SEXY AND THE CITY
HERE ARE SOME OF THE 15 COST-EFFECTIVE IDEAS FEATURED IN THE RECENT ‘INNOVATION AND THE CITY’ REPORT BY THE CENTER FOR AN URBAN FUTURE
1 GARBAGE CLINICAL INSURANCE (Malang, Indonesia)
Indonesia has one of the world’s worst trash problems. And, according to a 2014 calculation by the Asian Development Bank, nearly 30 percent of its population lives on less than $1.51 per day. Started by a local doctor, Garbage Clinical Insurance is an innovative solution to both problems, allowing recyclers and garbage collectors to purchase health care for as little as $1 per month.
2 CIVIC USER TESTING GROUP (Chicago)
The Civic User Testing Group rewards city residents who agree to participate in focus groups on government-based apps and websites. The goal is to improve the municipal digital experience by soliciting feedback from those most likely to use such services, thus putting a little of the Silicon Valley spirit into City Hall.
3 RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE (Seattle)
The Racial Equity Toolkit is a template for how to include communities of color in municipal decisions. As one local official explained, “These are questions that never get asked.”
4 ENFORCING WAGE STANDARDS IN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES (San Francisco)
In immigrant-rich cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, wage exploitation of new arrivals is routine. The city’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement works with community groups to educate residents about wage laws and ensure proper reporting when those laws are violated.
5 FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS FOR RE-ENTRY (Lansing, Michigan)
This financial empowerment program is intended solely for formerly incarcerated individuals living in transitional housing, offering them what the Center for an Urban Future calls “a roadmap for financial literacy.” That may begin with opening a bank account and learning the fundamentals of money management.
6 CARBON GREEN CARD (Gwangju, South Korea)
The carbon green card tracks energy usage and offers incentives for conservation. In eight years, the program has conserved an estimated 84.2 kilotons of carbon dioxide.