Why Cities Lose: The Deep Roots of the Urban-Rural Political Divide
By: Carly Berke On Friday, December 6th, the Initiative on Cities hosted a book talk with Jonathan Rodden to discuss his book, Why Cities Lose, which explores how the Democratic Party’s electoral challenges have deeper roots in economic and political geography. Jonathan Rodden is a Professor of Political Science, a Senior Fellow at the Hoover […]
Prison Changes People, Education Changes Prisons
By: Carly Berke On Tuesday, November 19th, the Initiative on Cities hosted a comprehensive seminar on the power of education in prison systems, as it has proven to be one of the most effective ways to decrease crime and the financial and social costs of incarceration. Moreover, inmates participating in education programs are less likely […]
Book Talk: Latino Mayors: Political Change in the Postindustrial City
Latino Mayors: Political Change in the Postindustrial City By: Carly Berke On Thursday, November 14th, the Initiative on Cities, the Latin America Studies Program, the African American Studies Program, and the Center for Latin American Studies hosted a book talk with Marion Orr, the co-editor of Latino Mayors: Political Change in the Industrial City. Orr […]
The Sounds of Boston and Beyond: The Sonic Dimension of Cities
By: Carly Berke On Tuesday, September 10th, the Initiative on Cities hosted “The Sounds of Boston and Beyond,” a seminar exploring the development of urban soundscapes and their impact on public health and community engagement. Erica Walker, Founder of Noise and the City and the Community Noise Lab at Boston University, Daniel Steele, a Visiting […]
Speaker John Bercow Visits BU Initiative on Cities
On May 29, 2019, the Boston University Initiative on Cities was honored to welcome the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, John Bercow, as part of a series of visits by major public figures. Students from IOC Director Professor Graham Wilson’s British Politics class and members of the BU faculty representing the College of […]
Are Today’s Frontiers Inside Cities? A Lecture by Saskia Sassen
By: Doruntina Zeneli On Tuesday, April 30, Saskia Sassen joined the Initiative of Cities to speak about increased competition for housing, rising rent, and how housing is deemed as a commodity for financial firms. Sassen first highlighted the capabilities society has today: “We have capabilities that are rather simple, but how can we make them […]
What Will It Take to End Homelessness in Boston & Beyond? Insights From Policy, Research & Advocacy
By: Doruntina Zeneli On Wednesday April 17, Tom Byrne, Laila Bernstein and Joe Finn joined the Initiative of Cities to speak about how homelessness impacts Boston and other cities throughout the U.S. Each speaker suggested several plans to resolve chronic homelessness through initiatives such as Permanent Supportive Housing and subsidized housing. Tom Byrne, Assistant […]
Meeting the Challenge: Global Innovations in Urban Housing
As America’s housing crisis persists, high-cost cities increasingly face three immediate challenges: affordability, public housing, and homelessness. On April 8-9, 2019, the Boston University Initiative on Cities hosted Meeting the Challenge: Global Innovations in Urban Housing, an international conference to address these challenges. Participants featured the High-Cost Cities Housing Forum (HCHF), a peer-to-peer group comprised of […]
Book Talk: “The Urban Commons” by Dan O’Brien
By: Doruntina Zeneli On Wednesday March 27, Dan O’Brien, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Urban Affairs and Criminology Northeastern University, spoke about the current 311 system in Boston and illustrated data trends that showcased how Bostonians interact with their neighborhoods and local governments. In his new book, The Urban Commons: How Data and Technology Can […]
Beyond Congestion: Pathways for Mobility
By: Doruntina Zeneli On Tuesday, March 26, panelists discussed how current transportation networks within major cities do not operate efficiently and how future technology will serve a key role in incentivizing change and eliminating congestion. The conversation was initially led by Matthew Raifman, Senior Manager at Ford Smart Mobility. Raifman described congestion as an “excess […]