The first group of selected cities ranged from relatively obscure—Santa Fe, Argentina
—to iconic—New Orleans; they face a host of hazards, from climate and water stress
to seismic risks to chronic problems like high unemployment.
A persistent challenge is prodding people out of their silos—either disciplinary
or departmental. "You'd be surprised at how many sophisticated cities we go
to where the people working on climate, the people working on seismic, and
doing it in the same neighborhoods, are meeting at our workshops for the
first time," Berkowitz said.
A prime focus is harnessing market forces, so often focused on short-term gain,
to help create more durable and inclusive futures.
Professor Joseph Ryan, chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice and Security
at Pace and the main conference organizer, closed the meeting with a promise
that the university was committed to doing its part to build such a future, as well.
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