Thoughts on the Dynamic Cities Sector

An excerpt from the Q&A:

Having worked in Washington, how do you see the relationship between the national and municipal levels when it comes to urban issues? What’s working well and what could be better?

Cities really get to be laboratories of innovation when it comes to design and policy and projects and developments, and I think the national government — and certainly this administration — is really appreciating this. They’re working directly with cities to try to tackle environmental and social problems. It’s often a very effective approach.

Working at the city scale, you’re doing everything from policy to direct implementation, and most citizens throughout the country have a more direct relationship with their city government than with any other form of government. They expect a certain level of services. They expect that the government picks up the trash, teaches their kids in schools, and provides basic health and safety services. So there are certainly policy directives and financial resources and major project coordination at the state and federal levels, but the opportunity to have a real and everyday impact on people’s lives is often greatest at the city scale.