Weekly Urban News Update
November 15, 2019
In This Update: 
A Controversial Nairobi Expressway
Bangladesh Wants to Ban Rickshaws in Dhaka
Inclusive Urban Planning in Indonesian Slums
Flooding in Venice Leads to State of Emergency
United Cities and Local Governments Congress Meets in Durban
Review: PUSH the Film
This Week in Photos
In the News and Around the Web
A Controversial Nairobi Expressway
The Kenyan government is proposing to build a 17 mile, four lane expressway in Nairobi to alleviate traffic congestion, but the road is mired in controversy. First, there was public outcry at the government' original plan to build through Nairobi's historic Uhru Park. The government has now agreed the road will circumvent rather than cut through the park, but criticism continues. At City Lab, Patrick Gathra says that building more and wider lanes in Nairobi is an ineffective way of managing traffic congestion as more road space would induce people to drive. Instead, Gathara says the Kenyan government must discourage driving and invest in mass transit. Given that the majority of the city's residents walk, bike, and take informal buses called matatus, Gathra says it makes more sense to prioritize improving travel for walkers, bikers, and public transport riders over cars.

Read more here.
Why City Public Transit Means So Much for the Global Protest Wave
In July, Bangladesh banned rickshaws on three main roads in Dhaka. The mayor of the northern half of the city, Mohammed Atiqul Islam, anticipates the city will be rickshaw-free within two years. The mayor says the majority of the rickshaws operate informally, exacerbate traffic congestion, and "create chaos." But, banning the rickshaws will not only negatively effect the livelihoods of the rickshaw drivers, but also of the rickshaw owners who rent out their carts to the drivers, as well as the rickshaw makers, mechanics, and spare-parts traders. Furthermore, rickshaws account for 40% of the approximately 3.5 million daily trips taken in Dhaka. Currently, Dhaka's public transportation system is also underdeveloped: there are only 8,000 city buses for 18 million inhabitants, meaning Dhaka will need to expand its transportation system if it ends rickshaw use.

Read more here.
Inclusive Urban Planning in Indonesian Slums
The population of Indonesian cities are growing by 4.1% a year, the fastest rate in Asia. At World Resources Institute, Maria Hart and Robin King explain how Subaraya, Indonesia has championed an inclusive approach to Indonesia's housing challenges in the face of rapid urbanization. Surabaya introduced the Kampung Improvement Program in 1969. Usually slum upgrading means building new apartments to replace informal settlements, but this strategy often cannot prevent new slums forming or increase residential density of the  existing area. Instead the Kampung Improvement program, which involved close collaboration between the local government and local university experts, was a participatory on-site slum upgrading programming. This meant that residents, their needs, and community-sourced data stood at the core of any developments.

Read more here.
Flooding in Venice Leads to State of Emergency
Italy will declare a state of emergency in Venice following historic flooding earlier this week. High spring tides and a storm surge produced the highest waters Venice has seen in fifty years, leaving more than 80% of the city under water. Venice is a designated UNESCO heritage site, and the floods have severely damaged cultural landmarks such as St. Mark's Basilica. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the floods, the second highest in the city's history, were the result of climate change. Mayor Brugnaro also called for a quick completion to an ongoing project to build a series of floodgates to protect the city from flooding. The "Moses project" began in 2003, but  scandals, delays, costs, and opposition from environmentalists have prevented its completion.

Read more here.
United Cities and Local Governments Congress Meets in Durban
United Cities and Local Governments Congress convened in Durban, South Africa this week. The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders brings together mayors, councilors, presidents of associations, and local and regional practitioners, to help cities and local governments commit to an international agenda for inclusive and sustainable development. Approximately 3,000 local elected leaders and professionals from civil society, business, and academia are in attendance. Main themes discussed include the Right to the City, Opportunities for All, Culture and City Diplomacy, Territorial and Multilevel Governance, and Ecological Transition with an emphasis on gender equality and youth in these debates.

Read more  here .
PUSH the Film: A Review
On November 5 th , 2019 IHC Global and Global Land Alliance were glad to bring a screening of "PUSH" the film to Washington, DC. PUSH , first screened at the United Nations to support  World Habitat Day  on October 7 th  provides insight into the global housing affordability crisis from the perspective of residents being pushed out of their homes and cities from London to New York to Seoul. Swedish director Fredrik Gerten follows Leilani Farha , United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, and her team as she tries to understand why individuals, families, and communities struggle to access affordable and decent housing. 

Read the film review now posted on the IHC Global blog.
This Week in Photos
  • Palaces of the People: Soviet Metro Stations: At The Guardian, Christopher Herwig shows the mix of propaganda and artwork in Soviet metro stations.
  • Flooded Venice: This week, Venice saw its highest tide in 50 years.
In the News and Around the Web
  • Wildfires Reach Sydney Suburbs: Devastating wildfires have broken out in Australia's most populous state, New South Whales
  • Beirut Protesters Assert their Right to the City: Kareem Chehayeb explains why Beirut's anti-government protests are about public space.
  • Free Fare for Female Commuters in Delhi:  In Delhi, female commuters can ride the bus for free, but one lawyer explains why that isn't enough to help women access public life in India.
St. Mark's Square in Venice flooded this week.
 (Photo Credit: REUTERS)


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