Institute of Politics

If the post-World War II era resulted in pervasive suburbanization, the post-recession age has born witness to a vibrant urban revival. Metropolitan areas in the Great Recession’s aftermath are experiencing unprecedented population expansion, with growth rates surpassing that of suburban and rural areas for the first time since the 1920s. Yet in the face of twenty-first century urban renewal, urban leaders must confront uniquely twenty-first century challenges. Mayors Bill DeBlasio, Rahm Emanuel, Eric Garcetti, and Kasim Reed discussed the most pressing issues facing today’s urban leaders, and how great American cities can flourish in the twenty-first century and beyond. This event was co-sponsored by the International House Global Voices Program.