Dear readers,
This past year, as we have continued to make sense of what it meant to live with COVID-19’s “new normal,” were also fortunate to explore a wide range of topics that touched on urban mobility, equitable planning, data analytics, misinformation, housing crisis, climate change, special redistricting, participatory planning, tactical urbanism, green spaces, international development and so much more. The articles presented this year sought to inform and aid those that seek to change their cities and the lives of their residents for the better.
At its core, the Wagner Planner continues to honor the fact that storytelling can help individuals renovate cities and address its problems. It is a process that informs and sensitizes us to the many issues that are part of urban life and form by drawing from the knowledge, research, and perspectives that are contributed by our writers. As the Wagner Planner closes out its academic year, I wanted to briefly reflect on this key point, but most importantly to acknowledge those individuals that have been invaluable to fulfilling its mission.
First of all, a big thank you to its team of Staff Writers (Ben Listman, Charley Cohen, Lisa Nyamadzwo, Samantha Sánchez, Winnie Shen) for their stellar work and unflagging commitment. I am happy that Charley will be undertaking the reins of editorship and wish him all the very best. In addition, I would like to thank our contributing writers (Bibiana Guerra, Ignacio Aravena, Katherine Rivard, Sara Aita, Zainab Al Mansour) and NYU Wagner faculty (Atul Pokharel, Carter Strickland, Sarah Gerecke, Vanessa L. Deane) that have shared with us their time, expertise, favorite reads, and guidance during this past year. Lastly, a special thank you to the entire Board of the Urban Planning Student Association (Katherine Key, Ayesha Lilaoonwala, Chase Rudner, Rachel Brown, Sarah Saltz, Trish Malubay) for their unwavering support.
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2021 and I hope they, alongside us, continue their work in “telling the story of cities.”
Mayelly Moreno Editor-in-Chief 2020-2021