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Taking back our cities

Monitor April/May 2024 Issue

From the Editor

Taking back our cities

We can shape the future of urban life

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In this Issue

Canadian policy innovations

Some cities are making small changes to create more accessible spaces

Cities are central to capitalism—and could be central to its undoing

Capitalism and urbanization are deeply tied to one another—but what might a liberated city look like?

Cities are central to resolving the challenges of our time

Cities have long been seen as engines that drive prosperity but a new fiscal arrangement is needed that allows them to tackle the serious issues of our time.

Cities could be the engines for addressing crises—if we push them

It is time for more cities to bring forward policies and practices for economic, social and climate justice as their primary goal

The intersectional city

Applying an intersectional lens to multi-layered challenges in urban settings can lead the way to greater empowerment of community members in cities.

#Blocksidewalk, the last progressive NIMBY effort?

#Blocksidewalk was a grassroots campaign that shut down Google's attempt to turn Toronto into a surveillance-driven "smart city"

Regina’s road rage

The city's infrastructure is dominated by the automobile

Watch Your Step, Buster!

Guess who first normalized pedestrian shaming

Contributors

Authors appearing in this issue

Jon Milton

Jon Milton

Jon Milton is a senior communications specialist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives national office. He's on Twitter at @514jon
Eric Shragge

Eric Shragge

Eric Shragge is a retired principal of the School of Community and Public Affairs Concordia University. He was a co-founder of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal. He, Jason Prince and Mostafa Henaway co-edited Montréal—A Citizen’s Guide to City Politics.

Jason Prince

Jason Prince

Jason Prince, urban planner, has co-edited three books on problems facing the city. He, Eric Shragge and Mostafa Henaway co-edited Montréal—A Citizen’s Guide to City Politics.

Véronique Sioufi

Véronique Sioufi

Véronique Sioufi is a researcher and policy analyst specializing in racial and socio-economic equity at the CCPA BC office.

Thorben Wieditz

Thorben Wieditz

Thorben Wieditz is an urban geographer who works at the intersection of labour, communities, and cities. He co-founded MetStrat, a progressive campaign firm with roots in the labour movement and municipal campaigns. Follow him on Twitter/X @twieditz

Simon Enoch

Simon Enoch

Simon Enoch (he/him) is Director of the Saskatchewan Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Regina. Find him on twitter at @simon_enoch

Craig Pickthorne

Craig Pickthorne

Craig Pickthorne is Director of Communications with the Ontario Living Wage Network.

Catherine McKenney

Catherine McKenney


Catherine McKenney and Neil Saravanamuttoo are with CitySHAPES, a national nonprofit dedicated to building better cities. (X: @City_SHAPES)

Neil Saravanamuttoo

Neil Saravanamuttoo

Catherine McKenney and Neil Saravanamuttoo are with CitySHAPES, a national nonprofit dedicated to building better cities. (X: @City_SHAPES)