift to Remote Work and Outmigration Four-in-Five Mayors Plan to Use Funds from American Rescue Plan Act for “Transformative Aims” on […]
Beyond the City Walls: Part 1 Recording
The Politics of Resentment Held on October 18, 2021. For information on Beyond the City Walls Part 2, please click here. Cities are vibrant centers of innovation and change. In most places, however, cities themselves are mostly defined by archaic boundaries sometimes originating in the mists of history that bear little relationship to current realities. […]
IOC Awarded Multi-Year Grant from The Rockefeller Foundation
The Initiative on Cities has been awarded a three-year grant for $355,000 from The Rockefeller Foundation to support the 2021-2023 Menino Survey of Mayors. This marks the fifth year of support from the Foundation, who previously provided support for the 2017-2020 Surveys. Citi Community Investing and Development also renewed their support for the 2021 Menino Survey, marking their seventh year […]
2020 Menino Survey of Mayors Report on Urban Parks and the Public Realm
Mayors Expect Residents Will Spend More Time in Outdoor Public Spaces, But Few Using Pandemic as Opportunity to Reimagine These Areas Findings Among Those Released Today by the Boston University Initiative on Cities’ Menino Survey of Mayors, Supported by Citi, The Rockefeller Foundation, and The Trust for Public Land The past year introduced new ways […]
Justice and Inclusion: Lessons for Boston from New York and Chicago
Daniel Daponte (CAS ’22) is IOC’s 2020-2021 National League of Cities (NLC) Menino Fellow. Daniel graduated with a BA in Environmental Analysis and Policy with a minor in Urban Studies. Daniel spent the fall semester with IOC Director and Professor Graham Wilson through this Fellowship in a Directed Study program. Daniel’s research project focused on restorative justice initiatives, analyzing […]
2021 Summer Fellowships for BU Students
The IOC is accepting applications from BU undergraduate and graduate students for our 2021 Summer Fellowships with the Cities of Boston, MA; Chelsea, MA; and Manchester, UK. Please note, the application deadline has now closed for all programs. Undergraduate Student Opportunities: Manchester, England: Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Applicants must be current juniors and seniors. View full […]
2020 Menino Survey of Mayors Report on Policing and Protests
Mayors Largely Support Black Lives Matter Protests, Recognize Racial Disparities in Treatment by Police, But Are Not Embracing Dramatic Change to Policing, According to New Survey Findings Among Those from the Boston University Initiative on Cities’ Menino Survey of Mayors, Supported by Citi and The Rockefeller Foundation In spite of months of protests in reaction […]