Background

New York City receives thousands of requests each year from other cities seeking to learn about its planning strategies and initiatives across sectors, from health to green buildings. As New York evaluates its own strategies, it also looks to other cities to learn from their successes. NYC often learns what other cities are doing via the media. Generally, a first step to learn more is through research and contacting the city directly. It can be challenging to identify the right agencies and obtain information quickly. A further challenge with research is that the information may not be current or provide sufficient detail to be beneficial. Thus, the question arose: how can cities make information available across sectors in a uniform way and encourage regular, continual exchange?

Modeled on our successful student Internet exchange program which bridges New York City students with peers around the world, NYC began developing an online resource for people seeking to learn about municipal implementation strategies across a variety of sectors in cities worldwide.

Global Cities

The resource bank focuses on "global" cities because we recognize that they face unique municipal challenges - from health, education, safety, and security to new issues like climate change and aging populations. Established cities that have flourished for decades must address problems resulting from aging infrastructures and find innovative ways to maintain their competitiveness. Emerging global cities must develop strong infrastructures able to accommodate growing populations and unprecedented economic growth. The capacity of city governments to effectively manage their cities affects their comparative advantage.

There is a wealth of research aimed at comparing cities and identifying global leaders and their competitors. While cities do compete, they also are interconnected; one city's success can positively shape that of another. 

Best Practices

The resource bank will address issues important to global cities. What are the best strategies employed by global cities? What has worked in the past and why? Where are cities solving municipal problems in innovative ways? 

The convenience and flexibility of the online resource bank fills an important gap by promoting continued exchange and the sharing of best practices among global cities. It will serve as a resource center for city leaders working to solve problems by providing easy access to relevant information on innovative best practices used worldwide.