Importing Solutions

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Cities justify the expense of hosting mega events by claiming that international visibility will yield economic benefit for the city. But most mega events cause more long-term economic harm than good, unless there is a specific plan for how the event investment will solve a specific problem or improve equity in the city.

Discussion questions

Are there places or projects in your city where development has made existing problems worse, or created new problems? In what ways and why?

Are there places or projects in your city where development has solved challenges or improved quality of life for a variety of residents?

Do you have an idea for a project that could solve multiple problems in your city? What are some specifics?

Bio

Ramon Marrades is an Urban Economist, Director of Placemaking Europe and Founder of Vigla. He has spent his career creating sustainable, equitable, and lively public spaces that prioritize the needs of people and community. He is passionate about port cities, culture, and innovation and has worked as strategic advisor to a number of cities and large-scale development projects. Marrades is based in Valencia, Spain.

4:54

Riverbed: Backbone of the City

Summary

After the fall of the Franco dictatorship in Spain in 1975, citizens felt freer to express their opinions on many topics. Neighborhood Associations in cities like Valencia flourished as residents advocated for their preferences. City residents wrote op-eds and wrote articles to pressure government to listen to their input. This is the story of how government officials in the city of Valencia responded to citizen demands about one issue, and how it changed the city for everyone.

Discussion questions

In your view, who are the most significant “actors” in this story?

Does the story remind you of a current or past situation in your city?

How do public spaces in your city impact health, quality of life, and/or equity?

Have you had an experience where having a limited budget, or the solution unfolding over time has provided unexpected benefits?

Bio

Ramon Marrades is an Urban Economist, Director of Placemaking Europe and Founder of Vigla. He has spent his career creating sustainable, equitable, and lively public spaces that prioritize the needs of people and community. He is passionate about port cities, culture, and innovation and has worked as strategic advisor to a number of cities and large-scale development projects. Marrades is based in Valencia, Spain.

1:24

The Power of Public Spaces and the Doers who Create Them

Summary

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Discussion questions

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Bio

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

2:08

You Can’t Just Plan for the Rich

Discussion questions

What does it mean to make development more inclusive?

In this interview, what does the term “social security” mean and why is it important?

Why would it be particularly difficult for poor people to be separated from long time neighbors and community?

Can you think of a project in your city, where poor residents were displaced but given new housing? In what ways was it successful or not?

Bio

Somsook Boonyabancha, is Chairperson, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR), a regional network of grassroots community organizations, NGO’s and professionals actively involved with urban poor development processes in Asian cities; former Director of the Community Organization Development Institute (CODI); Chairperson, of the Baan Mankong Program Committee.

Boonyabancha has been working and facilitating sustainable, equitable collective housing development and slum upgrading in Thailand and other Asian countries for 30 years – specializing in community-led initiatives. As director of CODI, she fostered a “city-wide” approach to community upgrading that has been replicated in cities across Thailand. She is based in Bangkok, Thailand.