BU Giving Day is here! Today is our chance to come together and make a collective impact for BU students. With your help, the Initiative on Cities will continue to empower the next generation of civic leaders at BU by providing forums and professional opportunities that connect undergraduate and graduate students to urban challenges. Your gift to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
By: Daniel Daponte Few doubt that our criminal justice system is in crisis. It is seen as overly punitive, ineffective, and racially biased[1]. The Biden Administration has stated its goal to heal the scars of racist policies such as Redlining and the War on Drugs that cut deep in many communities of color. Meanwhile, New […]
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 […]